No Destination: Death Valley Scotty

Death Valley Scotty historic marker, Cynthiana, Ky.

Walter Scott, aka Death Valley Scotty, was an adventurer in the greatest sense of the word. He was a part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, held the record for rail travel from 1905 to 1934 (44h:54m; LA to Chicago), and was a fantastic schemer. His fictitious Death Valley gold mine brought in many investors, including the president of National Life Insurance Company of America (Albert M. Johnson).

Johnson followed Scott to Death Valley and Johnson's wife convinced him the weather was good for his health. Though Scotty claims it was built for him (and is so named), Johnson erected Scotty's Castle (left, photo by K. Repanshek). The castle was constructed at a cost of $1.4 million is now owned by the federal government.

Scott, for all his frauding and scheming, never spent much time in jail. He is buried on a hill overlooking Scotty's Castle.

No Destination: Joshua Fry Bell

Joshua Fry Bell historic marker #198, Pineville, Ky.

Joshua Fry Bell, for whom Bell County is named, was born in Danville and is a 1828 Centre College alum. Bell, a lawyer, was elected to the U.S. House as a Whig. Seeking to return to Kentucky, he served a short time as secretary of state under Governor Crittenden. But history tells us that the Whig Party disappeared. Before the rise of the Republican Party, however, Bell (and others) identified with the Opposition Party. It was under this banner that Bell ran for governor, losing to Beriah Magoffin.

Bell served alongside fellow Kentuckians William Butler and John Crittenden at the Peace Conference of 1861, a last-ditch effort to avoid Civil War.

From 1863 to 1867, Bell served in the Kentucky House of Representatives. During this time, the county bearing Bell's name was formed. In fact, the county's official name was "Josh Bell County" until 1873.

No Destination: Capitol

Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort, Ky.

A group of five commissioners selected in 1792 that Frankfort should be the state's capital (the question was revisited in 1904). Since that selection, four capitol buildings have been constructed. The current structure was completed in 1910 (Happy 100th Birthday post) and is in the Beaux Arts style. Inside are housed all branches of the government: executive (first floor), judiciary (second floor) and the legislature (third floor)

Parts of the building reflect Kentucky's love of French architecture. For example, architect Frank Mills Andrews modeled the capitol's grand staircase after the staircase at the Paris Opera. From 1910 until 1927, the Capitol was Kentucky's tallest building (replaced by Louisville's Heyburn Building).

On the first floor, under the rotunda, are statutes of Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, Ephraim McDowell, Jefferson Davis and Alben Barkley. The statues of Clay and McDowell are replicas of those in the U.S. Capitol's statuary. Above, the recently painted and restored dome shines over the four pendentive murals: Nature, Industry, Culture and Civitas.

Check out all my Pictures on Flickr of the Capitol!

No Destination: Floral Clock of Frankfort

Floral Clock, Frankfort, Ky.

Since 1961, the Floral Clock has sat behind the Kentucky State Capitol. When Gov. Bert T. Combs provided $50,000 from his contingency fund to erect the clock the project was labeled a folly by political opponents. Happy Chandler declared in a gubernatorial debate: "Well, they don't say it's half past 2 in Frankfort anymore. They say it's two petunias past the jimson weed." Today, however, the clock is one of Frankfort's most popular destinations.

All of the flowers used are grown in nearby greenhouses. The "100" noted in the floral arrangement celebrates the Capitol's 100th Birthday. The floral clock is one of the largest in the world and is similar to those in Edinburgh, Scotland and Niagara Falls, Canada.  Weighing 200,000 pounds (the hour hand alone weighs 420 pounds), the usual floral design includes 13,000 plants.

Happy Weekend, Kaintucks!

Telling us what we already knew: ticket sales to the WEG are slow, but the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park is quickly becoming the place to be. [Tom Eblen]

Northern Kentucky's Fort Mitchell has litterally grown over the years - read its history as NKY.com profiles pieces from the The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. [NKY]

Uncovering Alltech, Nicholasville's international biotech company which is hosting the WEG. [Jessamine Journal]

Tackling a big roundabout coming to the roads of Rineyville, Kentucky. [Columbia Magazine]

UK Hospital will open its new emergency room next month; some got a sneak peek. [Kentucky.com]

Might Southland Christian Church be expanding into Lexington and redeveloping the old Lexington Mall? [BizLex]

No Destination: Governor's Mansion

Governor's Mansion, Frankfort, Ky.

When the new Capitol was being constructed, Governor Augustus E. Wilson told the state legislature that a new governor's house was needed closer to the capitol. Within months, $75,000 was appropriated (the final cost was $95,000). The result is this Beaux Arts home inspired by Marie Antoinette's villa, Petit Trianon, in Versailles, France. The residence, completed in 1914, has been the home to twenty-three governors. It has undergone two notable renovations: the first was spearheaded by First Lady Phyllis George (John Y. Brown, Jr.) and the second, of the ballroom, was led by First Lady Glenna Fletcher (Ernie Fletcher).

Although the gardens have taken many forms, the current layout is based on the original 1912 design. The first floor contains two reception rooms (one for the First Lady and one for the Governor), two dining rooms (one for the family, the other for state occasions), the family sitting room, and the ballroom (chandaliers are original to the home). Below are some additional pictures of the magnificent interior which I toured during the Capitol's Centennial. At the time the photo was taken, the State Dining Room was to host former governors and other dignitaries for a luncheon within the hour.

Governor's Reception Room

Ballroom

State Dining Room

No Destination: The Citizen Advertiser

The Citizen Advertiser, Paris, Ky.

Although the Library of Congress only indicates publication to 1966, the Citizen Advertiser's history is much older. Under a few different names, the paper traces its roots to the Western Gazette which was first published in 1807. As evidenced from the picture above, the paper thus claims title as the "oldest newspaper west of the Alleghenies."  The Kentucky Press Association published an article celebrating the Citizen Advertiser's bicentennial which outlined the paper's history.

Noticing those six words, of course, made me pull over to take this picture. As a Kentuckian, I want to hold them as true and allow our state to lay claim to this title. But, a little research revealed that the Chillicothe Gazette of Ohio (Ohio's oldest commercial enterprise still in operation) was begun in 1800. [*] The Pittsburgh Gazette, now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, traces its roots to 1786 giving it the rightful claim to being the oldest newspaper west of the Alleghenies. [*] [*]

OK, so the 6 words may not be true. BUT... the newspaper is still significant as it is the oldest operating newspaper in the Commonwealth. (Unless someone can debunk that claim...)

No Destination: Joe B Hall Court

Joe B. Hall Court, Cynthiana, Ky.

Born in Cynthiana in November of 1928, Joe B. Hall went on to both play for and coach his beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats. He played on the 1949 and coached the 1978 National Championship teams. While UK's coach, he compiled a record of 297-100 and three trips to the Final Four.

Coach Hall is a beloved figure in Kentucky athletics but the love for Joe B. is no greater than in his hometown of Cynthiana. In fact, the courthouse square (pictured above) was dedicated as "Joe B. Hall Court" in his honor in November 1994.

No Destination: Louisville Zoo

The Wife and our Lil Kaintuckeean viewing the Addax, Louisville Zoo.

Yep, we had a destination. I'd never before been to the State Zoo of Kentucky, the Louisville Zoo. Founded in 1969 (on land purchased by the City of Louisville and with funding by James Graham Brown of the Brown Hotel fame), it is a really nice zoo with 135 acres containing over 1,300 species. While there, however, I didn't see two of the new featured exhibits. The first is the much anticipated "Glacier Bay" that is under construction; the second is (more interesting to me) the historic Louisville Clock. (Also missed the baby gorilla.)

Despite the timing-related shortcomings, it was a lot of fun and is, unsurprisingly, a great family atmosphere.

No Destination: William H. McGuffey

Site of McGuffey's School, Paris, Ky.

Fewer names are better linked to American education than that of William McGuffey. His McGuffey Readers were sold from 1836 to 1960 selling at least 120 million copies. Born in Pennsylvania, McGuffey also attended Washington College (now Washington & Jefferson College) in western Pennsylvania. For a while, however, he suspended his studies (needing funds for college) and opened a private school in Paris, Ky where he taught from 1823-1826. [*, *] The school, located across the street from Duncan Tavern, was located on the site of the structure pictured above; historic marker #178 designates the site.

Happy Weekend. What's up in Kentucky?

Retailer, deli are coming to downtown Lexington. Decision to locate in Lexington made because of streetscape improvements. [BizLex]

Keeneland and The Greenbrier enter into an agreement that might bring (luxury) passenger rail service to Lexington? Technically, it would connect us to an Amtrak line. [NKY.com]

The Alltech Fortnight Schedule entertainment schedule has been released - great musicians of national/international renown entertaining statewide. [LexGo]

Frankfort's Jim Beam distillery will soon undergo a $28 million expansion. [State-Journal]

Georgia Davis, the first African American in the Kentucky Senate, honored through a section of I-264 bearing her name. [Governor Beshear]

Winchester's WWI Doughboy Statue restored to Courthouse lawn. One of eight in Kentucky. [Winchester Sun]

Summary of Mayor Newberry's comments on historic, farm preservation. [WEKU]

Another critical eye on the CentrePointe project and TIF monies. [Lowell's]

No Destination: Georgetown College

Giddings Hall at Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.

Georgetown College, the first Baptist college west of the Alleghenies, was charted in 1829. The Baptists originally considered adding their college to the Transylvania University in Lexington, but locals persuaded the Baptists to locate the college in Georgetown through the use of $20,000 and a transfer of the assets and absorption of the Rittenhouse Academy. Rittenhouse was a land-grant institution founded by Baptist minister Rev. Elijah Craig (also renowned as a bourbon distiller). Everything almost failed when a Campbellite (Rev. Barton Stone) moved to Georgetown to run the Academy (the Baptists weren't fond of the Campbellites).

Obviously, the squabbles were put to rest and GC remains. Today, it has nearly 2,000 students (combination of graduate, undergraduate bodies).

Update: @KyHistSoc reminds me of the legend of Bourbon at the above-pictured Giddings Hall: Bluegrass Note: Rev. Elijah Craig also founded Georgetown College. Legend has it that a quart of bourbon reposes under each of the six Ionic columns of the portico of the oldest building on campus, Giddings Hall, built in 1839.

walkLEX: Newtown Pike Extension

There is a lot of progress going on in the Newtown Pike Extension/Manchester Street area. After a conference at the Convention Center today, I attended a happy hour at Buster's (the heart of what is becoming the Distillery District).

Unlike my peers, I walked. And I'm glad I did. The perspective from this angle (toward the northwest) revealed the under-construction Newtown Pike bridge and (behind me) the road path to Versailles Road. The Extension has been a proposal for Lexigton redevelopment and traffic-flow improvement for over forty years and the best news is that the construction is coming at a time when such emphasis is placed on roadways being visually and pedestrian/cyclist friendly.

No Destination: Les églises de Paris

Paris, as well as its churches, are filled with history. There are several beautiful churches in Paris.

First Christian Church, Paris, Ky.

The First Christian Church in Paris was first organized in 1827. The beginning of the "Christian Church" actually began nearby in Bourbon County at the Cane Ridge Revival in 1801. The early congregation hosted leaders of the movement, Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell. The church is set on a slight hill and is the church's third structure. Built in the Romanesque style, it was dedicated in 1902.

Annunciation Catholic Church, Paris, Ky.

The Catholic Church in Paris has lovely grounds with a garden walk. The cornerstone of this beautiful church was laid in 1858 by the first bishop of Covington, Bishop Carrell; the church was completed in 1861 and dedicated under the "Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary." And as always, I love that Catholic Churches are open for prayer during the day!

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Paris, Ky.

Finally, St. Peter's Episcopal Church is located next to the Duncan Tavern. I can't find much information about the history of this church, but I know it has a gorgeous sanctuary (my wife used to have her voice recitals there). Being so close to both Duncan Tavern and the Bourbon County Courthouse, one must know that it was a house of worship for many early leaders in the area.

Menifee County Courthouse - Frenchburg, Ky.

I really enjoyed Frenchburg. I'm not sure why, but it had a really pleasant small-town feel. It's in the middle of NOWHERE, and its quite a pretty drive. I was on my way to court, and was pretty excited when I saw this courthouse. It's unlike any other courthouse I've yet seen. According to The Kentucky Encyclopedia, it was built in 1928, and its entrance resembles a Gothic castle tower, topped by a colonial cupola. Its really striking.

As Peter mentioned in an earlier post, Menifee County is actually misspelled, which had to be pretty embarrassing back in the day. They were trying to name the county after Richard Menefee, a brilliant young politician who tragically died at the age of 32.

No Destination: Cumberland Gap Tunnel

Cumberland Gap Tunnel (Tennessee Portal), Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

Traveling between Middlesboro, Ky. and Cumberland Gap, Tenn. used to be quite a dangerous trip; old US 25E was nicknamed "Massacre Mountain" because of the number of fatalities occurring on the windy road. Today, that path has been restored to nature and is a hiking path. There is a great 33-photo-tour of the old US 25E soon after it was closed and the 'restoration to nature' project began. Here is a photo in 2002 of students planting saplings in the old roadbed. Of course, this old pass - one of only three natural paths through the Appalachians - "served as a gateway in prehistoric times, when Native Americans used it as a footpath and buffalo used it to seek greener pastures." [*]

Vehicular travel now travels under the mountain through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Begun in 1991 and opened in 1996, there are two two-lane tubes with each traveling 4,600 feet.  During construction, subterranean mountain streams would have pumped hundreds of gallon every minute into the tubes. As a result, the tubes are lined with thick PVC piping. [*] The total project to construct the tunnel ran $280 million (the project was about 2x budget).

Interestingly, the Cumberland Gap Tunnel is one of only two tunnels in the United States that traverse a state line (the other is on I-77 between W. Va. and Va.). Although the old US 25E meandered also through Virginia, the tunnels do not (though they are mere yards away). [* - great link on planning, construction details]

Note: Yes. The photo was taken of the Tennessee portal, but the Kentucky portal looks about the same. And the latter is in Bell County. So there.

No Destination: Paris Cemetery

Gateway to the Paris Cemetery. Paris, Ky.

Driving from Lexington to Paris, one cannot help but notice the magnificent Gothic Revival entrance to the Paris Cemetery. Established in 1847, the cemetery's entrance was completed in 1862. The entrance was designed by architect John McMurtry (McMurtry also designed a gateway for the Lexington Cemetery pictured here but that was torn down in 1890).

Buried in the Paris Cemetery are several notables. Among them Associate Justice to the Supreme Court Robert Trimble (for whom Trimble County is named); CSA Gov. Richard Hawes (Kentucky's Second Confederate Governor in a pseudo-state government); Sen. Garrett Davis (credited with keeping Kentucky from seceding); and John Fox, Jr. (author of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, the first book in American literature to sell over one million copies).

The oldest headstone in the cemetery is that of Elisha Ford, who died in 1807. Upon the establishment of the Paris Cemetery, many smaller cemeteries in town were closed and the bodies exhumed and transferred to the new Paris Cemetery. [*]

walkLEX: Bluegrass Airport Runway 9-27

My lil Kaintuckeean headed down the runway, Lexington, Ky.

Lexington's Blue Grass Airport hosted this month's Second Sunday (a monthly event in Lexington; once a year in October around the state) which is designed to get people out exercising. The new Runway 9-27 is 4,000 feet long and was the perfect venue for the event. People had bicycles, roller blades, roller skates, skateboards and scooters. There were old WWII era planes on display and various emergency vehicles were also present. The biggest hit was probably the LFUCG ambulance since its patient area is air conditioned (a plus in 90-degree weather!)

Runway 9-27 replaces the old runway, 8-26, from which the ill-fated Comair Flight 191 took off. Runway 9-27 is expected to open for general aviation traffic in August - just in time for the World Equestrian Games. Here's what the Herald-Leader had to say.

Happy Weekend. Kentucky Notes of the Week

Vintage base ball appeared in Georgetown at the historic Ward Hall. [Lexington Herald-Leader]

Second Sunday in Lexington will be celebrated on the airport runway this weekend. Take advantage of this - when else can you play on a runway? [Tom Eblen]

Explore the folklore of burgoo, a traditional and almost exclusively-Kentucky dish. [History Burgoo]

The teahouse of Elmwood Inn in Perryville is profiled by Hometown Tours [WTVQ]

Bourbon tastings might still come to the World Equestrian Games. [Lexington Herald-Leader]

Columbia's Steakhouse is a 62-year veteran of Lexington's dining scene. Yum. [Ace Weekly]

The Distillery District in Lexington gets a new roadside historical marker and its history is profiled. [BizLex]

The mixed-use/condo market of Lexington is analyzed with the contrast of recent wins and fails in various greater-downtown projects. [BizLex]

CentrePointe developers are retooling the design, but not enough. Plus there are some serious questions left to be answered. [Lowell's]

$3 million streetscape project will beautify the Second Street area adjacent to Louisville's new Yum! Arena. [Courier Journal]

The Governor addresses the convention of the Future Farmers of America; informs the FFA that Kentucky farmers are essential to food, power supplies. [Governor's Blog]

The Kentucky Hall of Governors at Frankfort's Kentucky History Center will be getting a $215,000 upgrade with "a more modern approach." [Bluegrass Politics]

Map Update

• The Kentucky120 Project has visited 46 counties (38.33%)
• We've been to NoDestination in 43 counties (35.83%)
• Combined, we've visited 63 counties (52.50%)

No Destination: Union College

Union College's Centennial Hall, Barbourville, Ky.

Barbourville's Union College is one of the state's smallest. Its campus is 100 acres; its undergraduate student body only counts 600+ and about 1000 graduate students. [*]. Despite its small size, it is a fine campus with several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Union College was founded in 1879 by the citizens of Barbourville who believed that "education was the path to leadership."

Among these is Centennial Hall (originally, the Classroom Building). The structure, pictured above, was completed in 1907. From the College's 1911-1912 catalogue:

This magnificent and spacious three-story building, constructed of brick and concrete, and trimmed with Tennessee marble. The building is steam-heated and lighted by electricity … and is scientifically ventilated to insure plenty of good fresh air. In is are the classrooms, the library, the President’s office, the chapel, and laboratories. The classrooms are fifteen in number. Each is equipped with single desks and slate blackboards of ample size. From the President’s office are speaking-tubes to each room, and also electrical connections, so that a modern program clock situated in the office rings automatically in each room the bells for the change of classes and other signals. The chapel is commodious and is seated with comfortable opera chairs. There are three laboratories – Chemical, Physical, and Biological. These are equipped throughout with modern apparatus and enable the student to do unusually through work in science.

Union College's most notable alumnus is Nobel laureate Phillip Allen Sharp who won the 1993 award in physiology/medicine for his research on gene-splicing. Born in Falmouth (Pendleton County), Sharp was also awarded the National Award for Science in 2004.

walkLEX: Centrepointe Proposal 2.0

Rendering of Proposed Centrepointe, Lexington, Ky.

Yesterday, Dudley Webb unveiled his modified proposal for the Centrepointe development (47 page PDF). The modification includes several major changes. Most notably, the "peak and spire" design is gone being replaced with a flat top roof and a 60-foot flag poll. The original proposal was to be about 500 feet tall (35 stories); the modified structure just under 290 feet (23 stories). BizLex has a good summary of the differences in the two proposals, but Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen points out the obvious: with the economy in its current state, he doesn't "expect to see it rise out of the pasture anytime soon."

The proposal emphasizes the incorporation of and reinterpretation of historical architectural styles. The proposed structure is immensely better than the original proposal, but I'm still not entirely certain how the structure will complement the rest of downtown or how it will be uniquely Lexington. Although the tower doesn't rise adjacent to the sidewalk, it is close to the Main Street side questioning what shadows it might cast.

Plus, I've posted before on my growing fondness of the downtown horse fence. It truly would be a great area for a 1.7 acre downtown park (a real park, with trails, etc.). That said, the proposal does offer the site for use by Spotlight Lexington and other downtown festivities associated with the World Equestrian Games.

Rendering from Kentucky.com as modified from the Centrepointe Application.

No Destination: Three States Cornerstone

Near the Boundary Marker of TN, KY & VA in Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

At the top of Tri-State Peak is the cornerstone of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Dr. Thomas Walker and Colonel Richard Henderson first surveyed this site in 1779. A National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark marker notes the Royal Colonial Boundary of 1665. The marker is at an elevation of 1,990 feet.

When Dr. Walker, for Virginia, and Col. Henderson, for North Carolina,  surveyed the land, the two states disputed the rights to lands west of the mountains.  The region was proposed to be part of the never-successful colony of Vandalia and the non-state of Westsylvania. Also, Col. Henderson is the same who purchased the non-state of Transylvania from the Cherokee in 1775, but which purchase was invalidated by Virginia the following year. The present state lines and boundaries were settled by compromise in 1802 and the Supreme Court's decision, Tennessee v. Virginia, 190 U.S. 64 (1903), finally approved the location.

From the Tennessee roadside marker  pictured above, it is only 1.5 miles to Bell County, Kentucky and the Tri-State Peak.

No Destination: University of the Cumberlands

Bell Tower at the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Ky.

Originally founded as the Williamsburg Institute in 1889 and renamed to Cumberland College in 1913, the University of the Cumberlands took its present name in 2005. Early benefactors seeking to "provide affordable Christian education for mountain people" included James P. and Thomas B. Mahan, Ancil Gatliff, Edwin S. Moss, John W. Siler, and John D. Rockefeller.

Architecture on the college's campus is well-considered and substantially uniform red-brick. Many of the buildings, especially those recently constructed, are modeled as replicas of America's historical structures, e.g., Independence Hall and Monticello. The public restaurant in the Cumberland Inn, the Athanaeum, is listed as a must-stop in Eating Your Way Across Kentucky: 101 Must Places to Eat.

Notable alumni include Rep. Eugene Siler, Governors Bert Combs and Edwin Morrow, military generals, and several university and college presidents. The school's recent history is complete with some controversy when Kentucky courts ruled that state funding of a pharmacy school at UC would be unconstitutional in light of the forced withdrawal of a gay student at the school.

No Destination: Capitol Mural "Civitas"

I've been excited since First Lady Jane Beshear announced that the murals were coming to the Capitol. Part of the Capitol's original design, plans were set aside after artist Frank Millet (a friend of then-Gov. August E. Willson) died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. One hundred years later, the Capitol finally has its murals! This is the final of four posts about the murals.

"Civitas" Mural, Capitol, Frankfort, Ky.

This mural, Civitas, represents the "light of progress." Athena, the Roman goddess of civilization, symbolizes progress and strength. Athena refers to a paper in the hand of the male standing next to, and enlightened by, her looks forward toward the future. The kneeling male holds a lantern to illuminate - a sign of both the future and Kentucky's coal heritage. In background-right, the Roebling Bridge - the architect's precursor to the Brooklyn Bridge - links Covington with Cincinnati. In background-left, the Jefferson Davis obelisk and the Lincoln Birthplace Memorial remind us of Kentucky's historical importance as the birthplace of these two leaders.

I think that the Civitas mural is my favorite as it beckons a continued hope for Kentucky as "the light of progress." I am also quite fond of the Roebling Bridge which appears in the background. All of the murals, however, are quite beautiful as is the newly painted rotunda.

The other murals are Nature, Industry, and Culture.

No Destination: Capitol Mural "Culture"

I've been excited since First Lady Jane Beshear announced that the murals were coming to the Capitol. Part of the Capitol's original design, plans were set aside after artist Frank Millet (a friend of then-Gov. August E. Willson) died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. One hundred years later, the Capitol finally has its murals! This is the third of four posts about the murals.

"Culture" Mural, Capitol, Frankfort, Ky.

This mural represents Culture and the fruits of knowledge. In the foreground there are four persons: the male on the left holds a tome and symbolizes the jurist as well as the elements of faith, law and instruction; the genteel woman at center  instructs the young child who holds the Kentucky dulcimer; at right, the Muse of the Arts represents the traditions of music and dance. In the background, one can pick out Natural Bridge, the Old State Capitol, and other famed Kentucky structures.

The four murals cost $225,000 and were paid for by a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Forcht (of Forcht Bank). Apparently, two spots remain for donors to step forward for murals in two lunettes: one each above the entrances to the State Reception Room and the Governor's Office.

The other murals are Nature, Industry, and Civitas. 

No Destination: Capitol Mural "Industry"

I've been excited since First Lady Jane Beshear announced that the murals were coming to the Capitol. Part of the Capitol's original design, plans were set aside after artist Frank Millet (a friend of then-Gov. August E. Willson) died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. One hundred years later, the Capitol finally has its murals! This is the second of four posts about the murals.

"Industry" Mural in the Capitol, Frankfort, Ky.

This  mural represents Industry with the paddlewheel boat steaming down the Kentucky River. Mercury, Roman god of commerce, stands behind Vulcan (Roman god of the forge) and a laborer who is moving a bourbon barrel.

The other murals are Nature, Culture, and Civitas. 

No Destination: Capitol Mural "Nature"

I've been excited since First Lady Jane Beshear announced that the murals were coming to the Capitol. Part of the Capitol's original design, plans were set aside after artist Frank Millet (a friend of then-Gov. August E. Willson) died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. One hundred years later, the Capitol finally has its murals! This is the first of four posts about the murals.

Mural "Nature" in the Capitol, Frankfort

The first mural represents Nature and the bounty of the land. In the foreground is Ceres, the Roman goddess of agricultural prosperity. Kentucky's signature industry - the horse - also appears in the foreground. In the background you can see the twin spires of Churchill Downs, as well as the limestone fences, barns and fields of harvest for which Kentucky's bluegrass is so well known.

These murals are grand and a fine addition to the Capitol. So many emphasize the characters depicted in the foreground that they ignore the detail in the background.

The other murals are Industry, Culture, and Civitas.

No Destination: Capitol Centennial (1910-2010)

Though ground was broken in 1904 and the cornerstone was laid in 1906, Kentucky's fourth and present capitol building was opened on June 2, 1910. This weekend, the Commonwealth celebrates the centennial of this magnificent building which replaced the Old State Capitol in old Frankfort.

So Happy 100th Birthday to this Beaux Arts gem (I'll do a post on the building itself soon...)!! As part of the festivities, four murals were unveiled in the rotunda. I'll be posting on these four murals as bonus posts over the weekend. Suffice it to say, they are gorgeous!

At noon, Gov. and First Lady Beshear hosted former governors and first ladies and other dignitaries for lunch in the Executive Mansion before a ceremony held on the grounds. During the festivities, the capitol grounds also hosted a farmer's market, a number of Kentucky craft vendors and artisans as well as an antique car show. It was a wonderful birthday party! 

No Destination: Historic Midway

Midway, Kentucky

Midway, Kentucky is a bustling town in Woodford County. The land that would become Midway was purchased in 1835 by the Lexington & Ohio Railroad Company. Located "midway" between Lexington and Frankfort (and also "midway" between Versailles and Georgetown), the town was Kentucky's first railroad down. Of course, its location as a great crossroads was already known from the importance of the nearby Offut-Cole Tavern. And a train still travels through the middle of town on Railroad Street (unlike LaGrange, the train doesn't impede parallel traffic)

Historic Midway has so many stories, and it has many historic markers on its Railroad Street that shares those stories:

"Sue Mundy" Here, Marker 537:

Jerome Clarke, called Sue Mundy, one of Morgan's Raiders, formed his own guerrilla band on Morgan's death Sept. 1864. Clarke and band raided here November 1, 1864, killing Adam Harper. Four Confederate prisoners executed in reprisal by Union forces. On Feb. 2, 1865, Clarke returned with William Quantrill, another guerrilla leader, burned depot here and stole 15 horses.

 Edward Dudley Brown (1850-1906), Marker 2027:

This well known African American horse owner, trainer, developer, and jockey was born into slavery, 1850. Raised as a stable boy near Midway, he was nicknamed "Brown Dick" after the record-setting racehorse of that name. Brown was associated with great horses such as Asteroid, Ducat, and Kingfisher. Presented by City of Midway and the Ky. African American Heritage Commission.

(Reverse) Noted Horseman - "Brown Dick" worked with Kentucky Derby winners Baden Baden (1877), Ben Brush (1896), and Plaudit (1898). He died at a friend's house in Louisville, May 1906, of tuberculosis and was returned to Midway for burial. He was inducted into National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame on August 8, 1984. Presented by City of Midway and the Ky. African American Heritage Commission. 

 Midway, Marker 1580

First Kentucky town established by a railroad. In 1831, Lexington and Ohio Railroad Co. began railroad between Lexington and Frankfort and first train reached midway point, 1833. John Francisco farm bought by L&O in 1835; town of Midway laid out by R. C. Hewitt, civil engineer for railroad. Many streets named for L&O officials. Midway incorporated, 1846, by Ky. legislature.

Morgan at Midway, Marker 516:

Taking 300 abandoned USA horses and mules at Versailles, Morgan's Raiders came here July 15, 1862. Advised of troop train approach from Frankfort he had tracks torn up and howitzers set. Train warned and returned to Frankfort. Morgan took telegraph line and coaxed train at Lexington to come on but it turned back. He and his men reached Georgetown that evening.

Besides its fascinating history, Midway is also the home to several great restaurants and antique shops.

Kentucky 120 Progress Update

Finally, I've colored in some of the western counties of the state. We're up to 46 now.

No Destination: Yuko-En on the Elkhorn

The Arched Bridge at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, Georgetown, Ky.

The Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden, Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, is located on the north fork of the Elkhorn Creek in Georgetown, Ky. It is a beautiful garden with a large koi pond, a rock zen garden, a Tokugawa entrance gate and stone gardens. Pictured above is the Arched Bridge, painted Japanese red, which crosses a dry rock stream and symbolizes streams flowing down Japan's volcanic peaks. It is one of the largest Japanese gardens in the United States.

Fourteen hundred truckloads of dirt was unloaded onto the site during construction in 2000, converting the former pasture (and site of an 1898 monastery) into the garden. It was declared the Kentucky's "Official" Japanese garden in 2000 by an act of the Kentucky General Assembly; funding was provided by many local businesses, including (not surprisingly) Toyota.  A second phase, not completed, will include a bonsai house, a maple grove and a tea garden.

Hardin County Courthouse - Elizabethtown, Ky.

I didn't get to Hardin County until way after dark, and I plan to be back for a better picture at some point. As I drove up to the courthouse, I first noticed this obscenely large and out of place glass-fronted building, only to discover that it was the new judicial center. The courthouse that is awkwardly pictured above, is in the Beaux Arts style and was completed in 1934. Bizarrely, this courthouse square is almost identical to Nelson and Grayson counties' courthouse squares, and all three of these counties line up together from east to west. Does anyone out there know why these downtown areas are all so alike? Anyway, this courthouse is the fourth in Elizabethtown.
Most people outside of Kentucky would know Elizabethtown (or E-town as it is known to Kentuckians) from the Cameron Crowe movie of the same name that came out in 2005. While much of the movie is supposed to take place in E-town, most of the filming was done in other Kentucky communities, including Louisville and Versailles. As an aside, when my wife and I were looking to buy a house, we actually looked at house in Versailles that was right across the street from the home where the homecoming scenes were filmed.
I don't know about the rest of Kentucky, but I DESPERATELY wanted this movie to be good. And . . . well. . . it kinda sucked. But it was nice to see Kentucky in the spotlight for a bit.