Kentucky Historical Society
KHS History Campus Free for Military on Veterans Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2009)— All veterans and active-duty military personnel are invited to visit the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) history campus free of charge on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a new exhibition showcasing Kentucky’s military treasures, as well as the KHS permanent exhibition and Old State Capitol.

 “Kentucky Military Treasures: Selections from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections” tells the stories of Kentuckians who fought in battles spanning nearly 200 years and includes significant artifacts from conflicts ranging from the War of 1812 to more recent engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibition will open on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11.

“Kentucky Military Treasures” returns selections from the KHS collections to public view. Many of the artifacts have been in storage while renovations were underway at the Kentucky Military History Museum, one of the museums on the KHS history campus which will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 14.

The exhibition is on display in the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery at the Center for Kentucky History. It was made possible by generous support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, Martin F. Schmidt, Tawani Foundation and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs.

The Center for Kentucky History – headquarters of KHS – is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on visiting, visit www.history.ky.gov.

All patrons will have a special chance to view the exhibition for free from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, the first of a three-day salute to military treasures and Kentucky traditions that KHS is hosting as part of Whitaker Bank and Downtown Frankfort Inc.’s Candlelight Tour Weekend. All KHS Candlelight events, activities and displays are free and open to the public, to view a complete schedule, visit www.history.ky.gov/candlelight.

-30-
An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, established in 1836, is committed to helping people understand, cherish and share Kentucky's history. The KHS history campus includes The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Old State Capitol and Kentucky Military History Museum at the Old State Arsenal.  For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site at www.history.ky.gov.