Covered bridges around the state; artist Stan Schu of Georgetown, who sculpts with a chain saw; Louisville's renovated Cathedral of the Assumption; and Carter Caves State Park in northeastern Kentucky. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A botanist's tour of a recently discovered area of old-growth forest in Harlan County, the Speed Art Museum's restoration of a doll presented by the Japanese as part of a cultural exchange in the 1920s, and a wetlands area in Western Kentucky that's a stopover for migrating birds. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A family-oriented riding program in Falmouth and Carrollton, a 70-year-old weaving business in Berea, songs of the 1960s civil rights movement, and a privately preserved forest in Nelson County. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Profiles a nun, one of the Sisters of Loretto, who creates liturgical art; an Owensboro museum dedicated to Kentucky's indigenous music, bluegrass; the museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, which traces Kentucky Derby history; and Kingdom Come State Park in Eastern Kentucky, home of black bears. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A settlement near Paintsville where visitors can see how 19th-century pioneers lived; a Henderson man who carves elaborate wooden miniatures, many with moving parts; monks' lives at the Trappist abbey in Central Kentucky where Thomas Merton once lived and wrote; a former basketball star who's making a name for himself as a sculptor; and a 15,000-acre forest and park in Christian County.
Mount Sterling's Paul Williams and his hand-crafted guitars and dulcimers; a working farm in Scott County where visitors can pick their own Halloween pumpkins; the traditional stone fences of the Bluegrass; and the Western Kentucky recreational area, which features an 1850s homeplace. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A gifted Lexington boy who composes music, writes, and draws; Herschel House of Butler County, who makes traditional Kentucky long rifles by hand; an Eastern Kentucky park and its classes on building bird and bat houses; and the University of Louisville's annual jazz camp for student musicians of all ages. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
The oldest continuously operated mill in Kentucky, a memorial to Kentuckians killed in the Vietnam War, the Mount Sterling candy company that makes "Blue Mondays," a Frankfort bourbon distillery, and a volunteer program to rescue wounded birds of prey. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford
An Owenton quilt artist, a museum in Benham dedicated to the history of the coal-mining industry, a young sculptor from Wilmore, and the site of Daniel Boone's first Kentucky settlement. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Jessamine County's Janice Miller and her painted gourds; a Louisville program that teaches young men about drums and about their African heritage; "Hombre" Embry and his private Bluegrass Motorcycle Museum in Ohio County; and a Woodford County farm that produces thoroughbred horses, cattle, and crops. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A historic tour of Paducah and a textile exhibit at its Yeiser Art Center, a cave-country motel where travelers can sleep in concrete teepees, and a 4-H agricultural exhibit for Northern Kentucky kids. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Camp Nelson was a training camp for African-American troops during the Civil War, then a refugee camp for their families. The Valley View Ferry hauls cars across the Kentucky River between Fayette and Madison counties. Both Civil War presidents were born in Kentucky, and both have monuments in the state: Abraham Lincoln's in Hodgenville and Jefferson Davis' near Hopkinsville. A 1995 KET production
The history and charitable works of the Kentucky Colonels, ultralight airplanes, and the restaurant where Harland Sanders perfected his "finger-lickin' good" fried chicken. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Santa impersonator Jack Gillespie of Shepherdsville; Olde Tyme Toys in Richmond; a Christmas concert by Rockcastle County children; holiday decorations in Frankfort; and dollmaker Anna Lee Blinco of Louisville, who gives away many of her creations. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A cooperative that helps woodworkers network and find new markets, simulator-based tank operations training at Fort Knox, Joe Ley Antiques in Louisville, a Lexington painter of religious works, and a post-office mural that depicts the history of a small Western Kentucky town. A 1995 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
An equine breed developed in Kentucky for its smooth gait; a profile of the Scott County town, home to a Toyota manufacturing plant; Paula Cinieros, who ran the Alaskan Iditarod race in 1995; and a cave near Bowling Green. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Paintsville artist Garland Dixon, who turns scrap wood into beautiful turned bowls; the small-town Western Kentucky team that won the 1952 state basketball tournament; Glendale wicker furniture craftsman Tony Vance; T-shirts with a message of peace and unity; and a Northern Kentucky state park where remains of prehistoric mammals are preserved. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A Louisville couple who raise puppies for training as companion dogs for the disabled; making syrup in Harlan; a folk artist from Eastern Kentucky; and Doug Howard, an Owensboro craftsman who makes baskets from split white oak. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
A Lexington sculptor, traditional team marble games from the Kentucky-Tennessee border region, and historic furnaces throughout the state. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington; Lexington's Rose Mary King, who makes African-American dolls based on family members and historical figures; a family-owned furniture business in Western Kentucky; a Louisville gallery that promotes and sells Kentucky crafts; and a brief tour of the University of Kentucky Arboretum in Lexington. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Maker's Mark, the Loretto bourbon distillery and Kentucky landmark run by the Samuels family; a portrait of the late gourd artist Minnie Black of London; and Pike Countians who are turning a famous feud into a tourist attraction. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Edmonton's Craig Pierpont, who crafts harps and other musical instruments; Greg Turay, a former University of Kentucky student rising in the world of opera; Louisville musical group Union Tree; and a State Fair salute to old-time Kentucky folk music traditions. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Elizabethtown's Carmen Ray Coyle, who makes bottles and other glass art; Louisville sculptor Ed Hamilton, who was commissioned to create a memorial to African-American Civil War soldiers; quilting stories from the State Fair; and natural arches and Yahoo Falls in southern Kentucky. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Homemade wooden bridges in Eastern Kentucky; a special Scouting program for children with disabilities; and abstract artist Sam Gilliam, originally from Louisville. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Calhoun's Boat Works, maker of "stump jumper" boats designed for the shallow waters of Reelfoot Lake in far Western Kentucky; the site of the state's largest Civil War battle in Perryville; folk artist Myra Howard of Salyersville; and the Quilt Box, an unusual quilt shop in Northern Kentucky. A 1996 KET production hosted by Byron Crawford.
Host Byron Crawford sees the sights and samples the food at the fair, from young livestock exhibitors to purveyors of ostrich burgers and from auctioneering and rooster-crowing contests to the thrill rides of the midway. A 1996 KET production.
Sculptor Barney Bright; Big Bone Gardens in Union; the Cane Ridge Revival.
Carriage restoration; Paducah community art project; Asbury students at the Olympics.
Danville's Pioneer Playhouse; Louisville baseball history; train museum; and more.
Grocery delivery on the Ohio River; folk art fair; blackberry farming; Aviation Museum.
Riverlorian Lewis Hankins; artist Michael Scop; Governor's Scholars; antique farm equip.
Russell Springs theater; painter Helen LaFrance; the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington.
Christmas activities in historic Washington in Mason County.
Canoeing the Licking River; Bowling Green photographers; Gatton Farms hams; and more.
Boone Co. apple orchard; westernmost Kentucky; racing silks by Patricia Green.
Sheepdogs compete in Shelbyville; WWII fighter plane restoration; a vanished town.
Restored pioneer homestead; Glendale's Whistle Stop Café; logging with horses.
Residents share stories of the town of Burnside in Pulaski County.
Banjo player Blanche Coldiron; antique cowbells; Gen. George Rogers Clark; and more.
Fossils at the falls; Murray scouting museum; a ghost town in Russell County.
The D'Marias of Danville; Ky School for the Deaf festival; sand sculptures.
Western Kentucky barbecue; David School crafts program; motorcycle racing champ.
Author John Fox Jr.; fly fishing in Eastern Kentucky; the gorge of the Russell Fork.
Mustang Troop at the Kentucky Horse Park; barbecue for charity; family farm fun.
Kentucky landscape photographer; Newport candy shop; Cumberland Falls moonbow.
Country stores throughout the state and the people who own and operate them.
An unusual museum in Menifee Co.; Lexington jewelry designer Karen Payne; and more.
Young percussion prodigy; sculptor Bobby Reed Fallwell; Graves County wetland preserve.
Whittler Gene Ewing; family-run sawmill; historic bridge over the Cumberland River.
Home of an early abdominal surgery; Frankfort quilt maker; Tibetan ceremony at Berea.
Festival of Kentucky Folklife in Frankfort, with food, music, crafts, and old-time chores.
Filmmaker Andy Garrison; choreographer Alan Lommasson.
Civil War costumes by Deb Rogers; restoring the homestead of Janice Holt Giles; and more.
Lake Cumberland corn mill; traditional dance in Berea; weaver Mae Whittington.
Sculpting with donkey dung; a trip down the Cumberland River; Audubon Museum bird garden.
Perryville bed and breakfast; abandoned factory transformation; model trains, and more.
Holiday festivities in and around the Nelson County town include a train ride and more.
Aerobatic pilot Steve Hill; Ricky Hudson's Harley business; historic thoroughbred farm.
Artist Pat McNeese; costumer John Arrasmith; a historic Princeton store.
Explores the theories about the origins of the Melungeons, an Appalachian ethnic group.
Making sorghum in Powell Co.; naturalist and author Randy Seymour on Kentucky wildflowers.
Outhouses Races at Penn's Country Store; Berea portrait painter; Franklin Co. sunflowers.
Victorian-era home in Princeton; jazz workshop in Warren Co.; Kentucky's newest state park.
Madison Co. garlic growers; hand-built stagecoach; Jesse Stuart's Greenup Co. home.
Muralist David Jones; UK fiber artist; Letcher Co. nature sanctuary.
Lincoln bust by Robert Berks; Mary Todd's childhood home; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program.
Louisville photographer; historic Speed family home; an ancient fish now raised in Ky.
Byron Crawford hosts an expanded edition featuring highlights from the series.
Coal camp turned tourist attraction; Broadway the Clown; found object art.
Historic mill-turned-inn; a family's musical legacy; arts camp for grown-ups.
Bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs; Stewart Iron Works; surrealist artist Rich Griendling.
Fox-hunting traditions continue at the Iroquois Hunt Club.
Stoneworks and Indian Mounds; magician Artie Kidwell; NPR's Bob Edwards in Louisville.
Five gone but not forgotten amusement parks from across Kentucky.
Artists Ron and Janice Owens; songwriter Tom T. Hall of Olive Hill.
Abandoned town Rugby; Zeigler House in Frankfort; Lindsey Wilson College chapel.
Minerals from Kentucky; sports for rehabilitation; a hand-built stagecoach.
Henry County kids' camp; Craft Shop at Hindman School; Kentucky's oldest distillery.
Holiday music; Christmas tree farm; growing pointsettias.
NFL training camp at Georgetown College; slave wedding reenactment; buffalo farm; and more
Tour of Mammoth Cave; antique toy museum; Paducah's African American dance company.
Skydiving in Green Co.; stained glass sculptures; history of Land Between the Lakes.
Logan Co. astronaut; ballet teacher in Louisville; boating and swimming at Buckhorn Lake.
State Symbols of Kentucky/Drag Racer/Great Minnow boat Regatta.
Anna and Harland Hubbard inspired the back-to-nature movements.
Re-creation of an 1862 Civil War battle; retracing the route of conservationist John Muir.
Hand-set and printed books; graphic artist Malcolm Grear; horseback riding in Green Co.
A remembrance of African-American mountaineers, coal miners, and railroad workers.
Visiting the people and places along Kentucky's eastern and northern borders.
Painter Jeanne Dueber; furniture design contest; the ice cream of the future.
The Kentucky History Center in Frankfort hosts interactive exhibits on the state's past.
A profile of the Oneida Baptist Institute in Clay County, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999; Northern Kentucky singers who perform traditional Native American songs; and a lake in Natural Bridge State Park. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A Jefferson County rescue organization for needy dogs; a Hardin County nature writer, photographer, and free spirit; and music of the Civil War played by reenactors. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A nonprofit Louisville company that creates Braille books and other products for the visually impaired, trains and railroad history in Fulton County, and a nature preserve near Paducah. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
World-famous Claiborne Farm near Paris has been home to some of the greatest thoroughbred horses in history—including Secretariat, who is buried there. Built in 1865, the Conrad-Caldwell House in Louisville is a Victorian showplace. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
In Madisonville, Dr. Loman Trover built the "Mayo Clinic of Kentucky." In Paintsville, a couple built a fabulous playhouse for their granddaughter. Jeanine Brady of Marion County builds colorful feeders to attract hummingbirds to her backyard, and Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill attracts spelunkers and hikers alike with natural beauty. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A look at the life and work of the Franklin County painter and naturalist, best known for his pastoral watercolors inspired by Central Kentucky landscapes. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A Paducah museum and antebellum/Civil War education center, a dig in Jackson County where archaeologists are uncovering Kentucky history circa 12,000 years ago, a Mount Sterling painter who's a rising star in the worlds of landscape and wildlife art, and Kentucky's longest lake. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Host Dave Shuffett drives the eastern route of the old Dixie Highway—the "magic highway"—from the Roebling Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington to the Cumberland Gap at Middlesboro. While visiting some of the current roadside attractions, he also remembers those that flourished from the 1930s through the '50s but faded away with the coming of the interstate highways. A 2000 KET production.
19th-century artifacts from an archaeological dig at Riverside Farm near Louisville; Seldom Scene Farm in Woodford County, where Paul and Lindy Huber raise llamas and alpacas; and the historic small town of Warsaw in Gallatin County. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A special expanded edition features the history, culture, and people found along Highway 68. Driving from Maysville in the northeast to Paducah in the northwest, host Dave Shuffett stops at the Blue Licks and Perryville battlefields, the Shaker village at Pleasant Hill, a neon-lit drive-in restaurant in Paris, a farm where country hams are made, Duncan Hines history, and more.
The small Ohio County town of Rosine was the birthplace of Bill Monroe—and therefore of bluegrass music. Howard Brandon of Murray shows off his collection of antique automobiles, and Johnson County painter Catherine Smart Wells gives a tour of her studio. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Tom and Pat Gish have been publishing the Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg since the mid-1950s. This small-town newspaper has the motto "It Screams!" on its masthead, and it has won several national awards for its in-depth, sometimes crusading coverage of Eastern Kentucky issues. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A Lexington author who wrote for 35 years before attracting a major publisher, husband-and-wife hammered dulcimer players from Shelby County, a wildlife artist from Murray, and a look at Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort through the seasons. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Daviess County's Kay Wimsatt and her passion for crazy quilts; a Louisville tattoo parlor that also houses a museum of body art; abstract artist David Gulotta, who finds inspiration in the depths of Mammoth Cave; and Dawson Springs' past as a resort town and spring-training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1914 to 1917. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A Kentucky poet laureate, the Kentucky doctor who attended Floyd Collins and Sgt. Alvin York, the William T. Young Library at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and a Hartford factory that recycles old wooden materials into new flooring. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A Nature Conservancy preserve in Garrard County; Tracy Watkins of Jessamine County, who goes treasure hunting with a metal detector; Powell County young people learning to play bluegrass music from legends of the form; and the lush flora of the Lexington Cemetery. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Knob Hill Farm, where Abraham Lincoln spent his toddler and preschool years; the site where Lexington was founded, now a park and education center maintained by a volunteer foundation; airport training for firefighters who have to battle blazes aboard airplanes; and log cabins around the state. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Remembering the old-time resort at Edmonson County's Chalybeate Springs, folk-dancing with the Coffeys of Shelby County, and hiking the trails of Bell County's Pine Mountain State Resort Park. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A cherry furniture factory in Campbellsville, a region-wide effort to clean up Eastern Kentucky, and an organ performance by Jeff Jones on Danville Presbyterian Church's new Taylor and Boody pipe organ. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Though long since eclipsed, High Bridge between Jessamine and Garrard counties was once the highest railroad bridge in the country—and a popular tourist destination in its own right. University of Louisville librarian and historian Tom Owen talks about the history of the River City. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
An internationally renowned multimedia artist from Bowling Green; Tec-Fab Inc. of Campbellsville, where metal church steeples are manufactured; and diminutive horses on a farm in Metcalfe County. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
The home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and novelist Robert Penn Warren, author of All the King's Men, at Guthrie in Todd County and a museum exhibit in Hopkinsville that pays tribute to early 20th-century "psychic healer" Edgar Cayce. A 2000 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Host Dave Shuffett takes a candlelight tour of the fort, visits a Victorian-decorated mansion museum complete with a Christmas Tree Festival, enjoys holiday music, and meets a Victorian-era version of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. A 2000 KET production.
A Boone County painter who works in egg tempera and his daughter, who is also taking up art; Graves County pilot Ralph Waldrop, who flew a B-26 bomber in World War II; and a performance by the 2000 Kentucky All-State Chorus.
Native American burial mounds in Western Kentucky that date to 800 A.D., the colorful and creative horse statues from Lexington's 2000 public-art project, and a forest preserve located just 15 miles from downtown Louisville.
The Pollittes of Mason County hold their 67th annual family reunion, a Campbellsville potter sculpts dinosaurs, a former mapmaker in Edmonton puts her drafting skills to work creating cards and silk-screen prints, and a Letcher County singer/songwriter combines her concern for the environment with her music.
A Danville community theater troupe named for a Centre College scholar and writer; Jack Bricking of Richmond, who travels to greyhound tracks to save former racing dogs that would otherwise be destroyed; and the highly sought-after pottery made in the little community of Bybee.
Newport's riverside tourist attraction brings the life of the sea to the land of the bluegrass, while a state park nearby is home to prehistoric animal remains. Host Dave Shuffett canoes down a segment of the Cumberland River that's part of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers program, finding lots of scenic beauty and a little whitewater.
The artisans of Louisville's Yardbirds, who create fanciful creatures out of scrap metal and old tools; Oldham County's Dick Wright, who carries on the traditions of blacksmithing; Nancy Farmer, who quests for examples of "futuristic" design, circa the 1950s; and a National Wildlife Refuge in western Kentucky.
Bellarmine University professor Bob Lockhart, whose bronze sculptures are found throughout Louisville; Owensboro homemaker Jan Treesh, who started making baskets as a hobby and now runs her own business selling them; and a hunt beneath old outhouses for antique glass.
The Carlisle-based organization ReRun places retired thoroughbreds who might otherwise be destined for slaughter in loving new homes. Host Dave Shuffett visits a Nature Conservancy preserve in Livingston County that features natural arches and an unusual ecosystem.
Host Dave Shuffett takes a nostalgic tour of Kentucky by driving from Ashland to Paducah on U.S. 60. Stops include a drive-in restaurant, Grayson Lake, Calumet Farm, the state capitol, a Frankfort memorial to African-American Civil War veterans, a Louisville blues bar, Brandenburg, an Owensboro pastry shop, Camp Breckinridge, Smithland, and the Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area.
The Northern Kentucky site of a bloody Revolutionary War battle, a Louisville stained-glass artist whose work embodies both Old and New World traditions, and an Edmonson County couple who grow strawberries without soil.
Kentucky's largest carillon, which rings the music of the bells out over the Berea College campus each day; a historic Bardstown landmark restored after a devastating fire; and a visit to Elkhorn City for small-town charm, picture-postcard mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure.
A Hollywood filmmaker (Halloween, Escape from New York) who grew up in Bowling Green, Lexington's harness-racing track, and a Laurel County colony established by Swiss immigrants in the 1800s.
A Leitchfield man who's one of America's most widely published fantasy artists; Munfordville's Creations from the Hart, a crafts store owned and operated by the crafters of Hart County; and a round of golf at the oldest continuously operated course in the country.
The locks and dam that allow boats to get around the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville, a historic distillery near Lawrenceburg, and a farrier's school in Shelby County.
A park overlooking the Mississippi River in Hickman County commemorates an unusual Civil War battle, Frankfort's David Rodgers runs his business as a tribute to his father, and host Dave Shuffett and naturalist Joyce Bender hike through a Powell County nature preserve said to have been visited by Daniel Boone.
Bell County festivities honoring the explorer who named Cumberland Gap and created some of the first maps of the region, a Frankfort monument that honors Kentuckians killed in Vietnam, and a walking tour of a historic town in Jefferson County.
Former University of Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum reviews his Hall of Fame career, host Dave Shuffett joins Dave Hellard to search for Native American arrowheads, and a Lexington photographer specializes in Kentucky landscapes.
Explores the various theories about the origins of the Melungeons, an Appalachian ethnic group of mixed ancestry whose forebears arrived in the New World at the time of the Spanish explorers. A 2001 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
Carver Bruce Smith of Villa Hills specializes in human caricatures in wood; 11-year-old Kelsey Tamayo of Hardin County composes music, plays more than 20 instruments, and actually loves to practice; and Bowling Green pet store owner Mitch Gibbs' patented revolving aquarium helps coral grow more naturally and keep its color.
The Kentucky Oral History Commission, begun in 1976, has one of the largest and most accessible collections of taped interviews in the country. A band of seniors in Louisville entertains with harmonicas and nostalgic songs. And high-school singers perform in choruses formed through the 2001 Kentucky Music Educators Assoc. all-state audition process.
A tour of Monroe County, including barbecue restaurants, the Turkey Neck Bend Ferry, and the Old Mulkey Meeting House, and a visit with renowned Louisville sculptor Ed Hamilton as he completes his Washington, DC memorial to African-American soldiers of the Civil War.
In Fayette County, a volunteer organization sponsors an art program for mentally disabled adults. Host Dave Shuffett journeys to Fulton County to visit a historic clock tower, a black history museum, a company that sells nuts, and a broom-making shop.
Host Dave Shuffett goes fly-fishing with 97-year-old Hub Perdew of Frankfort, who shares his secret for longevity. Ohio County ministers run a teen center. And Louisville artist Jay Bolotin works on his mixed-media creation Limbus, a "mechanical opera" that's part music and part sculpture and is based on a real-life tragedy. A 2001 KET production.
A quaint motel sitting high on a hill overlooking Burkesville in Cumberland County; the stonework of Italian immigrants that can still be seen on schools, churches, and coal company buildings throughout Eastern Kentucky; and the 2001 International Highland Games in Glasgow (KY), featuring a Kentucky bagpiper.
The Gleason family's homemade soap, mustard, jams, jellies, and other products from their Robertson County farm; a visit to a popular state park on Kentucky Lake; and volunteers building a trail on Pine Mountain.
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Overbrook Farm tapestry, which hangs in the University of Kentucky library named in honor of Lexington businessman and philanthropist William T. Young, and a look at the natural scenery of one of Kentucky's favorite state parks as well as the pioneer woman for whom it is named.
A look at the Kentucky connections of writer Mark Twain and a riverboat trip down the Kentucky section of the Mississippi River, including stops at Fort Jefferson and the New Madrid Bend.
A hike through Blanton Forest, an old-growth forest in Harlan County recently re-opened to the public; a tour of the LaGrange home of Rob Morris, founder of the Order of the Eastern Star; and a look at fall colors in Powell County's Natural Bridge State Park.
Tsa' Ne' Dos'e (London's Arnold Richardson) carves traditional Iroquois flutes and performs on them. Randy Spencer of Owensboro, an electrical engineer by trade, carves beautiful hiking sticks from sassafras wood. Louisville psychologist Jim Mahanes paints with watercolors.
Fayette County wood sculptor Philip Hultgren specializes in ceremonial mahogany bowls and other large pieces. The Louisville Science Center introduces kids to the science behind how things work. And Chautauqua performer Hasan Davis portrays the true story of Angus Augustus Burleigh, a slave who ran away from an Anderson County farm at age 16 to join the Union Army and fight in the Civil War.
A Louisville couple shows how they make the colorful furniture sold under Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" imprint. Loretta Lynn's brother gives a tour of the family home in Johnson County. And Locust Grove marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Rogers Clark with a salute to the history-making Clark family.
Dave Shuffett finds all kinds of uniquely Kentucky delights, including an Appalachian chef, a rodeo team, a jeweler inspired by nature, and some long-timers—a couple still keeping house after 72 years of marriage and a family that has been farming the same land for 150 years. He visits a coal camp, a country music store, the Corvette Museum, and more.
A trip through Central Kentucky aboard a train from the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, a photographer who has traveled an estimated 320,000 miles to photograph students and teachers in Kentucky's 1,400 schools, and an archaeology project in which Earthwatch volunteers inventory and study artifacts found in Mammoth Cave.
The unusual collections at the Cumberland College-operated museum in Williamsburg, a musical Corinth family whose members both make and play instruments, and the quilts of Taylorsville's Jan Darnell. A 2002 KET production hosted by Dave Shuffett.
A small firm in Auburn that carries on a time-honored tradition of making stained glass, an Austrian-born painter who has become a prominent neo-primitive artist, and a family-run park that offers both cave tours and animals and culture from the Australian Outback.
An Owen County printer who hand-sets type and publishes many of Kentucky's most respected authors, a Clark County organization promoting social and economic change for women of Eastern and Central Kentucky, and a Louisville sculptor who had many professions before rediscovering his childhood interest in impressions and casting.
Writer Harlan Hubbard and his wife, Anna, lived for more than 40 years without electricity—but with plenty of books, music, and art—in an isolated spot near the Ohio River in the Trimble/Campbell County area.
The glass-blowing studio of Michel and Bernie North, woodturner Ron Thomas, and a tour of Mammoth Cave for the truly adventurous.
Visit the 18th-century Frankfort home of U.S. Senator John Brown and Denby Studios in Versailles, where Shaker-style clocks are made by hand.
An Asian cultural center in Louisville, rock-climbing adventures in the Red River Gorge, and swamp scenery from Western Kentucky.
The Lincoln County home of a Kentucky pioneer and "Indian fighter," an artists-in-residence program at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, and the majestic eagles that inhabit Reelfoot Lake.
Profiles of a photographer who conducts weekend seminars and pilots his ultralight airplane to get aerial shots of national parks and a nationally known wildlife artist/naturalist who lived in Kentucky for many years.
A Louisville businessman who owns one of the largest private collections of horse-drawn carriages in North America; a family business in Cave City that makes ornamental concrete products; and a Lexington-born sculptor, adept in bronze and clay, who is also a master printmaker.
The Behringer-Crawford Museum, the Newport Aquarium, Covington Community Center arts projects, Newport on the Levee, riverboats, and Mainstrasse and other historic neighborhoods in Covington.
As part of the largest exodus of U.S. citizens in American history, Confederate veterans from Kentucky and other states fled to Brazil after the Civil War and established a permanent settlement. Their descendants still dress up in hoop skirts and sing "Dixie"—in Portuguese/Brazilian accents.
An equine artist from Lexington, a Western Kentucky sculptor who works from large stones, and a Scott County museum with an extraordinary collection of silver made by silversmiths on the 18th-century frontier.
Host Dave Shuffett and canine co-star Sadie introduce Christmas segments from around Kentucky, including music and lights from Renfro Valley, toy trains under the Christmas tree at Covington's Behringer-Crawford Museum, and a photo session in which pets get their pictures taken with Santa.
Host Dave Shuffett and his dog, Sadie, meet a champion dog from Louisville and see a canine agility competition at the Kentucky Horse Park. Eddie Miles, considered one of the 10 best Elvis impersonators (out of 35,000), explains how he became an Elvis "tribute artist." And nature scenes from the Daniel Boone National Forest's southern region track seasonal wildflowers.
A photographer from Madison County who turns out books and calendars on Appalachian topics; Charles and Norma Perdue of Lee County, who make wooden toy chests; and a Jefferson County business where old-fashioned pies, cakes, and ice cream are made from scratch.
Shelby County's Ryan Young, a six-time national champion bike rider; Kenny Mattingly and his family in Barren County, who make cheese right on their farm; and a Larue County man who raises miniature donkeys.
A 7-year-old pool ace from Green County; a nonprofit organization from Bowling Green dedicated to informing children about social issues through puppetry; a fishing event for special-needs children; and Diane Downs, founder and director of the Fabulous Leopard Percussionists, made up of Jefferson County children.
Bowling Green artist Stephanie Townsend; the Hardin County home of Emma Reno Connor, now transformed into a museum chronicling the lives of prominent African Americans; and scenic Kinniconick Creek in Lewis County, known to fishermen for its native muskie population.
Art on Main, an Estill County gallery that's helping to revitalize downtown Irvine; the volunteer-maintained formal gardens at Henry Clay's estate in Lexington; and a Bowling Green husband-and-wife team who create delicious, edible art.
The Lexington Hustlers, an integrated African American baseball team that began playing in 1945, and the history of Lower Howard's Creek, a nature preserve in Clark County.
A new collaborative in Louisville that has brought together artists from every genre of glassmaking; John Loeser, who has been playing the harmonica all his long life; and Lexington-based business Simply Oaxaca, created to promote and share traditions of Hispanic cultures in the Bluegrass area.
In a special expanded edition, host Dave Shuffett tours Kentucky by driving from Maysville to Wickliffe on U.S. 62. Stops along the way include visits to Georgetown, Versailles, Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Central City, Princeton, and Paducah.
Fiddler John Harrod of Owen County has spent 30 years finding and documenting Kentucky fiddlers and old-time fiddle tunes and continues to pass on this lively, indigenous roots music to the next generation. At Lake Cumberland, owners of rare amphibious cars built in Germany in the 1960s put their unusual vehicles to the test on land and on water.
A national gathering of Civil War reenactors at the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Perryville, a dude ranch near Flemingsburg, ultralight airplanes made in London, and Grammy-winning bluegrass musician J.D. Crowe.
Host Dave Shuffett shares stories with World War II Army nurse Martha Penn of Frankfort; spotlights a candy store in Jeffersonville, IN that has been using traditional methods of making candy for more than 100 years; and introduces Chris Ramsey of Somerset, who makes wooden hats.
An Amtrak train ride along the Ohio River; Adair County craftsman Lowell Carter, who makes miniature log cabins; and the Bardstown Road Youth Cultural Center in Louisville, where youngsters not only help themselves but also help the community.
Host Dave Shuffett tours Aromescence, a husband-and-wife candle-making business in Calvert City; visits the stunning Marengo Cave in Indiana; and introduces painter Dan Dutton of Somerset.
Louisville antique dealer Joe Ley, who has turned a penchant for junk and an eye for value into one of the most successful antiques businesses in the country; Norman Downs' hand-made walking sticks, made from old wood taken from demolished buildings; pine needle raffia basketry by Pamela Smith of Elizabethtown; and Arts Across Kentucky magazine.
Schwartz's Countryside Bake Shop in Auburn is known for the "best pecan pie in the west." Lexington's Living Arts and Science Center allows children and adults to explore the arts and sciences through workshops, field trips, classes, and exhibits, while Steve Thomas of Calloway County explores by way of a powered parachute.
A quaint hotel in Park City that has been a part of the scenery in the Mammoth Cave area for many years, a Middlesboro neighborhood's annual wonderland of Halloween jack-o'-lanterns, Day of the Dead celebrations in Lexington, and a look at some of the wildlife found in the Land Between the Lakes.
The nature photography of Chuck Summers, who shoots primarily in his own back yard-Cumberland Gap National Historic Park; the simple complexity of metal sculptor Jeff Underwood's work, which graces museums and yards alike; and a look at the William Harsha Bridge in Maysville, the first cable-stayed bridge in Kentucky.
Army ROTC training at Fort Knox; fresh fruits, vegetables, and more at the Cave City Farmers' Market; mixed-media artist Debbie Joplin of Crestwood, who creates sculptures from hand-dyed silk; and a Bagdad couple who have adopted two wild horses.
Master woodcarver Bud Ellis shares the almost-lost art of carving carousel horses with Lexington students, Kathy Haynes-Ellis of Russell Springs makes soap the old-fashioned way, a McCreary County museum teaches about coal-mining history, and artist Barbara Stallard creates innovative paintings and prints.
The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Renfro Valley, the Raven Run nature sanctuary outside Lexington, and sculpture by Paul Fields of Louisville.
The historic Pisgah Church in Woodford County, painter Martin Rollins of Louisville, and the Rogers Scholars Program's intensive one-week summer session for high school students from 42 counties in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.
Kentucky native David Dick and his wife, Lalie, work together to publish his books and write several columns, including "A View from Plum Lick" in Kentucky Living magazine. Shelbyville's Buffalo Crossing Restaurant and Family Fun Ranch raises and serves up American bison.
A pioneer Christmas at the Jouett House in Versailles, Lindy Evans' sculpted Santas, and holiday lights and sounds at Patti's 1880s Settlement.
The lights of Burnside State Park's Christmas Island, Christmas dinner at the Forkland Community Center, music by Warren Wolf, and snow scenes with Sadie.
Host Dave Shuffett traces the route of the Green River through the McLean County towns of Livermore and Calhoun; visits Dinosaur World in Cave City; and introduces Bowling Green artist and muralist Andee Rudloff, who was commissioned to paint a pair of fiberglass catfish for a display of public art in Tennessee.
Ruby Pearl Felix from the Ohio County town of Hartford, who's still quilting at 100; Lexington's Irish import shop; and Smiths Grove woodworker Mark Whitley.
Host Dave Shuffett and Sadie tour the Nature Academy in Owen County with Rich Detzel and learn about some herbal remedies made from things most people consider weeds. In Logan County, John Christopher Knight shares his original songs about his family's simple life on a farm with no electricity, cars, or indoor plumbing.
Glier's in Covington is the largest producer of goetta (a German side dish often compared to breakfast sausage or scrapple) in the U.S. The University of Louisville Photographic Archives houses more than 1.2 million historical images. And in Bowling Green, an annual mini-Corvette race raises money for Junior Achievement.
Visits to the Old Crow Inn in Danville, the oldest stone house west of the Allegheny Mountains; Laurel County folk artists Lonnie and Twyla Money, whose work is included in the permanent collection of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art; the Mini Mansions Dollhouse and Miniature Shoppe in Owensboro; and the Vernon-Douglas State Nature Preserve.
The Thomas Edison House, where the famed inventor lived, worked, and experimented while living in Louisville; Louisville's Extreme Skate Park; and Murray State University's Wrather West Kentucky Museum, which spotlights the social, cultural, and economic development of Western Kentucky and the Jackson Purchase.
Host Dave Shuffett hunts fossils in Southern Indiana and Hazard and tours Breckinridge County's Broadmoor Gardens Conservatory and Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses eight gardens, a tropical plant conservatory, and a wildlife rehabilitation center. Also, a chat with author Barbara Kingsolver, a Nicholas County native.
A World War II LST (Landing Ship, Tank) visiting Paducah; an Owen County ostrich ranch; an old jail in Taylorsville that's now an arts and craft cooperative; and the handmade whirligigs, thingamabobs, and other automata at Dan Torpey Toys in Louisville.
Host Dave Shuffett visits Shelbyville to look in on some saddlebred horses and meets Melvin Dickinson, founder and conductor of the Louisville Bach Society.
A rare opportunity to journey to some of the few remaining places that look much as they did when the first European settlers began arriving in Kentucky. Inspired by the book Kentucky's Last Great Places, written and photographed by Thomas Barnes, host Dave Shuffett explores hidden areas in every corner of the Commonwealth.
Tom Myers, a Lexington entomologist and award-winning photographer who has traveled around the world to take pictures of insects and other animals; Pleasant Retreat, the Lancaster house built by William Owsley, governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848; and Mullins Log Cabin Country Getaway, an 1850s log cabin that now hosts crafts classes.
Host Dave Shuffett visits Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, the oldest continuously operating distillery in America; talks with Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Tom Bennett about the new buffalo exhibit at the Salato Wildlife Education Center; and introduces Al Hartmann of Covington, who turns junk into miniature replicas of antique cars, World War II battleships, and more.
Greenbo Lake State Park and its lodge, named for local author Jesse Stuart; woodturner Paul Ferrell of Crofton and his wife and fellow artist, potter Patricia Ferrell; and the Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails project, launched at Eastern Kentucky University to spotlight cultural heritage tourism opportunities in southeastern Kentucky.
Rudy Ayoroa, an artist from Bolivia who lived and worked in Danville for more than 20 years; the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum in Harrogate, TN; and scenery from Mammoth Cave National Park.
Chris, Erika, and Zoe Strecker and Zoe's husband, Mike Frasca-all artists from Mercer County; Ken Garman's Lincoln Trails Honey Farms in Hardin County; and photographer Raymond Klass, who "paints with light" inside Mammoth Cave.
Coach Leslaw Stawicki and the U.S. Paralympic wheelchair fencing team in action at the Louisville Fencing Center; the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, where one of the largest and most diverse collections of venomous snakes in the world is helping to save lives; and potter Mitchell Rickman of Bowling Green.
Photographer Bill Luster, who has worked for the Courier-Journal for 30 years, mounts an exhibit of his work in his hometown of Glasgow. In Auburn, Terry Blythe operates a bed-and-breakfast in an 1871 mansion. And Warren County upholsterer Laura Brewer recycles scraps into whimsical Christmas stockings.
At the Challenger Center at Hazard Community College, students are treated to an interactive space exploration experience. Danville dentist Jack Hankla and his son, John, have built one of the largest and most important private collections of dinosaur bones in America. And one of the last custom coffin makers in Kentucky carries on at Bert & Bud's Vintage Coffins in Murray.
The headquarters of the Garden Club of Kentucky in Nannine Clay Wallis' 1851 home in Paris; Colonial House, a family-run furniture workshop in Auburn that has been creating fine furniture since 1952; and stained-glass artist W.T. Stinson.
Video clips from the television show Extension Today: On the Air introduce the activities of the University of Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Service. The Kentuckians Chorus, a men's barbershop chorus from Lexington, rehearses for and then performs in a regional competition in Louisville.
The historic and scenic Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville combines an outdoor museum of 19th-century landscape architecture and a vast botanical garden with the graves of many prominent citizens, including Gen. George Rogers Clark and Col. Harland Sanders. The Cardome Centre in Georgetown, a former girls' school, now hosts meetings, classes, and other events.
Visits to eight labyrinths across the state, including one under construction in Danville, explore the resurgence of this ancient tool for meditation and spiritual seeking. In Bowling Green, businessman Jerry Baker leads a tour of one of the region's best-kept secrets: the Baker Arboretum.
A look at the creation and the offerings of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, plus a two-part report on volunteer efforts in the Land Between the Lakes region. In addition to restoring old cemeteries, a group called Between the Rivers has brought some long-overdue recognition to Civil War veteran Andrew Jackson Smith, an ex-slave and posthumous Medal of Honor winner.
The Garden Club of Kentucky's holiday boutique in Paris, a visit to the Bethlehem post office with stamp collector Linda Lawrence, antique toys on display at the Hunt-Morgan House in Lexington, and Christmas music by Angel Voices and Ars Nova.
The Garden of Hope in Covington is a re-creation of the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, one of several sites claiming to be the burial place of Jesus. Louisville's Frazier Historical Arms Museum (now the Frazier International History Museum) displays weaponry from throughout history.
Lucian Bartosik, an ultralight airplane pilot and instructor from Hopkinsville; Dobree Adams, a fiber artist and photographer who raises her own sheep for her woven creations; and a collection of toy tractors and other nostalgic miniatures in Paris.
At GlitterBug Glass and Handmade Beads in Lexington, artist Ashley Watson blows her own beads. Host Dave Shuffett canoes Tygarts Creek in Carter County with wildlife writer and photographer Soc Clay and visits the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum to see a Babe Ruth baseball bat found in a closet.
University of Kentucky graduate Sam Abell, a photojournalist for National Geographic, has lived what he calls the "photographic life"—and has nine books and thousands of arresting images to show for it. In Somerset, thousands of car enthusiasts from around the country regularly converge on the town square for some of the largest cruise-ins anywhere.
A remembrance of early Louisville blues history, when performers like Sylvester Weaver and Sara Martin were beginning to hone their sound; father-and-son bull riders Rick and Rod Dizney of Knox County, founders of the Appalachian Pro Bull Rider's Association; and University of Kentucky art professor and sculptor Garry Bibbs.
Explore the origins of Liberia, a country founded by African-American slaves who were offered their freedom if they were willing to leave America and start a new nation in West Africa. In an area still referred to as "Kentucky in Africa," the principal town, Clay-Ashland, was named to honor Henry Clay, U.S. senator from Kentucky in the 1800s.
The creamy combination of marshmallow and caramel called the Modjeska, made for more than 100 years by Bauer's Candy; folk art and craft work at the Kentucky Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman; and Wheeler's Pharmacy in Lexington, where meals are still served at an old-fashioned lunch counter.
The Juggernaut Jug Band preserves a distinct musical style originating in its hometown of Louisville back in the 1920s; knifemaker Gil Hibben of La Grange, whose clients have ranged from the White House to Elvis Presley to the movies; the distinctive ceiling clock and pendulum adorning the lobby of the Lexington Public Library; and a photographic preview of the Wild and Scenic Kentucky special.
The Floracliff nature preserve in southern Fayette County, which offers an incredible spring wildflower display and the largest travertine (petrified waterfall) in Kentucky; the Howard Steamboat Museum in southern Indiana; and self-taught stone carver Tim Lewis of Isonville.
Dave Shuffett rafts, canoes, sails, kayaks, rides, hikes, and bikes his way around Kentucky, enjoying wildlife and outdoor adventure across the state. Sights include the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River, Breaks Interstate Park, the Pine Mountain Trail, black bears at Kingdom Come State Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, Cave Run Lake, the Red River and its surrounding natural arches, and more.
Staff members at Mammoth Cave National Park learn to use fire as a catalyst for growth and change, and Lexington's Citizen Police Academy offers students the chance to ride in a cruiser, watch officers on the job, and learn about the many aspects of police work. Also, a visit to It's a Jungle Clayworks in Ohio County.
The Kentucky Military History Museum in Frankfort preserves artifacts of volunteer military organizations from the Revolution through the Gulf War, and the work of Louisville quilter Willie Pride reveals secrets from African-American history. Author Johnny Molloy canoes the Green River, and nearby Homeplace, a "working timeline farm," gives visitors a taste of farm life from past to present.
Pinecliffe Gardens, a family-run flower farm in Philpot, offers more than 1,000 varieties of daylily cultivars and 300 hostas. At Bybee Pottery in Madison County, the fifth and sixth generations of the Cornelison family turn out sought-after wares. And at Camp Nelson, reenactors dramatize Kentucky's role in enlisting African-American troops in the Civil War, and a tinsmith demonstrates his craft.
Lacey Griffey, an Appalachian cook from Benham, prepares fried chicken for a big church supper; Simpsonville photographer Bruce McElya shows his pictures of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon; and Louisville's River City Drum Corp trains children and young adults in African drumming—and in life.
Artist Dan Barnes, who owns an upholstery and furniture design business and creates functional art pieces with stained glass; photographer Charline Marrinan, who doesn't let a mental disability stop her from capturing beautiful nature photos; Pat Harned, who trains and handles elephants for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus; and chainsaw artist Carroll Sanders of Hancock County.
Soc Clay of South Shore, who has been writing about and photographing outdoor subjects for more than 30 years; agate hunting in the streams of Eastern Kentucky; an international dinner representing 22 countries; and a lesson in tamale making at Somerset's newly opened Hacienda Restaurant.
The luxurious vessels manufactured at Sharpe's Houseboats in Somerset; music by the Junkman, a native Louisvillian who makes music with found objects; and husband-and-wife folk artists Jessie and Ronald Cooper of Flemingsburg.
The Garden of Hope in Covington is a re-creation of the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, one of several sites claiming to be the burial place of Jesus. Louisville's Frazier Historical Arms Museum (now the Frazier International History Museum) displays weaponry from throughout history.
Near Bardstown, volunteers set out to preserve the 1795 log house that was home to the first bishop of the Bardstown Diocese, the forerunner to the Archdiocese of Louisville, and a wellspring of Catholic history in Kentucky. Host Dave Shuffett hikes and fishes in Elliott County's spectacular Laurel Gorge and visits the nearby Laurel Gorge Cultural Heritage Center.
Clifty Falls State Park near Madison, IN and a controlled burn at Raymond Athey State Nature Preserve in Logan County.
The Festival of Trees at Ashland's Paramount Arts Center, the Winter Wonderland of Lights in Ashland's Central Park, and a scuba-diving Santa at the Newport Aquarium.
At the Buffalo Crossing Fun Ranch in Shelby County, the birth of a rare white bison has attracted national attention. In downtown Salyersville, the Magoffin County Historical Society has created a pioneer village out of 15 log cabins originally located throughout this area of Eastern Kentucky. And in Calloway County, Tammy Cothran raises Shetland sheep, then turns their wool into woven goods.
The River Heritage Museum in Paducah features interactive exhibits and special projects. Kentucky Down Under brings a sampling of Australian culture and wildlife to cave country. Lexington folk artist LaVon Williams, a fifth-generation woodcarver, creates figures and panels reflecting urban African-American life. And host Dave Shuffett meets a world-champion canine at a dock-diving competition.
Photographer Brian Maslyar visits the Red River Gorge and offers pointers for taking better nature photos. The Kentucky School of Craft in Hindman teaches crafts and business skills as part of an ambitious community development effort. Joe Cissell meets host Dave Shuffett at a country store near Bardstown for some old-time guitar picking.
Bellevue artist Ray Bridewell creates beautiful crystalline jewelry using material that potters have traditionally taken out with the trash. The family-operated Shannon Lamp Service in Lexington specializes in creating custom lamps and lampshades. And mystery writer Laurien Berenson of Versailles writes novels in which her dogs play a prominent role.
Yatesville Lake State Park in Lawrence County; artist Damon Farmer of Woodford County, who travels the world creating elaborate sand sculptures; an international trade organization headquartered in Fayette County that does research and marketing on asphalt; and a music education program at Bowling Green's Natcher Elementary School founded by WKU music professor William Scott.
Host Dave Shuffett visits the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and explores the exhibit "A River Runs Through Us." Bob Tucker uses the woodworking techniques of an earlier generation in his Barren County studio, Foxfire, and Tom Beale leads trail rides and team-building exercises at the Sugar Creek Resort in Jessamine County.
Host Dave Shuffett and his dogs visit Rabbit Hash to pass some time at the oldest operating general store in the state and discover how a Labrador retriever came to be elected mayor. Dentist Timothy Donley of Bowling Green displays some ancient tools of his trade, and Castleton Lyons owner Tony Ryan brings a Irish look to his horse farm with the construction of a traditional Irish round tower.
Host Dave Shuffett explores the history and natural wonders of Pine Mountain with visits to Pine Mountain State Resort Park and the Pine Mountain Settlement School, as well as a look at the preservation work of the Pine Mountain Legacy Project.
Ray and Renee Grosser of Pulaski County, who have created a model railroad depicting Minnesota's Soo Line along with a model of their hometown along its tracks; the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven; Camp KYSOC in Carroll County, the first camp in America for children and adults with disabilities; and an elk-watching expedition on the Perry/Knott county line.
Dr. Steve Aaron and his Mammoth Jacks—donkeys whose genetic line can be traced back to a gift from the king of Spain to George Washington; the Glasgow Highland Games; an antique clock appraisal event in Bowling Green; and Tennessee's Pickett State Park and Forest, a 12,000-acre Cumberland Mountains wonderland just south of Wayne County.
Host Dave Shuffett visits Jesse Stuart State Nature Preserve, formerly the writer's own home at W-Hollow in Greenup County, and connects Stuart's poetry about spring in Kentucky with the land he helped protect. A tour of the U.S. Marine Hospital in Louisville uncovers its important role in the history of public health care in America. Also, a design competition for students at WKU.
Host Dave Shuffett rides the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating river steamboat; meets a woman from Uganda who sells her homemade cookies in downtown Louisville; explores the jewel collection at Lexington's Headley-Whitney Museum; and introduces a profile of Lexington painter Elsie Harris.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park; Linda Henry's painting and pottery studio; Riverview at Hobson Grove, a Civil War-era home operated by the city of Bowling Green as part of its parks system; and Louisville artist Leonard Kik, who makes 3-D models of everything from architectural structures to museum exhibits—all in miniature.
Smith-Berry Vineyard and Winery in Henry County, miniatures carver Karen Scates of Woodburn, and Woodford County's community theater.
The Vent Haven Ventriloquism Museum in Fort Mitchell, which hosts an annual international convention for more than 400 ventriloquists, and Trooper Island, a camp on Dale Hollow Lake developed by the Kentucky State Police for Kentucky young people.
A Japanese-themed edition commemorating Toyota's 20th anniversary in Kentucky includes tours of the auto plant and Georgetown's Yuko-en (friendship garden) as well as a profile of Episcopal missionary Paul Rusch. The Louisville cleric, who went to Japan in 1925, is credited with introducing the county fair, American football, and the John Deere tractor to the mountainous region where he served.
When well-respected ceramics artist Wayne Ferguson suffered damage to his vision in a car accident, fellow artists raised money to help with the medical bills. Marilyn Pfanstiel, who overcame medical obstacles herself to become a noted author and artist, collects and shares stories of inspiring women. And the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission marks 30 years of protecting wild places.
Midway's Old Friends Racehorse Retirement, which provides a home to former multi-million-dollar racing stallions who were sold to breeding operations overseas; tapestry artist Joanna Sosnicki; and the music of the Heartland Dulcimer Club in Elizabethtown.
The Wildwood Inn in Florence, which caters to families with whimsically themed rooms; calligrapher Mary Breeden; and a research project at the University of Kentucky that has engineering students working with NASA to design and test specialized wings for Mars exploration.
Profiles Sgt. Alvin York, the most decorated soldier of World War I, and Cordell Hull, U.S. secretary of state and founder of the United Nations, both of whom grew up in northern Tennessee near the Kentucky border. Also, Kentucky connections to the Tuskegee Airmen, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky in Lexington, and a Boy Scout project to place flags on veterans' graves for Memorial Day.
Executive Director Nancy Adams and former students discuss the mission of the Pine Mountain Settlement School, a one-of-a-kind center for environmental and Appalachian cultural education. Host Dave Shuffett visits Artcroft, a residential artist's retreat in Carlisle, and the Lexington Farmers' Market.
A special expanded edition tours 11 places designated by the late historian Dr. Thomas Clark as sites every Kentuckian should visit: the Abbey of Gethsemani, Augusta, the Cane Ridge Meeting House, Cumberland Gap, the Falls of the Ohio, the Fitchburg Iron Furnace, Land Between the Lakes, Lilley Cornett Woods, Mammoth Cave, Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, and the Speed Art Museum.
Host Dave Shuffett visits the Farm House Inn, a McCreary County bed-and-breakfast with hiking trails, waterfalls, rock formations, and other natural wonders right on the property; the Beaver Dam Café in Ohio County; and the Ballard Wildlife Management Area, a stopover spot for eagles and huge flocks of migrating waterfowl.
Photographer Dean Hill of Morgan County, who left Kentucky to join the Peace Corps, toured Asia, spent time in Alaska, and eventually returned to his roots; a visit to the Sally Brown Nature Preserve with Jim Aldrich, director of the Kentucky chapter of the Nature Conservancy; and renowned Kentucky stained glass artist Guy Kemper from Woodford County and his international art.
Former students' memories of the Science Hill Female Academy in Shelby County, which closed in 1939 after 114 years of operation; Shelbyville artist Julie May's intricate works based on natural forms, created with the unusual process known as vitreography; and Apple Patch in Oldham County, a residential community founded by parents where their children with Down Syndrome can live and work safely.
A look at Kentucky's large population of dragonflies and damselflies, drum makers Chad and Carrie Schott of Calloway County, and a teenager from Campbellsville who sings a unique version of bluegrass reflecting her Filipino heritage.
Host Dave Shuffett tours Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and learns that there is much more to the Shakers than chairs and lemon pie. The Koenig Farm in Springfield turns out amazingly soft mohair yarns in rich colors. And the National Underground Railroad Museum in Maysville chronicles the lives of fugitive slaves seeking freedom.
The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Buyer program, which preserves unique natural areas through partnerships with local landowners; a whirlwind tour of General Butler State Resort Park; and legendary Western Kentucky University basketball coach "Uncle Ed" Diddle, known for both great coaching and a unique approach to the English language.
At the Lincoln Homestead Park in Springfield, a reenactment of the wedding of Abraham Lincoln's parents kicks off the three-year Lincoln Bicentennial celebration sponsored by the Kentucky Historical Society.
An exhibition of classic and antique cars in Elizabethtown; "retriever school" for Charlie at Lodi Kennels in Paducah; and an interview with singer-songwriter and Eastern Kentucky native Dwight Yoakam and his mother, Ruth.
The handmade goodies of Muth's Candy in downtown Louisville, plus stories from the generations of family members who have kept it operating; landscape poet and teacher Stephen Holt; and an annual basketmaking workshop put on by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service that draws artisans from all over the U.S.
A Bracken County family who started growing lavender to diversify their crops, art created by inmates at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in LaGrange, and the "Romance with the Landscape" exhibition of 19th-century French landscape paintings at the University of Kentucky Art Museum.
Host Dave Shuffett talks to Jerry Dalton, master distiller at Jim Beam, about the process of making bourbon; visits the family-owned Promotional Wood Products, which specializes in making advertising aids for distilleries; and introduces Kentucky Sassafras, a bluegrass band made up of teenagers—two of whom are the sons of PWP's founders.
Acclaimed woodcarver Troy Jones, whose pieces reflect nature and wildlife; Redwood, where children and adults with multiple or severe disabilities achieve greater independence; and husband-and-wife sculptors Erika Strecker and Tony Higdon of Lexington, who create art primarily from metal.
Classic quilt designs painted on barns throughout Eastern Kentucky and the equine-based therapy of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, where horses, medical personnel, and volunteers work to help people with disabilities achieve self-esteem, confidence, coordination, and a sense of achievement.
A Metcalfe County man participates in the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund to ensure that Dry Fork Gorge will stay protected. Dan Smith, a pastor in Hawesville, markets the tangy sauce he created to benefit Methodist children's homes. And the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen promotes traditional art forms around the state.
The highest point in Kentucky, Black Mountain is home to 28 species of plants, some of them found nowhere else. The Trixie Foundation has been rescuing and sheltering Appalachia's unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats for more than 15 years.
The Purple People Bridge in Northern Kentucky gives climbers a taste of adventure as well as great views of the area. Maki Takahashi carries on the traditions of Royal Thai fruit carving to create pieces of edible art. And Tennessee sculptor Russ Faxon captures his unique way of looking at the world in bronze.
Host Dave Shuffett canoes Murphy's Pond in Hickman County; tours the Clement Mineral Museum in Marion, which houses the largest and finest flourite collection in the world; and introduces 15-year-old Celtic harpist Deanna Tomlinson.
Scientists from the American Chestnut Foundation study a giant old chestnut in Adair County to learn how it survived the Asian blight that wiped out most members of its species. Teenage ballet star Will Geoghegan performs with the Kentucky Ballet Theatre and in national competitions, and Lexington photographer John Snell seeks out scenery and wildlife at the Red River Gorge.
Shape-note or Sacred Harp singing, a uniquely American tradition, brings communities together to sing four-part a cappella hymns and anthems. A look at some butterfly species of Kentucky includes the rare swamp metalmark, Baltimore checkerspot, Olympia marble, and Edwards hairstreak.
Director Mimi Pickering has been making documentaries at Appalshop, an arts organization in Whitesburg, since the early 1970s. The Regional Resource Center at the Bowling Green Community College of Western Kentucky University uses the popularity of the CSI shows to teach science to middle school kids, and the Lighthouse Restaurant in Sulphur Well serves up down-home comfort food.
The history of Berea College and a summer camp at Bowling Green Technical and Community College that teaches kids about cooking, cleaning, and nutrition.
Purple House Press in Cynthiana, which "rescues" out-of-print children's books; a reunion of the Carr Creek team that won the 1956 boys' state basketball championship; and the life of Louisville native Tod Browning, a pioneer of the horror movie genre who produced and directed the original Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and the cult classic Freaks.
Explores the story of the Harrodsburg Tankers, 66 men from Harrodsburg who joined the 192nd Tank Battalion and were sent to Bataan; German POW murals at Camp Breckinridge; and how a Pulaski County native became the model for Rosie the Riveter.
Host Dave Shuffett and author Roger Brucker retrace the path of Floyd Collins, who was trapped in an Edmonson County cave for two weeks in 1925 while people around the country followed the rescue efforts via newspapers and radio. Photographer John Stephen Hockensmith recalls his journey with Gypsies to a horse-trading fair, which resulted in his book Gypsy Horses and the Travelers' Way.
Dave visits Rough River state resort park and gets a tour from the park manager; silk artist and author Laverne Zabielski; Dovie's Restaurant in Tompkinsville has one-of-a-kind deep-fried hamburgers that have been made the same way since 1940; and more Paw Pals.
A fantastic Christmas light display at the home of Marion County's Paul Ruley; holiday music by the Heartland Dulcimer Club of Elizabethtown; and a tour of the Rosemary Clooney House in Augusta, home of the largest collection of White Christmas memorabilia in the world, led by curators Steve and Heather French Henry.
In Frankfort, host Dave Shuffett experiences the sights and sounds of Inauguration Day for Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo and gets a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the day-long festivities.
The family-run Cox Hardware store in Rockcastle County, which celebrated 100 years in business in 2007; metal artist Ken Roberts; and Henry's Ark, an eclectic petting zoo/farm in Oldham County where the animals roam free.
The Luci Center, a therapeutic riding center that uses horses to help people with disabilities; model plane enthusiasts; artist Virginia Petty, who makes her own paper out of various types of pulp; and scenery from Kentucky Ridge State Forest.
A Menifee County family whose passion for making sorghum has spanned generations; multi-talented performer Angela Bartley, a bugler for the Kentucky Derby Museum who is also an aviation and Latin dance instructor and a Chautauqua performer; and slam poetry in Bowling Green.
Skeeter Davis, a native of Dry Ridge who became one of country music's greatest singers by the mid-1950s; the great segregation-era basketball teams of Louisville Central and Lexington Dunbar; and scenes from a reenactment of the Civil War Battle of Perryville.
The annual Redbud Quilt Festival at Union College, which draws professional and amateur quilters from across the country; Green County dog trainer Bill Matney at work; and a look at the early days of women's basketball in Kentucky.
The Jesse Stuart Foundation, a small nonprofit in Ashland, continues the legacy of the acclaimed author, educator, and conservationist. Judy Geagley of Tollesboro crafts teddy bears that are sold at high-end stores in New York, Chicago, and Beverly Hills. WKU, students and their hand-built robots compete in the Kentucky FIRST Lego League Competition.
The restored Yew Dell Gardens, the former private estate of renowned nurseryman Theodore Klein, now an arboretum and plant research center; artist Tom Pfannerstill, who gets his inspiration from trash; and Frankfort Habilitation, which provides work experience and job training for people with developmental disabilities.
Lane Linnenkohl of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission takes host Dave Shuffett out to explore Three Ponds, the only Kentucky nature preserve that borders the Mississippi River. Dave also takes some treasures to the visiting Antiques Roadshow in Louisville and introduces a tour of Cub Run Cave in Hart County.
Broadbent Hams in Cadiz, a family-run business dating back decades, has produced more Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion hams than any other producer. Happy Jack Pumpkin and Produce Farm, a former tobacco farm in Franklin County, has embraced agritourism. And the Our Mims Retirement Haven provides care for former broodmares.
In Murray, crowds gather each year to celebrate the reopening of the local Dairy Queen. The Red River Historical Museum, housed in a former bank in Clay City, tells stories of milling, logging, and other industries in the region. And the award-winning "green" visitors' center and treetop walkway at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.
The incredibly rare Short's goldenrod is protected at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park. Louisville artist Carole Jackson-Powell paints big, beautiful murals. And at the end of the Labor Day weekend, dogs get their day in Lexington's Woodland Park pool at the annual Dog Paddle benefit.
Woody, an intrepid dachshund who stars in a series of children's books written by his "mom," Leigh Anne Florence; professional women's league Hall of Fame baseball player Pat Scott; and cooking with Kentucky culinary legend Bob Perry.
The Bluegrass Youth Ballet and its creator, Adalhi Aranda Corn, share creativity, artistry, and Mexican culture with students and the community through dance as well as other forms of artistic expression. Woodford County's Bluegrass Animal Rehabilitation and Hyperbaric Center is setting new standards in animal medical care.
Artist Sam McKinney, a figurative freelance painter and sculptor, lives in one of his own works: a log house with a connecting studio that he built himself. Fiddlers Paul David Smith, Roger Cooper, Jesse Wells, and Michael Garvin perform at the J.P. Fraley Mountain Music Gatherin' at Carter Caves State Park.
Cleaning up Pulaski County's Saltpeter Pit, a cave that is home to Kentucky's largest colony of endangered Rafinesque's big-eared bats; nationally known bagpipe and tin whistle player Skip Cleavinger, who has performed with more than 30 symphony orchestras; and the Portland Museum in west Louisville.
The Mountain Park Dragway in Clay City, owned and operated by the Kennon family for 45 years; a nostalgic visit to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill with Shaker descendants and former residents, several of whom work as staff at the property; and former attorney Beverly Hayden, who left that career to become a photographer.
Artist-decorated birdhouses at the Lexington Arboretum; Bellevue's Woodrow Carpenter, the 90-something founder of the only glass enamel manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere; and the musical legacy of J.P. and Annadeene Fraley, who founded the Mountain Music Gatherin' held every September at Carter Caves State Park near Olive Hill.
Three segments produced by college students from around the state: Civil War reenactors at the site of the Battle of Mill Springs; how Kelley Farms has moved away from tobacco farming by growing strawberries and pumpkins and creating a corn maze; and the themed weekends of the Highland Renaissance Festival, held every summer in Eminence, including "Masquerade," "Celtic," and "Scotland the Brave."
Chef Bob Perry, director of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food Systems Initiative, makes a four-course dinner with more than 20 Kentucky products. Bob and Judy Peak channel their passion for bluebirds into volunteer work for the Land Between the Lakes Association. And craftsman Eric Scholtens sees potential furniture in tree limbs.
Meet Butch and Jo Bramel, whose 1861 Greek Revival home houses a garden center/landscaping business. At the Thoroughbred Center, a 240-acre facility with 1,000 stalls, visit the barns, watch morning workouts, and learn about auctions. Chrisman Mill Vineyard owners Chris and Denise Nelson explain how their passion for winemaking grew into a vineyard.
Michler's Florist, one of the oldest florists in Kentucky and a Lexington tradition for more than 100 years; the Snug Hollow Farm and Country Inn, a bed-and-breakfast nestled on 300 acres of land between the mountains of Red Lick Valley in Irvine; and sculptor Marie-Elena Ottman, whose clay sculptures are inspired by her homeland of Panama.
A taste of the "World's Largest Apple Pie," made each fall during the Casey County Apple Festival; a ride on the Liberty Belle, a historic B-17 airplane; jazz pianist Beegie Adair, who has accompanied many legendary performers and recorded 24 CDs; and a look back at the University of Kentucky's Fabulous Five basketball team.
A look at sculptor David Rogers' Big Bug Exhibit at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden; glassblower Michelle Weston sees the possibilities in the color and fluidity of a material most think is fragile; and meet singer Jordan Leigh, a Kentucky teenager who has performed with Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry and on CBS.
Take a ride on the Old Anderson Ferry, the last ferry business serving northern Kentucky; eat at Lynn's Paradise Cafe, an eclectic restaurant located in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood; and author and photographer Tom Barnes and Pine Mountain Settlement School's Ben Begley talk about a threatened species of wildflowers, Lady's Slipper Orchids.
A look at the sport of geocaching, which uses a player's wits and GPS devices to find items hidden by other participants; meet 15-year-old Rossi Clark, a master fiddler-in-training learning to keep traditional mountain music alive; and the majestic Gotland ponies - a Swedish breed considered to be at risk by the Equus Survival Trust.
A look at the film career of Kentucky actor Warren Oates; Northern Kentucky hosts the prestigious world-wide WUSV Schutzhund competition that tests the abilities of German Shepherd dogs in tracking, protection, and obedience; and Dave visits the Mill Springs Battlefield and Museum to gain a better understanding of Kentucky's role in the Civil War.
In a special edition of Kentucky Life, host Dave Shuffett explores the life and career of Kentucky's most famous native son. Learn about the many Kentucky people and places that profoundly influenced Lincoln with stops at his birthplace and boyhood home, the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, the Louisville home of close friend Joshua Speed, and other sites.
Grand Master fiddle champ Daniel Carwile and his wife, Amy, entertain audiences from the Grand Ole Opry to England; retirement from the U.S. Forest Service led Bill Brumm to become a noted stained glass artist; and Dave travels to Berea to meet heirloom tomato grower Bill Best and UK College of Agriculture's Bob Perry, who whips up tomato salad and BLTs with Bill's produce.
Visit Hofbrauhaus Newport, a biergarden and restaurant that would be at home on Germany's Rhine River; artist Lisa Williamson, whose work has been displayed at the Smithsonian, returns to her home in Martin County to rediscover her childhood inspirations and tend her homestead; wolves and other creatures find sanctuary at Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge.
Civil War re-enactors skirmish in the hills of Pike County; as more family owned farms in Kentucky call it quits, one Warren County farmer has turned to agri-tourism to carry on the family legacy; a memorial worthy of the great racehorse John Henry takes shape as artists and fans collaborate on a tribute to the inspiring equine; and more Paw Pals.
The music of singer/guitarist Jose Rivera brings the joyful sounds of Mexico to Central Kentucky; the Equine Conservancy considers a horse hidden in the hills of eastern Kentucky for over a century to be "critical;" a retired community of nuns in Loretto keeps an active farm and art gallery, and conducts tours and retreats.
Inspired by the book "FatherLoss" by author Neil Chethik, this special program looks at the grief sons face when they lose their fathers. Host Dave Shuffett makes a very personal journey of discovery after the death of his father in 2007, and talks with several other Kentucky men about dealing with the grief of losing their dads.
Meet Kentucky native and country music legend Loretta Lynn; a visit to the Bluegrass Heritage Museum in Winchester, where the history of Clark County is preserved; go shopping on Frankfort Ave. in downtown Louisville; and Little Pegasus Pastures is a miniature horse farm where the residents have big personalities.
Find your way out of the Evergreen Maze in Flemingsburg; "Our Town" visits Adairville, close to Tennessee but home to some fascinating Kentucky history; in Owensboro, Dave drives heavy equipment to learn about the scrap iron business; and visit Cricket Press, a Lexington business known for its unique posters.
John Taylor teaches African-American youth self-confidence, trust, kindness, and a fierce pride in the achievements of their ancestors at his Buffalo Soldier camp; visit Magee's Bakery in Maysville for a taste of its world-famous transparent pie; The Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort is one of the oldest and one of the best in the country; and more Paw Pals.
Learn about the legend of an alien abduction from 1955 in Kelly, Ky.; "Our Town" visits Hell for Certain, located in Leslie County; go on tour of the paranormal with Patti Starr, a certified ghost hunter; and farmer Kathy Wheeler and chef Mark Williams of Brown-Forman reintroduce Kentucky to what was once America's most popular turkey.
Dogs earn their merit badges for good citizenship just like the Boy Scouts; Chef Ouita Michel visits Three Springs Farm in Nicholas County; although the school is closed, the Flaget High School Alumni Association is still going strong with notable graduates like former professional football player Paul Hornung and others; and more Paw Pals.
Dave goes to work at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory; a visit to Greenup, hometown of beloved Kentucky Poet Laureate and author Jesse Stuart; the piano turns 300 and KET turns a spotlight on the celebration with Diane Earle and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra; Henrietta Scott and her husband apply their own methods to an ancient tradition to create unique pottery; and more Paw Pals.
Every year since 1943 on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Santa Train, laden with gifts for children, winds its way through the mountains, and this year Dave meets guest Wynonna Judd. Also, learn how Kentuckians celebrated Christmas during the Civil War; make a visit to Nazareth, Ky.; and visit Rough River Dam State Resort Park for Winter Wonderland.
An asteroid impact site in Shelby County; the border town of Hazel; Rolling Fork Farm and the CSA (community supported agriculture) program; a tribute to our first and favorite Paw Pal, Sadie; and Steve Scherer, a glass artist with more than 40 years of experience.
Brown's Bakery in Lexington; the town of Pippa Passes; Dave Does It by learning to ballroom dance; in a new feature, Dave samples "Today's Special" at Orchid Flower restaurant; and Gallery House, a Louisville bed and breakfast with an eclectic art collection.
Saving Kentucky hemlock trees; the vibrant shopping district of Lexington's Southland Drive; a World War I memorial in Wayne County; and imaginative handcrafted toys and totes from Helicopter Studios.
The Far Eastern melodies of Han Kuo-Huang and the University of Kentucky Chinese Orchestra; the western Kentucky river town of Wickliffe; Louisville's historic tuberculosis sanatorium, Waverly Hills; and the fire trucks of Wynn Fire Equipment.
A pet-friendly bed and breakfast in Boone County; Our Town visits Stamping Ground; Dave participates in the sport of Autocross; golf clubs and other custom-crafted wood items from Olde Master Originals.
An introduction to biodiversity in Kentucky; a Dave Does It recycling adventure suited for this Earth Day program; a taste of Today's Special at the Smokey Valley Truck Stop in Olive Hill, Ky.; and Brigadoon State Nature Preserve.
Folk artist Marjorie Sauer; a visit to Scottsville for Our Town; the peonies at Ashland, the Henry Clay estate; and Mike Guillerman, author of Face Boss, a look at the coal industry.
In a Derby-inspired show, Dave takes a spin on the world's longest go-kart track at Kart Kountry in Shepherdsville; Louisville's dining and entertainment destination Fourth Street Live; the Kentucky Equine Humane Center in Jessamine County is a refuge for abandoned horses; and the oldest river steamboat still in operation, The Belle of Louisville.
Dave investigates the Middlesboro astrobleme crater; a Covington eatery serves up Today's Special; migrating Monarch Butterflies are netted and tagged at Audubon State Park in Henderson; and Coffee Times Coffee House in Lexington has been roasting and brewing coffee for more than 25 years.
A championship caliber golf course on re-claimed coal mine land in Prestonsburg; the river town of Cloverport is this week's Our Town; it's a Dave Does It Challenge as Dave works with HB Stanley Concrete in Beaver Dam; and Roundstone Native Seed in Upton produces native Kentucky grasses and wildflowers.
It's "batter up" as Dave joins the Men's Senior Baseball League team in Louisville; a visit to Ashland's Winchester Avenue, location of several arts and cultural centers; a return visit to Bowling Green woodworker Mark Whitley, whose creations are featured in museums; and scenic Stoner Creek draws guests to The Treehouse B & B in Bourbon County.
A rare look at the personal life of Jesse Stuart as friends reminisce about the Kentucky literary legend; it's "corporate rock" at its best with the Covington band Suits That Rock; and home roasted coffee, organically grown food, and a commitment to animal rescue are some of the ways the Bowling Green café Greener Groundz enriches the local community.
Once a haven for gambling Monmouth Street in Newport is now home to family owned businesses and an economic revival; the Chef's Afield event hosted by UK's South Farm provides Today's Special; the roots of the successful Finchville Daylily Farm in Shelby County; and the Powwow Pow Wow in Hopkinsville celebrates Native American culture and history.
Dave fishes the Mississippi River with the Bencini family who have been in the commercial fishing business in Columbus for more than 100 years; a visit to 2nd Street in Owensboro; students at Wilmore's Asbury University train horses to become police mounts; and Kim Huston, author of Small Town Sexy, talks about the renewed interest in small town life.
Leslie Lyons, daughter of UK football legend Dicky Lyons, Sr., has written a book about her famous family and what it really means to be True Blue; Nobob in Barren County is this week's Our Town; youngsters in the My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus learn circus skills; and a visit to the famous Ruth Hunt Candy Company in Mt. Sterling.
Detailed miniature worlds are on display in Danville at The Great American Dollhouse Museum; Today's Special is barbeque from the Uniontown Food Mart in Union County ; in Somerset, the Carnegie Community Arts Center hosts major arts organizations and local artists; Daviess County, artist Rex Robinson celebrates the state's natural beauty and history.
KaLightoscope Christmas at the Galt House in Louisville; visitors participate in the 31st annual Cave Sing at Mammoth Cave National Park; the Nativity Display at Maysville's Trinity Lutheran Church showcases a collection of creches from around the world; and an Our Town visit to the seasonally appropriate town of Berry in Harrison County.
At Henson Broom Shop and General Store in Symsonia, Dave learns the art of broom-making in a new Dave Does It; Bowling Green is tonight's Downtown Destination; Dave dons a wetsuit and snorkel in pursuit of colorful fish known as darters; and the lasting legacy of Cassius Marcellus Clay, "The Lion of White Hall."
A look at the high school basketball program at Mercer County's tiny Burgin Independent Schools; Highland House, a Carrollton B & B in a restored 1920's mansion along the Ohio River; and patrons indulge in delectable chocolate fondues, rich chocolate espresso, and delicious artisan chocolate creations at Coco's Chocolate Café in Louisville.
Wilmore potter Rudy Medlock; the short but iconic menu at Ferrell's Hamburgers in Hopkinsville; Dave visits with Mrs. Lera Williams, who at 110 is the oldest living Kentuckian; and The West Kentucky African American Heritage Museum and Research Center and the Russellville Blues concert series.
Aboard an amphibious vehicle, Dave gets a duck's-eye view of Newport, the Ohio River, and Cincinnati; Marion is tonight's Our Town; Kentucky pianist and educator Harry Pickens brings people, ideas and possibilities together through music; and a tour of the newly expanded Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.
Sample the abundant buffet at Opal's in Jackson County; Paducah is our Downtown Destination; Dave lends a hand at Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment in Dunnville, the largest manufacturer of farm gates in the country; a historic marker in Hancock County tells of a railroad station; and Dave visits the spectacular Cub Run Cave in Hart County.
The Derby City Roller Girls from Louisville show their skills; Today's Special comes from The Porch Restaurant in Russell Springs; Sheltowee Farms in Bath County is the state's premier gourmet mushroom farm; and Warren Co. artist Leslie Nichols combines image with text to create layered landscapes and portraits.
Dave tours Tebb's Bend and other areas set aside for protection by the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund; Hazel Green in Wolfe County is Our Town; award-winning architect Richard Levine designs sustainable cities and buildings, including his own Raven Run house; and a look at how invasive species are impacting Kentucky's biodiversity.
It's all about the nationally renowned fried chicken at the Bon Ton Mini Mart in Henderson; we learn the story of the Brown-Pusey House in Hardin County; Bobby Mackey's Music World, a nightclub and tavern in Wilder might be one of the most haunted places in America; Crab Orchard in Lincoln County is tonight's Our Town; and Ashland's Putnam Stadium.
Dave attends his first Kentucky Derby; Campbellsville in Taylor County is Our Town; remembering the old Latonia Race Track, built in 1883 and site of the Latonia Derby, which initially was regarded as a more important race for three-year old Thoroughbreds; and a look at the Lexington Fashion Collaborative.
Dave meets auto enthusiast Jerry Baker of Paris, who lovingly restores and repairs Model A cars; a visit to the newly renovated Plaza Theater in Glasgow; Wheelwright, founded in 1916 by the Elk Horn Coal Company, is Our Town; and a tribute to our beloved Charlie, Dave's popular co-host and the "elder statesman of the Kentucky Life Golden team."
Southwestern High School in Somerset, Ky., has a fully licensed rehabilitation center for birds of prey, where students learn total care of the birds; Paintsville is Our Town; a look at Winchester's Ale-8-One bottling plant; and Dave hikes South America, a remote tract of pristine land in the Pine Mountain Wildlife Corridor.
Visit Historic Maple Hill Manor in Springfield, voted number one in the U.S. as the B&B with the "Most Historic Charm," and they raise alpacas, too; Beattyville is Our Town; Dave visits a dairy farm in Grant County in Dave Does It; and the dining room at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill serves a seasonal menu with locally grown items.
A look at the Native American connections to the mysterious Clay County petroglyphs; Covington's Mainstrasse Village is our Downtown Destination; a visit to the St. James Court Art Show in the heart of Old Louisville; and Bourbon County musician Chet Lott, a Mississippi native who is making music to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Learn about the vital role moths play in Kentucky's biodiversity; the cultural landmarks of Frankfort's historic district; an elegant Carnegie Library building is home to the collection of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art; and Dave visits a Whitley County gardener whose exotic palms and cacti are more suited to tropical and desert climes than to Kentucky.
Dave travels the Bowling Green Civil War Discovery Trail; an historical marker commemorates Taylor Co. oldest congregation; dogs and cats provide 'Love On A Leash'; the Webster Co. town of Dixon is profiled; and KY Gentlemen Cigars feature premium tobacco aged in bourbon barrels.
Dave learns the roofing trade from Ray Nolan Roofing Company in Louisville; Today's Special is served in Paducah; award-winning Butler Co. glass artist William Van Tassel says "Life is good as a backwoods glassblower"; and the scenic Lewis Co. Quilt Trail includes barn quilt squares honoring veterans of the five U.S. military branches and POW/MIA's.
Judah Lowell's Corner Clocks in Lexington; a McLean Co. historical marker tells of a one-of-a-kind; Wildflowers Farm Bed and Breakfast near Paducah; Land Between the Lakes offers a porch swing and view; Our Town highlights the community of Sweet Owen, in Owen Co.; and printmaker and art professor Bob Franzini specializes in lithography.
A look at one of the most decorated units of the Civil War, the First Kentucky Brigade; Today's Special has an Italian flair, courtesy of Chef Joel Lavinder at Caproni's Restaurant in Maysville; in Russell Co., the members of OlBoysToys Car Club host a monthly car show April through September; and Elizabethtown has all the vibrant attributes of a much larger city but remains a charming small town.
Jefferson County artist Deward Eades, a visit to West Liberty, a profile of former State Rep. Bill "Banjo Bill" Cornett of Knott County, and paleontologist Rick Toomey of the Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning.
Dave takes a high-flying zip-line tour through the forest canopy at Mammoth Cave; Shelby County's oldest stone residence; Today's Special is served up at Burkesville's Annie Ruby's Café, the Hancock community of Hawesville is tonight's Our Town; and Bedford artisan Lynn Horine creates beautiful baskets out of gourds and coiled pine needles.
At two recently erected public memorials, Kentuckians can honor and remember those from Flight 5191 and 9/11; the Carter County Caves have served several purposes including mining for saltpeter for the War of 1812; Kentucky authors Bobbie Ann Mason and Wendell Berry illuminate the stories behind one of the country's most unusual grave sites, and Dave visits Letcher County's Oven Fork Mercantile.
Visit Winter Wonderland at RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro; Chef Bob Perry of the University of Kentucky's Sustainable Agriculture program cooks up a sumptuous Christmas dinner of all Kentucky products in Today's Special; Sara Dunham designs Christmas cards based on the 'sheep with character' at her Equinox Farm in Harrison County; and listen to traditional Christmas music.
In a chilly Dave Does It, Dave helps feed and tend the residents of Newport Aquarium's Penguin Palooza; a Metcalfe County historical marker details the discovery of an artesian well; Dave visits Vendome Copper and Brass Works in Jefferson County; the Knott County community of Mousie is Our Town; and explore the contributions of Kentucky's soldiers in the War of 1812.
A look at Western Kentucky's thriving pecan crop; an historical marker in Scott County provides information about the Payne-Desha House; part two of our look at The Orphan Brigade, beginning with the Battle of Shiloh; and in a segment narrated by singer Kris Kristofferson, a profile of Kentucky character actor Harry Dean Stanton.
On a canoe trip down the Little Sandy River, Dave discovers the beauty in this Elliott County paradise; historic Springfield in Washington County is Our Town; the unique architectural features of Kentucky's 13 remaining covered bridges; and Boone County's Maplewood Farm, the home of slave Margaret Garner, whose story was the inspiration for Toni Morrison's novel Beloved.
A teenage author discusses his book about his Hopkinsville home town; Dave puts his knowledge of the great outdoors to the test on a trip into the Daniel Boone Forest with a wilderness survival expert; and the husband and wife team behind Junkyard Pottery in McCreary County create hand-thrown pottery designed in a variety of colored glazes.
Dave takes a journey of discovery in the Civil War footsteps of his great-great-grandfather Michael Shuffett. Dave talks with genealogists and Civil War historians; participates in a reenactment; follows the fate of the 13th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry at the battles of Shiloh, Resaca, and Kennesaw Mountain; and learns what it means to be a Union soldier from Kentucky.
Two Kentucky high schools have won a staggering 23 state band championships between them - the Fayette County high schools of Lafayette and Dunbar; a historical marker describes how Cherokees sought shelter at Mantle Rock in Livingston Co.; the tasty confections of CakewalkKy in Boyle County; the Monroe County community of Bugtussle is Our Town; and learn about the Rowan County War.
In celebration of Earth Day, Dave helps net and band songbirds in Red River Gorge; Newport is our Downtown Destination; Dave gets a hives-eye-view of the modern trend of urban beekeeping in Louisville; and spring cleaning is the theme of a new Dave Does It which features Dave pitching in to help out groups across the state as they participate in the Commonwealth Cleanup efforts.
In Caldwell Co., the Wilson-Blair African American One Room Schoolhouse and museum features African American artifacts and memorabilia; explore the cultural history of the Paris and Bourbon County region at the Hopewell Museum; on the cliffs above Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Eagles View Bed & Breakfast offers guests lodge-style ambiance; and Dave visits one of the most haunted sites in America.
Horses are the focus of this Derby themed program as Dave visits Turfway Park in Florence and learns first-hand what it takes to operate a racetrack; a historical marker tells of Bashford Manor Farm; go on the beat with the Lexington Mounted Police; and be inspired by New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding in Bowling Green, a horseback riding program for kids with disabilities.
Travel the back roads of Kentucky in search of the painted barns that encouraged us all to "See Rock City"; a historical marker in Muhlenberg County tells the sad story of a house built for unrequited love; in Madison County, efforts are underway to memorialize and protect the site of The Battle of Richmond; and Dave enjoys the frozen treats of Gelato Gilberto in Prospect.
Henderson pays homage to its famous former resident with bronze bird sculptures created from the drawings of John James Audubon; the Lyon County community of Eddyville is tonight's Our Town; the ancient sport of falconry is alive in the skies of Grayson County; and from his Applied Imagination workshop in Campbell County, Paul Busse blends his passion for plants, architecture, and trains.
Dave spends a relaxing day on a cattle farm in Hopkins County, practicing his fly-fishing cast, and learning to weave baskets; a grouping of historical markers honors three Kenton County natives in the entertainment industry; Dee's Drive Inn, in Lawrence County, serves up Today's Special; Albany of Clinton County is tonight's Our Town; and more.
We take a look at an innovative program at the Morehead Youth Development Center that provides second chances for retired racing greyhounds and teenage girls. We also learn about the history of Swiss settlement in Laurel County, tour the new Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts, visit downtown Murray, and tap into the history of the Kentucky whiskey trade at Corsair Artisan Distillery.
The town of West Liberty was struck by two tornadoes on Feb. 29 and Mar. 2, 2012. Dave visits the Louisville National Weather Service; talks with General John Heltzel of Kentucky Emergency Management; and visits the hard-hit town of West Liberty.
Cumberland River, a bluegrass band with roots in Harlan County; a look at iron furnaces and the Buffalo Furnace historical marker in Greenup County; the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism in Frankfort; and Covington's historic Linden Grove Cemetery.
The Woo Hoo Pedicab in Campbell County; the Purple Onion restaurant in Central City; Hopkinsville and the Chitlin' Circuit, a national string of clubs where black recording artists could perform during the days of segregation; and the Springfield Opera House and the Central Kentucky Community Theatre.
Dave visits Cedar Creek Vineyards in Pulaski Co.; a Warren Co. historical marker recounts Bowling Green native Duncan Hines' career in the food and lodging industry; watch how cheese is made at Good Shepherd Cheese, a dairy in Bath Co.; visit Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. in Bardstown; and meet food blogger Joyce Pinson.
Learn about Kentucky State University's research and domestication of that tropical-tasting fruit, the pawpaw, Chef Bob Perry from UK's College of Sustainable Agriculture prepares a pawpaw dish, Dave and Toby take a trip to Leslie Co. to learn about rural post offices, and a look at Pulaski County's Short Creek.
Explore Blood River Seeps State Nature Preserve in Calloway Co.,; a Boyd Co. historical marker honors Mary E. Flanery, the first woman elected to the Kentucky legislature; Toby attracts a crowd in the Casey Co. town of Liberty; named after two Winchester cats, Stinky and Coco's Diner is serving up Today's Special; and a performance by Tin Can Buddha.
Meet the characters who congregate for the annual Louisville Zombie Attack; Paranormal Investigators of Northern Ky. look for explanations for claims of paranormal activity; in Voices of Elmwood, actors portray deceased residents of Daviess Co. and tell stories to guests of the Elmwood Cemetery; and Dave investigates the life of clairvoyant Edgar Cayce.
Meet Lucille Sharp, an actress from Lexington who has a role in this season's Downton Abbey; the Grant County community of Crittenden is Our Town; learn how the Fort-named towns of Northern Kentucky got their names; and the award-winning and inspiring work of Louisville artist Trent Altman.
Dave, with Toby by his side, remembers the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes by visiting Reelfoot Lake, Kentucky Bend, and other landforms shaped by the quakes 200 years ago. In Memphis, Dave meets with specialists to find out about earthquake preparedness and the odds of another quake occurring along the New Madrid fault.
A profile of Morgan County native Paul Gilley, who wrote "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" for Hank Williams, Sr.; a historical marker in Rockcastle Co. reprises the history of the Renfro Valley radio broadcasts; Dave takes a look at the growing beer brewing scene in Lexington; Hart County offers an interactive farm experience for guests.
Meet songwriter and Rockabilly Hall of Fame member Bill Harlan; visit Wayne County's community of Monticello; learn about Bowling Green's Shake Rag District, recognized for its significance to African American history; and take a look at John Carpenter's sports memorabilia collection, recognized by Ripley's Believe It or Not as the World's Largest Private Sports Collection.
Visit Louisville's Headliners Music Hall to check out StorySLAM, a part of NPR's Moth Radio Hour; a Caldwell Co. marker recounts the history of the Night Rider movement; enjoy the music of Lexington's Coralee and The Townies and Newport's Gangsters Dueling Piano Bar; and experience the famous Moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Park.
Meet photographer John Cohen, who came to eastern Kentucky in the late 1950s and captured the region's landscape, people, and music; in Laurel County, Dave enjoys Today's Special at the longtime London landmark, Weaver's Hot Dogs; the Shepherdsville train crash of 1917 is still regarded as the worst in Kentucky's history; and meet Australian horse trainers The Double Dans in Nicholasville.
Dave encounters animal species in Blood River Seeps State Nature Preserve; historical markers document the fateful ride of Revolutionary War hero Capt. John "Jack" Jouett, Jr.; efforts to preserve the Holt House in Breckinridge County honor the legacy of Judge Joseph Holt, one of Lincoln's trusted allies; and Maysville's Washington Opera House is the home of The Maysville Players.
In celebration of Earth Day 2013, Dave learns about the Kentucky Wild Rivers Program as he explores the beautiful forest and waterways of The Little South Fork; a trip to the Licking River in Northern Kentucky reveals the surprising diversity of Kentucky's mussel species; and farmer and seed collector Bill Best introduces us to tasty varieties of heirloom beans.
The German artist duo Herakut's Lexington murals, a visit to East Bernstadt, Hidden Cave Ranch Bed and Breakfast in Burkesville, and horse trainer Gudmar Petursson's Icelandic horses.
Dave tries his hand at Dainty, a German street-ball game played in the Louisville neighborhood of Schnitzelburg; a historical marker explains how Middlesboro's golf course made links history; in Monroe County, skilled sharpshooters take aim in the marble game of Rolley Hole; in a high-flying Dave Does It, Dave goes out on a limb with EarthJoy Tree Adventures in Alexandria.
In Paducah, an evening of band performances at the Maiden Alley Cinema; Salyersville is Our Town; a Kentucky girl raises money and spirits with a knitting project for residents of Joplin, Missouri; and in the hills above Morehead, Dave and Toby explore the vineyards of CCC Trail Winery.
Teenage sisters Kendall and Kenzie Gentry, barrel-racing champions from Henderson, give us an up-close look at this rodeo sport; in Logan County, Rogues' Harbor is Our Town; the story of outlaw Jesse James and his ties to Kentucky; and in Dave Does It, Dave joins the Hooten Old Town Regulators of McKee in a Single Action Shooting Competition.
Owensboro artist Rhonda McEnroe shares her passion for painting with art students; in Union County, historical markers cite the beginnings of one of baseball's greatest players; gunslingers entertain visitors at Guntown Mountain in Barren County; our Downtown Destination is Danville; and during 2013's Commonwealth Cleanup, Dave joins the Spring Cleanup crew at Dale Hollow for Dave Does It.
The season premiere of Kentucky Life begins with a visit to Bardstown (voted The Most Beautiful Small Town in America in 2012); historic markers point out Kenton County homes with presidential connections; meet Doc Shuffett, Dave's cousin, a nonagenarian physician; and artist Kathleen O'Brien creates mixed media watercolor collages inspired by nature.
In this season's first Dave Does It, Dave gets his sea legs in Paducah at the Seamen's Church Institute's Center for Maritime Education; Frances BBQ in Monroe County is Today's Special; the stone masonry of Camp Springs in Campbell County provides a unique beauty to the area; and Ruby Moon Vineyard and Winery in Henderson produces award-winning wines.
Dave explores the hardwood forests and sandstone bluffs of Muhlenberg County's Lake Malone with outdoor enthusiast Cory Ramsey; Winchester is Our Town; Amy Hess introduces us to Kentucky luthier Douglas Naselroad, a Master Artist in Residence at the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman; and Artists Collaborative Theatre has been promoting the performing arts in Pike County for over ten years.
The spooky side of local history is featured in the Haunts of Owensboro walking tours; the Haycraft Inn marker in Hardin County states it was a popular stop for stagecoaches; Greenup County band The Whipps play original music they call hick-hop; and Louisville food trucks offer a variety of cuisines.
The Camp Nelson Honor Guard is the resident volunteer guard of Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Jessamine County; a West Liberty monument honors women in military service; the Aviation Heritage Park in Bowling Green features military aircraft and is a memorial to distinguished aviators; and the story of Sgt. Reckless, the heroic horse who carried ammunition for the Marines during the Korean War.
The gravesite of frontiersman Daniel Boone is the number one tourist attraction in Frankfort, but is he actually buried there; a Taylor Co. historic marker describes the origins of Campbellsville University; Amy Hess tours the Pulaski Co. city of Somerset and visits its newly renovated Fountain Square; & in Perry Co., Coal Country Beeworks is committed to re-establishing beekeeping in the region.
Pennyroyal Scuba Blue Springs Resort in Hopkinsville is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the region; a Daviess County historical marker tells how politician George Graham Vest gained international fame thanks to a dog; self-taught artist Ken Swinson's paintings and prints; and Dave enjoys a day at The Festival of the Bluegrass in Lexington.
The revival of building Drystone walls with master stone mason Cecil Aguilar; a historical marker in Carter County points out the home of former Kentucky Gov. William Jason Fields; the vintage motorcycles at the Bluegrass Motorcycle Museum in Hartford; Barbourville in Knox County is Our Town; and Jane's Saddlebag, a family-friendly tourist destination in Boone County are featured.
Experience the history and excitement of the Eighth of August weekend. Every year, African-Americans in parts of Western Kentucky and central Tennessee gather to celebrate Emancipation, a homecoming tradition begun in 1868.
Kentucky's signature Hot Brown from Louisville's Brown Hotel, the river town of Henderson is the Downtown Destination, northern Kentucky's Roebling Bridge, and the Iroquois Hunt Club and its innovative Hound Welfare Fund are featured.
Kentucky Life celebrates Presidents' Day with stories about U.S. Presidents who have ties to Kentucky. The 1806 Logan County duel involving future president Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville next to the family home, and Lincoln's hometown of Hodgenville is Our Town. Plus, Confederate President Jefferson Davis' ties to Kentucky are also featured.
Kentucky Life highlights the sporting traditions around the state. The hardwood action from the Marshall County Hoop Fest, historical markers in Kenton and Meade counties document the achievements of Major League baseball players from Kentucky, Dave plays a round or two along the Kentucky State Parks Golf Trail, and Dave casts for a trophy fish at Dale Hollow in a new Dave Does It are featured.
Meet Jim Embry, a passionate advocate of community gardening; in Leslie County, the history of a barn built in the 1900's; the Greyhound Tavern in Ft. Mitchell serves Today's Special; and the restored grandeur of historic Richwood Plantation Inn in Milton are featured.
Appalachian artist Tami Booher uses the palette knife technique to create textured landscapes and nature scenes; a visit to the 200-year-old Bodley-Bullock House in Lexington's Gratz Park; Amy Hess explores downtown Shelbyville; and in Casey County, Dave meets master wood worker Robert Vannevel.
The pageantry and flair of performances by Lexington Vintage Dance; Louisa, the county seat of Lawrence County, is Our Town; YouthBuild Louisville helps young adults reach their potential; and in Paducah, dog trainer Gene Glastetter and his dog Versace have become a successful team in the the fast growing sport of dog agility despite a special challenge.
Dave tours the Great Saltpetre Cave in Rockcastle County; a marker recounts the history of Scott County's Cardome Center, once the home of Kentucky Governor James F. Robinson; meet Black Bear, a Native American potter, who lives and works in Morehead; Prestonburg's Billy Ray's restaurant is serving Today's Special, and find out about Kentucky's cotton industry.
Kentucky Life celebrates Earth Day. Visit Dawson Springs, a designated Trail Town, and popular destination for visitors in search of Kentucky Adventure Tourism; Today's Special comes from Miguel's Pizza in the Red River Gorge area of Powell County; meet the Red River Gorge Trail Crew, hard-working volunteers dedicated to maintaining the extensive trail system of the Gorge; and GRIT magazine name.
Kentucky Life highlights Derby day. The career of Kentuckian Roscoe Goose who rode Donerail to victory in the 1913 Kentucky Derby; a look at Churchill Downs, which officially opened on May 17, 1875; the mint julep, the quintessential southern cocktail; and Zenyatta, the first filly ever to win the Breeders' Cup Classic are featured.
BB Riverboats, operating at Newport Landing, have been cruising Northern Kentucky waters for more than 30 years; a historical marker in Whitley County recounts the history of Cumberland College, now the University of the Cumberlands; a look some rare white thoroughbreds in Marshall County; and fascinating information about the U.S. Bullion Depository at Ft. Knox from two knowledgeable insiders.
A profile of General John Hunt Morgan, known as the Thunderbolt of the Confederacy, was born in Alabama, but is considered a true son of Kentucky, and the romantic ideal of the Southern cavalryman. He is known for his daring raids across Kentucky, southern Indiana, and Ohio during the Civil War.
Since 2004, the Keeneland Concours d'Elegance has not only been showing off the best of automotive history but the best of the Bluegrass as well. The Keeneland Concours, consistently ranked one of the top 20 events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, is a three-day car exhibition held each July on the grounds of historic Keeneland Race Course.
Dave explores downtown Owensboro's fun and beautiful new riverfront; Variety Pizza in Breathitt County has fans driving in from hours away; Amy Hess meets Lexington teen violinist Blakely Burger and her band The Hollow Bodies; and Elliott County artist Bonita Skaggs-Parsons puts her own spin on folk art and life in Appalachia.
Featured stories include Covington's luxury condominium building The Ascent, designed by former UK architecture professor Daniel Libeskind; the restoration of Taylor County's Homeplace on Green River; Hemmer Hill Farm in Crestwood and its Saint Croix sheep and CSA program; and Amy Hess spends a day in Burkesville along the Cumberland River in Cumberland County.
Dave takes a road trip to Red Bird with a convoy of Model T and Model A enthusiasts; at the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, Carrollton is Our Town; Trigg Enterprise is a family farming business in Barren County raising produce, Black Angus cattle, and tilapia; and a greenhouse in Paducah specializes in Tillandsias, plants grown without soil known as 'air plants.'
Dave and Amy tour shops, cafes, and attractions along the Hitcents Park Plaza corridor of Bowling Green; a look at The Kentucky Tragedy, one of the most sensational crimes in Kentucky history; a visit to Morehead State University; and learn how Kentucky cavers are working to prevent the spread of deadly White Nose Syndrome in bats at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
Kentucky Life honors Kentucky's veterans. Dave experiences Kentucky National Guard training at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville; a historical marker in Woodbury documents the career of Butler Co. native Admiral Claude C. Bloch; the CAT (Canine Assisted Therapy) program at Ft. Knox pairs servicemen who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI's) with dogs; and more.
Meet Mason County native and award-winning painter Steve White, whose paintings reflect America's first frontier from 1760-1812; Amy Hess visits downtown Paris; visit The Potter's Inn Bed and Breakfast in Wilmore; and the story of the Civil War ambush and massacre in Simpsonville of the 5th United States Colored Cavalry by a band of Confederate guerillas.
Meet Jerry Bransford, a 5th generation African-American guide at Mammoth Cave; several historical markers in southeastern Kentucky recount the journeys of Dr. Thomas Walker; Amy Hess visits Eugene McMahan & Sons Furniture in Taylor County; and Dave goes to Clinton, Kentucky for a hands-on look at the process of creating the award-winning Harper's Country Hams.
The greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history occurred on April 27, 1865, when the steamship SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River and an estimated 1,800 passengers died, including 194 from Kentucky; in Paducah, a historical marker honors engineer and Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman; a visit to Louisville's Mega Cavern, approximately 100 acres of underground fun.
Kentucky Life searches for 'Abandoned Kentucky.' In Muhlenberg County, the ruins of an 1850's iron furnace are all that remain of Old Airdrie; the town of Beauty, in Martin County, stands on the site of what once was the Hungarian community of Himlerville; photographer Sherman Cahal explores the deserted Old Crow Distillery in Frankfort.
In the era of segregation, Paducah's Hotel Metropolitan was the heart of the African-American community of Upper Town; the historic marker and recent restoration of the Cabin Creek covered bridge in Lewis County; Kentucky's iconic ash trees are at risk from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer; and Amy Hess visits Hazard, the "Queen City of the Mountains" for Our Town.
The scenic river town of Bellevue, in Campbell County, is Our Town; Today's Special comes from Chandler's in Maysville; at their Lincoln County home, Susan and George Miller grow produce to sell at farmers' market and local restaurants; in Morehead, St. Claire Regional Medical Center provides care to more than a half-million patients each year.
Kentucky Life explores the work of Eastern Kentucky PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment), an initiative started in 1997 by Congressman Hal Rogers and the late General James Bickford. Their vision was to encourage citizens to take responsibility for protecting the environment and provide the education and resources they need to do so.
Visit downtown Paducah, one of Kentucky's most creative communities; sample Today's Special from Peak Bros. Bar-B-Que in Union Co.; Owensboro artist Aaron Kizer paints portraits of pop culture figures; a Warren Co. marker honors the 'father of ragtime'; and see the exhibits and restored railcars at The Historic Railpark and Train Museum in Bowling Green.
The Kentucky Mainstreet Program revitalizes downtowns across the Commonwealth; Booneville in Owsley Co. is Our Town; tour the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum in the historic neighborhood of Old Louisville; and visit Maysville's Gateway Museum Center.
Each year thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes congregate at Barren River Lake; the vibrant springtime display of wildflowers at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson; hikers of all ages and skill levels enjoy 40 miles of trails at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill; and Popes Creek Ranch in Lebanon offers opportunities for 'glamping' - glamour camping.
In the years following the Civil War, African American jockeys dominated horseracing and won 15 of the first 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby; the unsung heroes of the racetrack are the track ponies; created over 50 years ago as the specialty pastry of the Melrose Inn, the chocolate-nut pie from Kern's Kitchen is the official Derby Pie; and women's eye-catching hats are a Derby tradition.
The mother-daughter team at HorseFeathers Gifts in Henderson design and create beautiful jewelry; towards the end of the Revolutionary War, the women of the fort at Bryan Station bravely gathered water for the besieged settlement, allowing the inhabitants to survive; and in Rowan County, the family-owned The Bakery on Main specializes in fresh baked goods, gelato, and hearty soups.
The fantastical lives of Princess Alice Gurielli and her husband, the Romanian artist Dimitrie Berea, whose art is displayed at Berea College; the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; a Todd Co. historical marker notes the first RFD (Rural Free Delivery of mail to rural farm families) in Kentucky; and the Lighthouse Landing Resort, Marina, and Sailing School in Livingston County.
Today's Special comes from Dixie Chili and Diner, founded in Newport in 1929 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Sarakatsannis; we take a look at the historic coal camps of Southeastern Kentucky; Columbia in Adair County is Our Town; and meet landscaper Josh Samples from Rockcastle County.
New host Doug Flynn enjoys a scenic boat ride through the recently re-opened locks on the Kentucky River; on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Kentucky veterans share their stories; and the first segment in a series of ghostly tales and haunted histories of Old Louisville.
Celebrate Covington's bicentennial and see why this Northern Kentucky city has had a major impact in the region; the history of Daviess County on its 200th anniversary; country singer Marty Brown attempts a comeback; and in Ashland, three brothers give Mexican cuisine a Southern California spin at Suplex Tacos.
The War of 1812 left an indelible mark on our nation's history, and Kentuckians played a vital role. From Michigan to New Orleans, Kentucky Life follows the trail of Kentucky's soldiers who fought in America's 'forgotten war.'
We explore the beautiful wilderness area of Martin's Fork; witness the competition of Paducah's colorful Dragon Boat races; and in Kenton County, visit the proprietors of Tewes Poultry Farm, a 70 year-old family business.
In the second part of our Haunted Louisville series, we delve into ghostly goings-on at Old Louisville's Conrad-Caldwell House. Also, we learn about the Doe-Anderson advertising agency in Louisville; take a look at Muhlenberg County's legendary country and western star Merle Travis via KET's Kentucky Muse; and visit and Murray craftsman Justin Roberts, who makes willow furniture.
Head to Sparta's Kentucky Speedway where fans experience the fast-paced thrills of NASCAR racing; in Pikeville, diners at The Blue Raven enjoy pub-style Appalachian cuisine; Doug talks with the staff at Life Adventure Center in Versailles about supporting underserved youth; and 'Wild Bill' Gordon brings people back in touch with nature and themselves at High Adventure Wilderness School in Stanton.
At the University of Kentucky, the puppies of Wildcat Service Dogs accompany their student trainers almost everywhere; in Bowling Green, a look at the Corvette production assembly line; and Doug experiences a mode of travel from America's earlier days, aboard a steamboat on the Ohio River.
Meet award-winning African-American sculptor William M. Duffy, a Louisville native, whose work is found in collections throughout the U.S.; experience the white water kayak competition, Lord of the Fork, at Breaks Interstate Park; and Boone County's integral role in Kentucky's Underground Railroad reveals stories of heroism and sacrifice.
Doug visits Corbin and Versailles to meet with two organizations that serve veterans; we head to Western Kentucky University, where the Kentucky Museum is recognized for its collections and its commitment to the Bowling Green community; and we offer up more ghostly apparitions and ghastly tales from the haunted history of Old Louisville.
Ghost lights illuminate the history of Old Louisville this Halloween! Author David Domine and a host of historians and re-enactors visit Old Louisville's most haunted places, and shed light on hundreds of years of local history and lore.
Doug tours Eminence Speaker in Henry County; in our first on a series of luthiers, we visit Frank Neat of Russell Springs who specializes in banjos and has made banjos for many famous musicians; and Tee Dee's Blues Club takes the spotlight in Lexington.
Mammoth Cave celebrates its 75th anniversary as a national park and its 200th anniversary of guided cave tours. Doug Flynn learns about the Life Adventure Center's vaulting program, described as gymnastics on the back of a moving horse. The Parklands of Floyds Fork in Louisville is breaking new ground as one of the nation's largest urban parks.
The couple behind Berea's Weavers Bottom Craft Studio create textiles, cornshuck dolls, and Minecraft worlds of outstanding beauty; luthier Bryan England of Caneyville shows off his mandolin-making skills; and photographer David Stephenson breeds, raises, and races pedigreed pigeons in Lexington.
Lt. John Crittenden's watch resides at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort; the Minor E Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead keeps anglers happy; Home Café & Marketplace in Bowling Green specializes in pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and desserts; and mathematician Elwyn Berlekamp parleyed his Fort Thomas high school education into international renown.
Ken Grayson's extensive horse racing memorabilia collection goes back to the early days of Keeneland and Churchill Downs; former Triple Crown hopefuls share their home with the horses that spoiled their title hopes at Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown; and artists of Gallopalooza create colorful images on fiberglass horse statues to encourage local exploration and civic pride.
Biochemist Lisa Senetar creates her eye-catching PHbeaD jewelry from insects. Kentucky Life talks with Doug about his baseball career and enduring love of the Cincinnati Reds, and Menifee County luthier Neil Kendrick crafts beautiful guitars.
It's a family effort for Greenup County's Oldtown Volunteer Fire Department, Doug visits the Mennonite community near Scottsville and meets custom knife maker Sam Stoner, and Lake Cumberland's Stripertime puts Doug's angler reputation to the test.
Doug meets the cute and cuddly newest members at the Cincinnati Zoo, we delve into the facts and fiction behind the legend of Swift's Silver Mine, and Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Richmond takes Doug on as a new student.
The Moonshine Co. takes a family tradition of back-country distilling to downtown Paducah, the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort honors those who gave their lives during this conflict in a profound way, and Maysville is the home of the Wald Cycle Company, a company with over a hundred years of ingenuity.
Frank Neat of Russell Springs makes custom banjos for the likes of JD Crowe and personality Neal James; luthier Bryan England of Caneyville shows off his mandolin-making skills and custom inlay work; Menifee County luthier Neil Kendrick crafts beautiful guitars, including one for Rhonda Vincent & the Rage; and host Doug Flynn visits with Berea icon Warren May for a dulcimer sing-along.
Ghost lights illuminate the history of Old Louisville. Author David Domine and a host of historians and re-enactors visit Old Louisville's most haunted places, and shed light of hundreds of years of local history and lore.
Kentucky Life begins its new season! Doug Flynn explores all the additions and changes to the Speed Museum in Louisville, the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center in Maysville showcases its citizens' pride in their community, Lake Cumberland is a popular tourist destination and an engineering marvel, and Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese in Barren County is a model for the Kentucky Proud crowd.
Silver Run Ceramics in Boyd County combines the functional with the beautiful in their pottery, Doug Flynn basks in the scenic beauty and rich culture of Maysville, Walt's Hitching Post is an iconic Fort Wright restaurant, and Columbus Belmont State Park memorializes the site of a Civil War battle that marked the rise of Ulysses S. Grant.
Go into the recording studio with Doug Flynn and songwriter Greg Austin as Kentucky Life debuts its new theme song "Kentucky Bound", the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts in Madisonville showcases regionally and nationally known performers, and learn more about Native American life in northern Kentucky prior to Columbus.
Art meets the earth at Josephine Sculpture Park in Frankfort, Red Bird Mission has been a force for good in southeastern Kentucky since 1921, and fans of the musical group The Hilltoppers will enjoy this sneak peak from Kentucky Muse, debuting in October 2016.
This Veterans Day program looks at U.S. flags respectfully laid to rest by the Jeffersontown American Legion; Willa Brown Chappell of Glasgow broke barriers as an African-American female pilot who trained Tuskegee Airmen; a Vietnam veteran demonstrates his saddle-making skills in Christian County; and Doug visits Eastern Kentucky University to discover why it is so popular with veterans.
This program looks at those who do good work. As Mother Teresa becomes Saint Teresa, Kentucky Life visits her Missionaries of Charity chapter in Jenkins, Misfit Island Wildlife Rescue Center cares for hundreds of animals in Henderson, volunteers keep Kentucky's State Nature Preserves in fine form, and Danville's Grace Cafe is a pay-what-you-can community restaurant.
Baker-Bird Winery in Augusta lays claim to the glory days of a historic Northern Kentucky winery; garden designer Jon Carloftis and Dale Fisher share the history and beauty of their restored 19th-century home, Botherum House, in downtown Lexington; and Kentucky Life revisits with famed folk artist Minnie Adkins.
Eagle Bend Alpacas is home to 150 alpacas in Boone County, Torrent Falls Climbing Adventure in Campton brings European climbing techniques to the Red River Gorge, and Kentucky By Design explores our state's arts and craft contributions to The Index of American Design.
In the first of a three-part series, Doug visits the Louisville Zoo; a profile of accomplished African-American Col. Charles Young; and Rosine, Kentucky is the home of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and the Rosine Barn Jamboree.
George Washington once owned land in what became Grayson County, Doug Flynn talks with Dr. Alicestyne Turley of Berea College about the Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education, the second installment in Kentucky Life's profile of the Louisville Zoo, and a trip to Hickman to explore their riverport and ferry are featured.
The third and final segment about the Louisville Zoo, old postcards take us on a nostalgic trip through Kentucky, and Owensboro's Rhonda McEnroe exhibits her students' work at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Covington native Haven Gillespie composed and wrote enduring classics including "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"; Doug visits the Pasta Garage in Lexington; meet fan favorites and go behind the scenes at Lexington's Comic Con; and bloodhounds Magic and Chloe assist Smokey Bear by tracking arsonists in southeastern Kentucky.
Boyce General Store has been serving up great food and excellent pie since 1869 in Warren County; Doug learns about Kentucky's first cider brewery at Pivot Brewing in Lexington; Owensboro's Western Kentucky Botanical Garden is a beautiful spot for the whole community to enjoy; and Monkeys Eyebrow native Kelsey Waldon is taking her music to Nashville and a nationwide tour.
We visit Cave Hill Vineyard & Winery in Pulaski County, learn more about the Primate Rescue Center in Jessamine County, and meet musician Kory Caudill, a piano prodigy.
2017 marks the 225th anniversary of Kentucky's statehood and Doug visits the Old State Capitol in Frankfort; Patrick is a miniature horse with a huge fan base and a rock-star lifestyle from Bullitt County; Second Stride in Oldham County rehabilitates, retrains, and places retired thoroughbreds; and host Doug Flynn tours the expo floor at the National Farm Machinery show in Louisville.
Doug explores historic, trendy, and tasty businesses in downtown Taylorsville; wetlands in Henderson are proud to be an addition to John James Audubon State Park; a look at the internationally renowned artist Joe Downing at the Downing Museum & Arboretum; and Danville's Constitution Square is the place to be for Kentucky's 225th anniversary of statehood.
Certified nurse midwives provide pre- to post-natal care for thousands of Kentucky mothers; Kentucky Life features the creative work of Morehead State University communications students at the Garden Roller Rink in Ashland; and the entertainment and value of local sports radio broadcasters in Rowan County.
Devou Park is a green space at the very heart of Covington; the famous racehorse Lexington is the reason Central Kentucky is the Thoroughbred breeding capital of the United States and arguably the world; Doug explores Stearns in the heart of the Big South Fork; and our state's 225th anniversary continues at Old Fort Harrod.
Forty years ago the tragedy at Beverly Hills Supper Club took place; the southeastern town of Lynch reflects on its coaltown heyday; and Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville is Kentucky's premier golf course.
Doug visits the Louisville Zoo and gets a behind-the-scenes look at animal training, the processes involved in keeping the animals healthy, the variety of foods that must be kept on hand, the successful black-footed ferret recovery program, and the zoo's overall conservation including the Gorilla Forest exhibit.
Get up close and personal with big bugs and beautiful butterflies at Idlewild Butterfly Farm in Louisville, Doug talks to Agricultural Commissioner Ryan Quarles about what makes the State Fair so special, artist Dan MacPhail uses antlers to make one-of-a-kind art, and two Kentuckians were at the heart of a tragedy at a Major League Baseball game in 1920.
The community of Hopkinsville came together for 2017's Great American Eclipse; learn more about the science courtesy of the Franklin drive-in and the scientists and eclipse enthusiasts who came to Simpson County; Doug and the Kentucky Horse Park celebrate the 100th anniversary of Man o' War; and the history of native peoples in Mammoth Cave.
Disability does not mean inability at Lexington's Latitude Artist Community, Doug canoes Bourbon County streams and stops by downtown Paris, Kentucky's largest coal mine disaster took place in Webster County, and Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville trained thousands of soldiers destined for the fields and trenches of World War I.
Nineteenth-century artist Thomas Noble was a Confederate Army veteran whose art is famed for opposing slavery, Doug takes in the sights in Mt. Sterling, it's 'farm-to-vase' for the locally grown flowers at Three Toads Farm in Winchester, and good works and good food go hand-in-hand at Bread of Life Café in Liberty.
Kentucky State University leads the way in sustainable fish farming, meet Doug's golden retrievers and Versailles' well-known trainer Kim Littlefield, Murray State grad Sue Darnell Ellis is a teacher and grandmother with a galactic mission, and The Seafood Lady serves up Florida-style seafood in the heart of Louisville.
Kentucky Life salutes our veterans. USA Cares focuses on supporting military families in need, Beattyville's pride in its veterans is on display at Three Forks Historical Center and the Lee County Memorial Wall, and the Canine Assisted Therapy program helps Fort Knox veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Kentucky Native Americans built burial mounds and the story grew into the Three Sisters legend; Stanford celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day; take in the scenery, the history, and the bowfishing along the Kentucky River at Blue Wing Landing; and scratchboard artist Kathy Conroy creates lifelike animal portraits in Pleasureville.
Enjoy the a capella singing of the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers; Doug visits Rob Samuels of Maker's Mark Distillery; learn about Pikeville writer Effie Waller Smith, a daughter of former slaves who published poetry and short stories in the early 1900s; and songwriter Haven Gillespie, a Covington native, co-wrote one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time.
The South Union Shakers in Auburn were a progressive community, the Capital City Museum highlights Frankfort's bourbon heritage, West End School in Louisville empowers its students and its community, and The Lexington Theatre Company brings in Broadway stars to work with Broadway hopefuls.
Bosnian culture makes up a big part of Bowling Green and Western Kentucky University life; Doug learns about the flavors and traditions of Bosnian coffee; enjoy the acapella stylings of the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood; and Wyatt Severs' woodworking is a collaboration between the tree, his tools, and himself.
Indulge your adventurous side with Treetop Adventure at Levi Jackson State Park, Georgetown's Ward Hall is one of the finest 19th-century homes in the nation, the Feminist Artists of Kentucky raise funds for children in need in Africa, and the Filson Historical Society is the home of Kentucky's history.
Kentucky Life visits the Owensboro Museum of Science & History, visitors to Red River Gorge can see snakes from all over the world at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, earn credits brewing beer at Western Kentucky University's College Heights Brewing, and more scenes from Georgetown's Ward Hall.
Heartland Chia in Simpson County is developing a versatile crop; get a taste of Kentucky's regional dishes though Kentucky Tourism and chef Ouita Michel; Farmer Brown Tha' MC mixes rap, agriculture, and the classroom to make tasty jams; and tree huggers are welcome to support the work of Central Kentucky's Venerable Trees.
Bourbon & Culture return to the Old Taylor Distillery in the form of Castle & Key, Children's Charity of the Bluegrass supports the work of dozens of charities, Doug tours charming La Grange in Oldham County, and the first American "Best Dressed Woman in the World" Mona Bismarck is celebrated again in Louisville.
Howl with the wolves at Refuge Ridge in Whitley County, a new distillery has come to town in Radcliff's Boundary Oak Distillery, and the ice cream classic Dippin' Dots is still the coolest place in Paducah.
Playing whiffle ball at Princeton's Little Busch Stadium; go climb a tree (and enjoy a luxurious night in it) at EarthJOY Treehouse Adventures; African-Americans came to work in the coal mines and are now making new lives in Lynch; Dayton and Bellevue football teams meet again in the most-played rivalry in Kentucky.
Climb aboard and explore the Bourbon Trail with Doug Flynn and the good folks at Central Kentucky Tours, Harden Coffee in Campbellsville is a family business built from the "grounds" up, and meet some new neighbors at the nostalgic Wigwam Village Inn #2 in Cave City.
The only limit is your imagination at Makerspaces in Lexington and Burlington, a new lease on life after spinal cord injury at the University of Louisville, the life and art of one of Northern Kentucky's great artists Frank Duveneck, and Bowling Green's Duncan Hines is America's first foodie.
eKAMI teaches coal miners new trades in an advanced facility in Paintsville, grab a box of chocolates and the Opera Creams at Schneider's Sweet Shop in Bellevue, and fathers and daughters carry on a barber legacy in Louisville and Elizabethtown.
A Louisville music therapist honors the life and legacy of dying patients with melodies of heartbeats, Central Auto drives the community and the economy in Clay, and the stars on screen shine brighter than the stars in the sky at Judy Drive-In in Mt. Sterling.
Veterans and their families affected by war heal through dance in Louisville, Purple Toad Winery is a top Paducah tourist destination and the state's largest winery, and vacationers at Barren River Lake can enjoy the funky junk and fun atmosphere at Paradise Point Marketplace in Scottsville, Kentucky.
Top chefs in Louisville mentor up-and-coming female chefs to take the lead in professional kitchens; take in the sights and smells at Frankfort's Candleberry Candles, and learn about the fascinating life of African-American Revolutionary War soldier Daniel Goff.
Joe Bowen has carried the Olympic torch, walked 3,000 miles on stilts, and bicycled cross-country twice, and he calls Powell County home; mammoth bones from northern Kentucky found their way to Thomas Jefferson and made a new mark on history; and this Fulton County festival is bananas, celebrating the time when Fulton was known as The Banana Capital of the World.
Chart-topping band Exile hits the road performing their greatest hits, step into the extraordinary at Louisville's superhero-themed restaurant SuperChefs, and explore the history of Ulysses S. Grant and his Kentucky connections and inspirations in this first of a three-part series.
Somerset rolls out the red carpet and puts their artists, musicians, and local brewery in the spotlight; the aluminum can in your fridge has a life cycle and migration you'll have to see to believe; and Brigid Kaelin brings Kentucky flair to an international audience through her Louisville roots.
Young at Heart's group of octogenarians keep the classics alive by performing throughout Central Kentucky, Maple Ridge Soaps in Bracken County makes soap the natural and 2800 B.C. way, and western Kentucky's The Savage Radley sing about small-town Kentucky life.
Morels are the rockstars of mushrooms, and Irvine celebrates them at the annual Mountain Mushroom Festival; Berea's Spoonbread Festival highlights this traditional Appalachian food; and Robert Penn Warren, from Guthrie, Kentucky, is the only American author awarded a Pulitzer Prize in both fiction and poetry.
Kentucky's state dance is alive and well in Owensboro at the Lanham Brothers Jamboree; Hopkinsville is home to the nation's largest producer of bowling balls, at Ebonite International; the Falls of Rough and Rough River Dam are a vacationer's paradise; and a Danish artist brings Forest Giants to the giant forest at Bernheim in Bullitt & Nelson counties.
People throughout the nation are training thousands of wild mustangs and showing off their skills to help find homes for these beautiful horses and take a trip to Tokyo to meet with some of bluegrass music's biggest fans.
Johnson county's Jim Ford is the greatest Kentucky songwriter you've probably never heard of; injured animals get their best chance for recovery at Second Chances Wildlife Center in Bullitt County, and Centre College's Sheldon Tapley paints luminous landscapes and still lifes.
The annual Living Archaeology Weekend turns Red River Gorge into Kentucky's most popular outdoor classroom; Antiques Roadshow's Wes Cowan reminisces his Louisville roots and a vintage life; and part two of our profile of Ulysses S. Grant's Kentucky connections tracks his rise as a general, beginning with his battles in the west.
Explore Lexington's history on the twelve stops along the African-American Heritage Trail; Doug explores downtown Glasgow, and the final part of our profile of Ulysses S. Grant picks up with his presidency and enduring significance to Kentucky and the nation.
World War II veterans board a flight honoring their service to our nation; Liberty may be home, but the Indianapolis Speedway is his heart - Bill Marvel has made a life in racing; and Elmer Lucille Allen is a pioneering scientist with artistic flair.
These Kentuckians had the right stuff to become astronauts; the American dream of home ownership comes true through the work of HOMES Inc. in Whitesburg, and kids in need in Central Kentucky celebrate their birthdays with the help of Sweet Blessings.
July 20, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and Kentucky Life takes a trip through its history to celebrate this achievement. Past segments include retired NASA astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave, EKU's Hummel Planetarium, an interactive space exploration experience for 6th graders at the Challenger Center at Hazard Community College, and the famous Moonbow at Cumberland Falls.
Adoptable dogs walk the beat with the Louisville Metro Police, Kentucky Life celebrates its 25th season with a Kentucky Life Memory at the Outhouse Races at Penn's Store, beer cheese makes Kentucky - and Winchester - proud, and the Pralltown neighborhood in Lexington celebrates its sons and daughters. Kentucky Life Moment: Lawrenceburg Chicken Swap.
Pop stars and bluegrass legends find a special place in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame; relive a Kentucky Life Memory with a look back at Old Friends in Georgetown - a retirement home for champion racehorses; young men follow in Muhammad Ali's footsteps by stepping into the boxing ring in Louisville; and dive into fun at the Newport Aquarium.
Explore the history of Baptist preacher Elijah Craig and his influence on the bourbon industry; relive a canoe trip down Mill Creek Lake that launched Dave Shuffett's Kentucky Life career; a memorial for miners killed in the Hurricane Creek mine disaster; and Iraqi-born painter Vian Sora brings vivid contrasts to her art and life in Louisville. Kentucky Life Moment: Ducks at Basil Griffin Park.
Haunting processions, stately monuments, and works of art mark the final resting place of unique Kentuckians; we remember the legend of the Witches Tree in Old Louisville in this Kentucky Life Memory; Civil War soldiers and current residents still find no rest in haunted Perryville; and they may have come in peace, but the Little Green Men who visited the small town of Kelly were not welcome.
Students call him Mr. Arthur, his friends Jecorey, and his fans 1200 - this educator and rapper brings a love of classical music and a message of social justice to his hometown of Louisville; Kentucky Life remembers the heroes of 9/11 and the tragedy of Flight 5191; and the Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg stands for community pride, Kentucky tradition, and six generations of family.
Historians bring Civil War soldiers' lives into focus at Camp Nelson in Jessamine Co.; the Honor Guard at Camp Nelson escorts veterans to their final rest; Jaime Corum paints portraits of the world's most famous horses; and the Art Deco Coca Cola bottling plant in Paducah gets a second chance at being a landmark; Kentucky Life Moment: Tour B-24 "Diamond Lil" at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky.
Young hands learn an old craft and put their quilts on display in Jeffersontown; Kentucky Life remembers when the Cincinnati Bengals held its training camp at Georgetown College; Fred Keams celebrates his Native American heritage by making and playing flutes; and Kerry Breitenstein designs "killer" board games in northern Kentucky. Kentucky Life Moment: The Kentucky Castle in Versailles.
Descendants of Kentucky's governors and lieutenant governors keep the history alive in the Shelby Society; find out why our politicians still swear oaths promising they haven't dueled; the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have local roots and a worldwide reach; and our original host Byron Crawford tells a holiday fireside story.
At Northern Kentucky University, Conductor Amy Gillingham's instrument is the orchestra; Ray Harm's art reveals the beauty of the fur, fins, and feathers of Kentucky's wildlife; Doug and his brother try their luck angling for large-mouth bass in Kentucky's newest lake; and elementary school student James Van Leer was the first African American to desegregate Madisonville's schools.
The descendants of slaves and a slaveholder meet in Russellville; Memory - the Freedom Singers energized the Civil Rights movement; goats from Glasgow eat their way across Kentucky's landscapes; Louisville's Ché Rhodes' passion and medium is glass; and a Kentucky Life Moment, the Budweiser Clydesdales visit My Old Kentucky Home.
Restoring an African American schoolhouse in Bullitt County; Tom T. Hall shares his Kentucky roots in stories and songs; mutton fans flock to an Owensboro BBQ festival; and in a Kentucky Life Moment, a new mural gets painted in downtown Lexington.
Alice Allison Dunnigan was the first African American woman granted press credentials to the White House; in his first Kentucky Life story, Doug took a wild ride aboard a Rockin' Thunder Jet Boat; in Leslie County, Wendover was the home and heart of the Frontier Nursing Service; taken captive by the Shawnee, pioneer Mary Ingles braved the wilderness unarmed and on foot to return home.
Bicyclists enjoy the freewheelin' fun of the roads and trails in Kentucky's Cycling Capital; Dave Shuffett learned life lessons after the death of his father; former students of a historic African American school in May's Lick share their memories; and in a Kentucky Life Moment, a close-up view of some of Kentucky's woodland treasures.
Julia Chinn was the common-law wife of a U.S. vice president; bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver reminisces about her Kentucky childhood; Louisville artist Enid Yandell broke the mold for women sculptors; presidential widow Mary Todd Lincoln struggled to prove her sanity.
At Shaker Village, a musician discovers an extraordinary family tie; a national trail honors Kentucky's leading suffragists; Marshall County's Hoop Fest is a highlight of the high school hardcourt season; Broadway playwright and director George C. Wolfe is honored in his hometown of Frankfort, and reflects on his childhood experiences.
Celebrate Women's History Month with a look at some of our recent stories about notable Kentucky women. Mary Todd Lincoln struggled to prove her sanity; Kentucky suffragettes fought for women's voting rights; Alice Allison Dunnigan was a pioneering journalist, and Kentucky folk artist Minnie Adkins is one of the most respected woodcarvers in the country.
Kentucky ferries provide a graceful way to go back in time and enjoy the state's waterways; Doug recounts his visit to Idlewild in a Kentucky Life Memory; meet Sneakerheads in Kentucky who collect, sell, and customize their favorite shoes and have created a culture all their own. Kentucky Life Moment - pickleball at the Telford YMCA in Richmond.
The Violins of Hope exhibit at the Frazier Museum is a collection of restored instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust; a Kentucky Life Memory looks back at Alfred Russell's experiences in Liberia; the story of Dr. Ephraim McDowell and his most famous patient - Mrs. Jane Todd Crawford, who traveled alone on horseback to have an abdominal tumor removed; and USS Sachem.
The iconic Old Fashioned became Louisville's official cocktail; the Kentucky Springseat Saddle, created by Eugene Minihan from Owingsville in the late 1880s was designated the official saddle of Kentucky in 2019; Mountain Pleasure horses; and a statue of Triple Crown winner Secretariat is unveiled along the Lexington-Frankfort Scenic Corridor.
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra's program, Music on Call, offers detainees at the Daviess County Detention Center hope through music; the sweet smell of Magee's Bakery Transparent Pie is a Kentucky Life Memory; Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell houses a collection of more than 900 ventriloquist figures from 20 countries; Camp Shakespeare offers kids and young adults the opportunity to explore theater
Learn the history of one of the oldest fire departments in Kentucky - the Paris Fire Department, established in 1874; Dave Shuffett and his dog Charlie go agate hunting in a Kentucky Life Memory; artist Jonathan Queen uses classic toys as metaphors for complex themes in his paintings and murals; learn the backstory of Florence, Kentucky's water tower with the famous slogan.
A culture of respect for the Russell Fork River keeps adventure seekers and families coming back; we visit the Digital Restoration Initiative at the University of Kentucky, where researchers and students use cutting-edge technology to "virtually unwrap" ancient scrolls and texts; look back at the Breaks Interstate Park in a Kentucky Life Memory. Kentucky Life Moment - Bowling Green Youth Orchestra.
We visit Vertical Excape in Bowling Green to experience one of the fastest-growing sports in Kentucky and the world; country singer Dwight Yoakam talks about his Kentucky roots in a Kentucky Life Memory; Chained Rock has been overlooking the city of Pineville for more than 80 years; artist Robert Dafford has turned mundane floodwalls into works of art in Paducah and Covington.
We revisit some of Doug's favorite segments showcasing Kentucky artists and artisans including, internationally acclaimed folk artist Minnie Adkins, the paintings of Thomas Noble, guitar maker Neil Kendrick, and dulcimer maker Warren May.
Look back at famous people in Kentucky's history. The mystery of Daniel Boone's bones; a museum that honors surgeon Dr. Ephraim McDowell and his most courageous patient, Mrs. Jane Todd Crawford; and Civil War Gen. John Hunt Morgan remains controversial over 150 years after his death.
We celebrate Kentucky's musical heritage by visiting a town that's home to the legendary Bill Monroe and birthplace of bluegrass music; sit down with the queen of country music, Loretta Lynn; learn about The Hilltoppers' rise to fame, and listen to Louisville jazz musician Harry Pickens.
Come to the table as we explore Kentucky's best dishes. Fans of barbecued mutton flock to a festival in Owensboro, diners get meals on the move from Louisville's food trucks, the famous dish created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, and Appalachian spoonbread will melt in your mouth.
Explore Kentucky's great outdoors as we ride the rapids of the Russell Fork River; watch the sandhill cranes as they arrive at Barren River Lake; experience nature in Dawson Springs; and capture the dream shot of the moonbow at Cumberland Falls.
We revisit stories on how African American winning jockeys dominated the early years of the Kentucky Derby; legendary distiller Elijah Craig; the mystery of white thoroughbreds; and Louisville's famous drink, the Old Fashioned.
Past and present hosts Doug Flynn, Dave Shuffett, and Byron Crawford reminisce over 25 seasons of Kentucky Life and the great stories they have covered from every corner of the Commonwealth.
Explore artist Jayson Fann's repurposed wood sculpture "Spirit Nest" at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest; famous works by Kentucky writer Walter Tevis; Cove Haven Cemetery in Lexington, built by the African-American community in the early 1900s; the Appalachian Horse Project in Jackson cares for free-roaming horses; and the world's tallest Sassafras Tree in Owensboro.
Bob Haven of Lexington is known worldwide in the fashion industry for his Tambour beading; soap box derby racing is thriving in western Kentucky; the rich history of Huntertown community in Versailles; Somernites Cruise is a car enthusiast's dream in Somerset; the unusual history of the Triangular Jog that borders Kentucky and Tennessee.
Visit The Brick, an ice cream, coffee, and pottery shop located at Red River Gorge; meet the artists at Turtle Farm Pottery; enthusiasts have an obsession for the very small at Louisville Miniature Club; a sake brewer in Lexington is introducing the drink to Kentucky; Louisville-born actress Irene Dunne earned the nickname The First Lady of Hollywood.
Learn the history of the 19th century Greek Revival mansion Waveland, now a state landmark; a Letcher County teacher is posting colorful murals with an unusual medium; the 1931 song by Florence Reece that became an anthem for the union miners' cause during the Harlan County Wars; and the bright murals of artist and Cynthiana native Wylie Caudill.
After a long hiatus, the Lexington Camera Club has reinvented itself with new collaborations; artist-blacksmiths Matthew and Karine Maynard are blurring the lines between function and sculpture; artist Charles Williams inspired the founding of Moveable Feast in Lexington; meet Kentucky writer Maurice Manning.
Purrfect Day Cafe provides a unique way of finding new homes for cats; after 25 years of restoration efforts, Kentucky's elk population is thriving; volunteers at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky restore aircraft and other aviation artifacts with a combination of research and dedication; AppHarvest seeks to provide quality jobs by growing tomatoes in Appalachia.
Learning about composer Julia Perry's life and work with the Lexington Philharmonic; NASA's Lunar IceCube satellite was developed and built at Morehead State University; honoring military veterans with handmade quilts; bringing Appalachian-inspired dishes to Bowling Green; remembering a Kentucky racetrack nearly 100 years later.
Musician Grayson Jenkins talks about growing up in Muhlenberg County; Frankie's Corner Little Thoroughbred Crusade introduces youth to the equestrian world; the career of Oscar-winning and Kentucky-born actress Patricia Neal; the Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library was the first public library built for and staffed by African Americans; The Virginia Theatre in Somerset.
Pioneer Playhouse in Danville is a unique outdoor theater; restoration efforts of the old Wayland gym in Floyd County will house a museum honoring the region's high school athletes; St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Louisville houses the skeleton remains of two 2000-year-old Roman Martyrs; two plant-based restaurants in Lexington are challenging the notion that vegan foods are bland.
During the Great Depression, a group of women riding horses and mules brought books to the people of Appalachia; two local farms provide classic Fall activities in the small town of Nancy; Lexington artist Robert Beatty is one of the most recognizable creators of modern album artwork; Beaver Dam in Ohio County is making a big name for itself as a Kentucky concert destination.
Every April, Pikeville hosts the Hillbilly Days festival, three days of food, fun, and hillbilly spirit; Lexington students get first-hand experience in the world of fashion; the late artist Chester Fryer created Kentucky Stonehenge in Munfordville; Friends of Eastern Cemetery in Louisville is helping to restore the most over-buried cemetery in the U.S.
Our friend Doug Flynn learns about the Bluegrass Barons and vintage baseball; Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville specializes in moonshine; hosted by the Kentucky Renaissance Faire, the Highland Renaissance Festival in Eminence is an annual tradition; Lemonjuice McGee's Comic Cavalcade in Somerset is home to a wide selection of toys, comic books and more.
Cove Haven Cemetery has served the Black community of Central Kentucky since 1907; the rich history of Huntertown, established in 1871 as an African American free town in Versailles; musician Julia Perry and her association with the Lexington Philharmonic; the Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library system was the first library in the nation staffed by, and intended for, Blacks.
Started in Rowan County in 1911, Cora Wilson Stewart thought up the idea of Moonlight Schools to combat adult illiteracy; the history of the iconic Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky; first-generation Sri Lankan-American Sam Fore recounts her journey starting a small pop-up restaurant in Lexington; the unique Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland in Calvert City.
The large-scale murals of central Kentucky artists Graham Allen and Geoff Murphy include a diverse group of people with Kentucky roots; meet comic-book illustrator and artist Tony Moore; the Red River Gorge Trail crew maintains the trails of this Kentucky treasure; Mojothunder is an up-and-coming rock band in the Bluegrass.
In Louisville, Rudy Salgado creates tintype photos with techniques and equipment from the 19th century; Kentucky women veterans traveled to DC over the summer for Honor Flight Kentucky; learn about the small part of Kentucky "north" of the Ohio River; the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum in Marion, Kentucky, features thousands of colorful fluorite mineral specimens.
The flood that devastated portions of Eastern Kentucky in July 2022 highlighted the hard work, resilience and kindness of mountain communities; photographer Dean Hill has dedicated his life to capturing Appalachia on film; painter Ceirra Evans draws from her childhood to showcase the people of Appalachia; in Russell, the once-popular Railroad YMCA was originally built to house railroad workers.
WRFL is the University of Kentucky's student-run radio station and has been operating for 35 years; visit Flame Run, a glass studio and gallery in Louisville and glass artist Brook Forrest White Jr.; celebrating the Western Kentucky artist Helen LaFrance; and the history of Hensley Settlement and one man's determination to preserve a quieter way of life for his family.
Meet Wade Houston, Louisville businessman and former basketball coach; author Aimee Zaring explores the recipes and journeys of refugees who live in Kentucky in her new cookbook; established in 1799, First Vineyard was the first commercial winery in the U.S.; and a Buon fresco mural honors the once thriving African American community of Jonesville in Bowling Green.
Wickliffe Mounds, a Native American archaeological site, features abundant wildlife, museum exhibits, and more; kudzu is known as 'the vine that ate the south' because it is so invasive; Charles Young from Mays Lick overcame barriers and received overdue recognition a century after his death; the 127-year-old Monte Casino Chapel may be small in stature, but it makes up for its size in history.
The illustrations of Louisville artist Bri Bowers depict some of the city's beloved local landmarks; a look at bike polo in Lexington; a 1876 phenomenon occurred when a substance resembling meat fell from the sky over the Crouch family farm in Olympia Springs; and artist Kelly Brewer and friends started the Common Wealth of Kentucky Project, using their talents to showcase people and places.
Explore the history of the B-29 Superfortress, the plane used to deliver the atomic bombs during World War II; Pink Boots Society comprises movers and shakers in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry; Lexington-based artist Robert Morgan creates moving assemblage sculptures out of discarded family items; and explore the life of Louisville native and business leader Alice Houston.
Chip visits Empress Chili in Alexandria, the restaurant that started the Cincinnati Chili craze in 1922; the works of contemporary landscape painter Jon Gaddis; the history of White Hall, the mansion that has been in Richmond since the 1700s and was the home of the prominent Clay family; meet Lexington artist Lakshmi Sriraman, who specializes in painting, dance, and more.
Explore the life and works of renowned Kentucky author and activist bell hooks; The Lexington Writer's Room offers local, active writers (and visitors) affordable and collaborative workspaces; when the tornados went through Western Kentucky in 2021, WKDZ stayed on the air; the Butterfly Greenhouse at Wilson Nurseries & Plant Co. educates Kentuckians about the importance of native pollinators.
Host Chip Polston goes on a walkabout at Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo in Horse Cave; Ed McClanahan was a prolific writer and a member of Kentucky's "Fab Five"; the National Quilt Museum in Paducah honors quilters; and The Appalachian Shakespeare Center promotes Appalachia through the works of William Shakespeare.
Antique lovers flock to the small town of Hazel in southwestern Kentucky; Creelsboro Natural Arch is one of the largest stone arches east of the Rocky Mountains; Louisville-born actor Victor Mature was a star in the 1950s; and the evolution of the University of Kentucky Circus Club.
Explore the graffiti left by Civil War soldiers in Mammoth Cave; sustainability is a passion for the owners of Kentucky Wool Works; the esteemed collection of the Frazier History Museum; and an authentic Afghan restaurant that resides in an Owensboro biscuit house.
Visit two organizations that utilize horses to help individuals with mental health, cognitive development and physical therapy; the gift economy is growing in Kentucky, as well as a renewed sense of community; Chip heads to Wolfe County for an underground adventure by kayak; meet world champion carver Abby Peterson.
River Lotus Lion Dance in Louisville showcases the traditional Asian dance where performers mimic a lion's movements; the history and color/patterns of agates; folk artists Lonnie and Twyla Money are known for their whimsical and colorful wood carving; Lexington artists bring their art to the streets through "Art on the Town"; and the use of free art carts.
Dancing Well: The Soldier Project helps veterans with PTSD, along with their families, through music and dance; archeologists uncover glimpses of the past at Camp Nelson in Jessamine Country, a former Union army supply depot, now a U.S. National Cemetery; in the summer of 2022, Honor Flight of Kentucky organized its first all-female veteran flight to Washington D.C.
A Northern Wisconsin town celebrates its unique "Kentuck" heritage at an annual festival in Crandon; ROCK-Roller Derby of Central Kentucky - is getting a fresh start; in Louisville, Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing stands as a testament to the significant role agriculture and the river have played in the development of the country; remembering Appalachian health care pioneer Eula Hall.
Disc golf combines the precision of traditional golf with the exhilaration of frisbee; the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) showcases Kentucky farms; the Trail of Tears Pow Wow in Hopkinsville is an annual gathering for Native Americans from across the US; meet Elizabeth Mesa-Gaido, a Cuban American artist and professor of art at Morehead State University.
James Webb Musical Sales and Repairs is a Martin Co. luthier shop helping to preserve traditional mountain music; travel to the International Space Station with the Middlesboro School System and astronaut John Shoffner; the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham educates visitors in the history of coal mining; and a negative stigma of pit bulls has caused an overabundance of the breed at humane societies.
Tahlsound is a concert series providing opportunities for regional musicians to perform for the Lexington community; Green Forests Work is converting reclaimed, non-native grasslands and shrublands into productive forestland, providing jobs and restoring ecosystems; discover the history of the once-thriving city "Old Burnside"by hearing from former residents.
Every year in July, Louisville's Schnitzelburg neighborhood hosts the Dainty competition - a street game started by German immigrants in the 1970s; the Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition maintains safe and accessible trails; Chip enjoys the natural beauty of Pine Mountain State Resort Park; meet David and Teresa Prince, teachers in Lawrence County and established musical artists.
Science teacher Natasha Craft is bringing STEM Camp Invention, a nationally-recognized summer camp program for grades K-6, to Pulaski County for the first time; The Little Loomhouse in southern Jefferson County has been a center for cultural life since 1898; The Working Cat Project matches feral cats with property owners who face rodent problems in barns, stables and warehouses.
A group called "Guns to Gardens Louisville" has joined blacksmith Craig Kaviar to turn surrendered firearms into gardening tools; the International Festival celebrates the diverse population of Bowling Green; Lexington-based designer Soreyda Begley is utilizing her talent to draw attention to sustainability in the fashion industry; the history of the Black Patch Wars in Princeton, Ky., in 1906.
The Bell Observatory at Western Kentucky University inspires future astronomers; a partnership between Prestonsburg's Mountain Arts Center and online radio station, CMH23 Radio, aims to support the next generation of country music legends; Chip visits the Hopewell Museum in Paris, Ky.; the history of Butchertown, one of Louisville's oldest neighborhoods.
In this special episode, find out how more than $3 million in Civil War-era coins were found in a Kentucky farm field. How did they get there? For the first time, hear insights from the farmer who discovered them in what is now known as the Great Kentucky Hoard.
A tool library in Louisville aims to make DIY projects and community more accessible; banjo and fiddle player Lily May Ledford was the driving force of The Coon Creek Girls, a popular string band from Powell County formed in the 1930s; preserving McConnell Springs Park in Lexington; the Home For Wayward Babydolls in Rowan County accepts dolls from all over the world.
EKU's Aviation program, Kentucky State Park’s 100th anniversary, and 120 examples of Kentucky music.
The Kentucky Life crew traveled to Paducah in April 2024 to capture the Total Solar Eclipse.
Kentucky casualties in Michigan's Battle of the River Raisin, Natural Bridge State Park, Dan Dutton.
Folklore in Somerset, the story of Olivia Hatcher, haunted Octagon Hall, Louisville's Pan statue.
Old Fort Harrod State Park, The Monarch in Louisville, LEGO sets, Native Dawn Flute Gathering.
Public art in Covington, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, glass artist Travis Adams, and more.
Rock stacking structures defy gravity, historical play in Pikeville, Lake Barkley State Resort Park.
Kentucky-based band, The Local Honeys, is dedicated to preserving and spreading traditional mountain music; the Appalachian Writers' Workshop in Hindman focuses on nurturing the next generation of Appalachian authors; and Chip joins the reenactment of the Battle of Blue Licks at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, which is considered the last official battle of the Revolutionary War.
Mike Linnig's, an iconic South Louisville seafood restaurant, celebrates 100 years; University of Kentucky sculpture professor Garry Bibbs credits his mentors with nurturing his talent; Kentucky Life travels to beautiful Taylorsville Lake State Park in Mount Eden; and HollerGirl Music Festival celebrates and showcases talented female musicians of Appalachia.
Film industry pioneer Madame Sul-Te-Wan, General Burnside Island State Resort Park, and more.
The Carcassonne Square Dance, First Robotics students, Nolin Lake State Park, and more.
Paducah's long and dynamic history with the movies; the Round-Leaved Sundew, a unique plant recently discovered in Kentucky; The Tobacco League was a popular baseball league in Central Kentucky between World War II and the Korean War; and two photographers captured scenes of Louisville during the twentieth century using developing technology.
Two Western Kentucky farmers are bucking the trend - choosing agriculture over city life; current Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House; KCAL Old Time Radio recreates radio shows from the 1940s and 50s and performs them live from their theater in Nicholasville.
Jean Thomas, The Traipsin' Woman, traveled the mountains of Eastern Kentucky documenting traditional music; Chip explores Kincaid Lake State Park by kayak; Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker became Kentucky's Poet Laureate in 2013, the first African American to hold the honor; the Kentucky Harp Society aims to make harps more commonplace.
The KBO All-State band program brings together the state's best middle school musicians for an intense musical weekend; Crystal Wilkinson was Kentucky's Poet Laureate from 2021 until 2023; Chip visits Carter Caves State Resort Park where he learns about bat hibernation and the cave system's ecosystem; Chip learns about Pickleball from a 80-year-old national champion and then plays a professional.
Jenny Wiley was a frontier woman who became a legend of Kentucky history, and her legacy lives on at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park; Belle Townsend is a writer, organizer, and journalist who founded Backwoods Literary Press, documenting diverse rural voices; Brent Seales, a professor of computer science at the University of Kentucky, led an effort to digitally ancient scrolls from Herculaneum.