11 Spots In Kentucky Where Something Truly Incredible Happened
By Jenn Shockley|Published August 17, 2015
×
Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
When it comes to something truly incredible in Kentucky, opinions may vary. However, there can be no disputing amazing things have taken place in the Bluegrass State. Some may just be considered Hillbilly genius, others are great, and had an effect on our entire nation.
Here are 11 places in our great state where something wonderful (depending on your opinion) took place:
Jacob Spears of Bourbon County is said to be the first to label his creation as Bourbon Whiskey. His home, warehouse. and spring house all still stood on Clay Kisor Road, as of a few years back. A minister named Elijah Craig is "rumored" to have been the original inventor of Kentucky Bourbon… but records of that are unclear.
Micky Nillson invented a car that runs on bourbon. If you're not a big fan of drinking bourbon, which I know some readers are not, here is an alternative use. Nillson was inspired by Caractacus Potts, a character in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Disney film.
Tim Francis utilized a golf cart frame and created a mobile living room with his couch and coffee table. This allowed him and the family to cruise the neighborhood from the comforts of their own home. The mayor at the time even took a ride on Tim’s couch.
The Hot Brown is an open face signature Kentucky sandwich. It was initially created at the Brown Hotel in 1923, and was comprised of turkey, ham, tomato, and bacon on toasted bread, smothered in a rich cheddar cheese sauce. Modern day versions sometime remove the ham, and many now use a white sauce instead of cheddar. I assure you, all variations are delicious.
This is home to the "current" and only birthplace/assembly plant of the Chevrolet Corvette. It's also home to the Corvette Museum, and the giant sink hole that swallowed a few Vettes.
William Clark, of the famed duo Lewis and Clark saw horse racing in England and was fascinated. He brought the idea back to the states, and passed it to his Grandson. M. Lewis Clark Jr created the first US horse racing track on property he leased from uncles, Henry and John Churchill, thus the name Churchill Downs. The first Kentucky Derby was ran in Louisville at this track May 17, 1875. Now it runs the first weekend in May.
If you like chicken, then you should appreciate Corbin, as Kentucky Fried Chicken began there. This is where the Colonel started it all. It would be nice to have seen what it was like when he first opened the doors.
Mother’s Day officially began in Henderson. It was celebrated by Mary Towles Sasseen, a local school teacher, in order to honor her own Mother on April 20th, 1893. The particular date was her mother’s day of birth. It was officially recognized as her holiday. However, in 1910, it became more scandal than celebration with Anna Jarvis of West Virginia. Both women had very different perspectives on the holiday.
Thomas Edison introduced the world to incandescent light at the 1883 Southern Exposition in Louisville. It should also be mentioned that Louisville is home to the renowned University of Louisville Cardinals, also known for their amazing feats in the world of college sports.
Many might expect this to be about basketball, since Lexington is the home of the Wildcats, and they do amazing things sports-wise. However, in 1792, in between Broadway and Mill Street, a simple log cabin became Kentucky’s first government seat after becoming a state. Some beautifully restored Victorian homes now sit on Mill, such as this one built in 1879 by Marie Hunt Dudley, granddaughter of John Wesley Hunt. The honor of hosting the capital seat was later moved to Frankfort, since it was a port town.
War and violent occurrences were specifically excluded in order to focus on some positive happenings in our beautiful state. I realize some people in Kentucky tire of hearing about the Derby and bourbon. We, as a state, just happen to have gained worldwide recognition for both. Fortunately, we also have some other great things that provide notoriety, like those listed above. If you know of any other places where something great took place in Kentucky, please share in comments.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
