Kentucky Museum facts for kids
| Location | 1444 Kentucky St, Bowling Green, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Type | History museum, Art museum |
The Kentucky Museum is an exciting place to learn about history, art, and culture. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, right on the campus of Western Kentucky University. This museum has a huge space, about 80,000 square feet, filled with amazing things to see!
You can explore many different collections here. These include ancient tools, beautiful art, old clothing, furniture, and even fun toys and games. One special part is the "Instruments of American Excellence" collection, which is always growing.
Contents
Explore the Kentucky Museum's Collections
The Kentucky Museum has many cool exhibits that are always there for you to discover. These exhibits help you learn about different parts of history and art.
Instruments of American Excellence
This special exhibit, called the Instruments of American Excellence (IAE), opened in September 2012. It's unique because it collects everyday items that helped ordinary Americans do extraordinary things. These are the actual tools or instruments that changed our nation's history.
You can see items that belonged to famous people like Madeleine Albright, Daniel Boone, and Helen Keller. There are also items from musicians like Liza Minnelli and athletes like Tony Hawk. It shows how simple objects can be part of big achievements.
Kentucky's Past: People and Events
The museum also features exhibits that dive into Kentucky's history. You can learn about the life of Duncan Hines, who was famous for his food products. Another exhibit looks at the American Civil War from the viewpoint of people who lived in the local area.
Art and Craft Displays
If you love art, you'll enjoy the decorative arts gallery. It has a wide range of items, from an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus (a stone coffin) to crafts like 1970s macramé (a type of knotting art). There's also a gallery dedicated to beautiful regional quilts, showing off amazing patterns and designs.
Changing Exhibits and Special Programs
Besides the permanent displays, the museum often has new exhibits. These can be community art shows or projects designed by university students. They also host annual events, like open art shows where local artists can display their work.
The museum also has an 1815 Log House. This house shows how people built homes and lived in the early 1800s. You can see old building techniques, furniture, tools, and clothing from that time. The Kentucky Museum also offers hands-on programs for school groups, workshops for adults, lectures, and fun festivals throughout the year.
