Kentucky Historical Society facts for kids
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is a special group in Kentucky that helps keep track of the state's amazing past. It's like a super-smart detective agency for history! The KHS collects and protects old documents, buildings, and cool items from Kentucky's history.
It started way back in 1836 as a private club. Today, the KHS has a big campus in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky. This campus includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol, and the Kentucky Military History Museum. The KHS is part of Kentucky's government and works with the Smithsonian. Its main goal is to teach people about Kentucky's history. You can explore their resources online or visit their library in person.
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Exploring Kentucky's Past
The Kentucky Historical Society has a main building called the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. This modern center is where the KHS has its offices. It's a big place with exciting exhibits, a research library, and a gift shop.
What You Can See at the Center
The center has a cool exhibit called "A Kentucky Journey." This exhibit takes you on a trip through time, from the very first people in Kentucky to today. It's a great way to learn how Kentucky has changed over many years.
The center also has the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library. This library is packed with information for people who want to learn about their family history or Kentucky's past. You can find old books, letters, pictures, and even recorded stories from people who lived long ago. Experts are there to help you find what you're looking for.
There's also a special gallery for temporary exhibits. These shows change often, so there's always something new to see! Past exhibits have included "Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky's Abraham Lincoln" and "Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky Luthiers." Don't forget to check out the Stewart Home & School 1792 Museum Store for souvenirs!
Kentucky's Old State Capitol Building
The Old State Capitol is a very important building. It was Kentucky's main government building from 1830 to 1910. Imagine all the important talks and decisions that happened there! Lawmakers discussed big issues like slavery and war inside its walls.
Today, the Old State Capitol looks just like it did in the early 1850s. It even has some original furniture from that time. A young architect named Gideon Shryock designed this beautiful building. It's built in a style called Greek Revival, which looks like ancient Greek temples. This was the third building to serve as Kentucky's capital.
History of the Old State Capitol and KHS
The Kentucky Historical Society actually met in the Old State Capitol for a few years. The KHS started in 1836 with help from some important young men in Kentucky. They even got money from the Kentucky General Assembly to get started.
After a break, the society started meeting again in 1896 at the Old State Capitol. But soon, their collections grew too big for the space. So, a new building, the Kentucky Historical Center, opened in 1999. Even though the KHS moved, the Old State Capitol is still part of the KHS. It's now a museum that shows what government was like in the past.
Kentucky Military History Museum
The Kentucky Military History Museum is located in a strong, fortress-like building called the State Arsenal. It was built in 1850 and looks over downtown Frankfort. The first State Arsenal building burned down in 1836.
This museum tells the story of Kentucky's military history. It uses personal stories and items from soldiers. The Arsenal played a big role in the Civil War and for the National Guard. It became a museum in 1974 and has been updated recently.
Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
The Martin F. Schmidt Research Library is on the second floor of the Thomas D. Clark Center. It has the largest collection of family history records in Kentucky!
This library has tons of resources for researchers. It includes:
- Over 16,000 rolls of microfilm (like tiny pictures of old documents)
- 90,000 books and magazines
- 30,000 files about Kentucky history and families
- 1,900 cubic feet of old letters and papers
- 2,000 maps
- 8,000 recorded oral histories (people telling their stories)
- 200,000 historic photographs
- 9,100 rare books
You can look at many of these resources online through the KHS website. You can also visit the library in person to see the documents and articles. A special journal called The Register is also available through this library.
The Register Journal
The Register is a special history journal published by the KHS. It started in 1903 and has been published regularly ever since. The articles in The Register share important information about Kentucky's history. They also connect Kentucky's story to bigger events happening around the world.
Jennie Chinn Molton started The Register and was its first editor. Today, many smart people help edit it, including Karida Brown, Anya Jabour, Joseph Pearson, and Fay Yarbrough. All the articles are available for everyone to read. The Register shares the work of top historians in Kentucky, but it's also easy for general readers to understand. You can find articles from The Register through online academic sites like Project Muse and JSTOR.
Other Ways to Connect with KHS
You can become a member of the Kentucky Historical Society! Your membership helps the KHS continue its important work. Members get free entry to the history campus and discounts on KHS events and programs.
The KHS is managed by a special committee and supported by the KHS Foundation. You can also visit the society with a guided group tour, explore on your own, or even take a virtual tour online.
Civil War Governors of Kentucky Project
The KHS is home to a big online project called the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition (CWGK). This project is creating a free online collection of historical documents. These documents are from Kentucky's governors between 1860 and 1865, during the Civil War.
The CWGK project wants to bring back the stories of thousands of Kentuckians who interacted with the governor's office during the war. They are working with about 40,000 related documents. This project has been praised by historians and was even featured at an international conference in Montreal, Canada, in August 2017.
Renting KHS Facilities
The KHS also has several places you can rent for events. These include Commonwealth Hall, conference rooms, and the Cralle-Day Garden. There are seven different spots in total that you can rent for small or large gatherings.
See also
- List of historical societies in Kentucky
