9 Impressive ‘Firsts’ Kentucky Had Before Any Other State

Kentucky pride stems from more than just our friendly people, beautiful land, great bourbon, and college sports. There are plenty of things invented in Kentucky that we should be proud of.

The people of our state have not always done historically great things, but each action has helped us grow into who we are today. We may not be the first in everything, but we have a healthy abundance of groundbreaking history thanks to all of the things that were invented in Kentucky. So come along as we share with you the nine things Kentuckians were the first to do.

1. Kentucky Was the First State West of the Appalachians

In 1792, Kentucky became the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains to be admitted into the United States. In 1796, shortly after being added to the union as the fifteenth state, the Wilderness Road opened across the state, which allowed more settlers traveling by wagon to make Kentucky their home. Learn more at the Kentucky Historical Society's website.

2. Kentucky Started Common Core at School

Kentucky was the first out of 45 states to adopt a program for public schools called Common Core. In 2010, we took on this teaching style, which helped standardize learning goals for each grade within the country. Not only has this helped Kentucky students thrive, but has helped set the bar for education across the U.S.

3. Kentucky Set School Attendance Standards

To this day, many states allow young adults to legally drop out of high school by the time they're 16 or 17. But in 2013, Kentucky responded to the callout from President Obama to raise this age requirement. Our state was among the first to make the legal dropout age 18.

4. Kentucky Was The First to Embrace Obamacare

Kentucky was one of the first southern states to embrace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as "Obamacare," which helps people across the U.S. get acces to health care. We even created our own state-based health insurance marketplace—called Kynect— which expanded Medicaid and proper health care to low-income adults.

5. Kentucky Was First to Legally Adopted Hemp

On April 19, 2013, Kentucky was the first state to adopt hemp legally into the pilot hemp research project for the Agricultural Act of 2014. This act and program allows medical researchers and scientists to study the effects of hemp (and eventually marijuana) without being subject to certain legal consequences.

6. Mother's Day Was Invented In Kentucky

In 1887, Henderson County, Kentucky schoolteacher Mary Towles Sasseen Wilson held the first observance of Mother’s Day so her class could honor their moms. From there, Wilson sent pamphlets across the country to advocate for a national holiday dedicated to moms. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as national Mother's Day.

7. Kentucky Put Fast-Food Fried Chicken On the Map

Although the first KFC was opened in Utah, its founder, the great Colonel Harland David Sanders, got the idea for the franchise from selling fried chicken in his Depression-era diner in Corbin, Kentucky. Of all the iconic inventions from Kentucky—like Post-It Notes and Louisville Slugger baseball bats—a we have a feeling the world is especially thankful for this one.

8. Kentucky Also Made the First Cheeseburger

Fried chicken isn't the only food we know. Kentucky is the birthplace of the first-ever cheeseburger, which was sold at Kaelin's Restaurant in Lousiville in 1934. While the iconic restaurant has been through some rebranding over the years, it's now called 80/20 @ Kaelin's and still sells classic American cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, and other delicacies.

9. Kentucky Hosts the Country's Largest Fireworks Show

Every year, Kentucky kicks off its annual Derby celebration with Thunder Over Louisville—the nation's largest fireworks display. While several other displays have boomed over the years, like New York City on New Year's Eve, nothing has come close to the colorful wonder of the Thunder show. The best viewing spots along the Louisville waterfront include Ashland and Linear Parks.

Unfortunately, the 2025 show was canceled due to flooding in the Ohio River. But the town is hoping to get back at it and make things even more spectacular for 2026.

Many other firsts have taken place in our great state: Thomas Edison showed off his first commerical light bulb creations at the Southern Exposition in Louisville, plus we even disocvered fossils from the first Ice Age were discovered at Big Bone Lick Historic State Park. All this and more makes us proud to call the Bluegrass State home.

Looking to explore more of what Kentucky has to offer? Plan a trip using Only In Your State's itinerary planner and get custom dining, lodging, and sightseeing recommendations.