Culture of Kentucky facts for kids

Old Louisville is the largest Victorian Historic neighborhood in the United States.

The culture of Kentucky is mostly like other Southern states. It also has influences from the Southern Appalachia region. Kentucky is famous for its bourbon and whiskey making, tobacco farms, exciting horse racing, popular college basketball teams, and beautiful quilts.

Kentucky's Story

Kentucky's history is largely shaped by people who identified as American in early censuses. However, in the 1800s, many German immigrants moved to Kentucky. They often settled in cities along the Ohio River like Louisville and Covington.

Kentucky was once a state where slavery was allowed. After the Civil War, the state had laws that separated people by race, known as Jim Crow laws. But Kentucky was one of the first Southern states to peacefully end school segregation in 1954. It also passed the first state civil rights act in the South in 1966.

Fun Festivals and Places

Kentucky loves to celebrate! Here are some of its famous events and landmarks:

• Kentucky Derby: This is a huge horse race. Before the big race, Louisville hosts the two-week Kentucky Derby Festival with lots of fun events.
• Kentucky State Fair: Also in Louisville, this fair celebrates everything Kentucky has to offer.
• Kentucky Shakespeare Festival: You can watch plays by William Shakespeare here.
• International Bar-B-Q Festival: Owensboro, known as the "Barbecue Capital of the World," hosts this tasty festival.
• National Corvette Museum: In Bowling Green, you can see many cool Chevrolet Corvette cars. This city has the only factory in the world that makes Corvettes!
• Old Louisville: This area has the largest collection of Victorian architecture in the United States. It hosts the St. James Court Art Show, which is the biggest outdoor art show in the country. In the past, Old Louisville was home to the Southern Exposition, where Thomas Edison first showed his light bulb to the public.

Even smaller towns in Kentucky have their own traditions:

• Jefferson Davis Memorial: In Fairview, you can visit a tall monument built for Jefferson Davis, who was the president of the Confederate States.
• Lincoln Days Celebration: Hodgenville, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, celebrates his life every year.
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival: Bardstown celebrates its history of making bourbon.
• Glasgow Highland Games: Glasgow hosts its own version of the traditional Scottish Highland Games.
• Tater Day: In Benton, people celebrate the sweet potato!
• Clarkson Honeyfest: Clarkson celebrates its connection to the honey industry. This is Kentucky's official state honey festival.

Kentucky is also famous for its beautiful quilts. The National Quilt Museum in Paducah hosts QuiltWeek, a big competition and celebration for quilters from all over the world.

Music in Kentucky

Kentucky has a rich musical history, especially in country and bluegrass music.

• Renfro Valley: This place is known as "Kentucky's Country Music Capital." The Renfro Valley Barn Dance started in 1939, and many famous country singers have performed there. The "Renfro Valley Gatherin'" is one of America's oldest radio shows that is still broadcast today.
• Famous Musicians:
  • Steven Curtis Chapman, a contemporary Christian music star, is from Paducah.
  • The Everly Brothers, famous rock and roll singers, have strong ties to Muhlenberg County.
  • Mildred Hill and Patty Hill, sisters from Louisville, wrote the famous tune for "Happy Birthday to You" in 1893.
  • Country music legends like Loretta Lynn and Billy Ray Cyrus are also from Kentucky.
• Bluegrass Music: Kentucky is the heart of Bluegrass music. Bill Monroe, known as "The Father of Bluegrass," was born in Rosine. Many other bluegrass stars like Ricky Skaggs and Sam Bush are also from Kentucky. The International Bluegrass Music Museum is in Owensboro, and the annual Festival of the Bluegrass is held in Lexington.
• Other Music: Famous jazz musician Lionel Hampton and blues legend W.C. Handy spent time in Kentucky. Pop bands like Midnight Star and Nappy Roots also started in Kentucky.

Delicious Food

The Hot Brown was first served at Louisville's Brown Hotel

Kentucky's food is similar to other traditional Southern cooking. One special Kentucky dish is called the Hot Brown. It's usually made with toast, turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and a creamy sauce. It was first made at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. The "Old Fashioned" cocktail was also created in Louisville at the Pendennis Club. Western Kentucky is also famous for its unique style of barbecue.