Kentucky Historical Society
Guided Tours of “Kentucky Military Treasures” Begin in January

FRANKFORT, Ky. — (Jan. 20,  2010) — Whether you’re a teacher, a military history buff or a leisurely museum-goer, the Kentucky Historical Society has a new exhibition—and related activities—for you!

“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.

During hour-long tours of the exhibition guided by museum educators, guests can discover the stories of Kentuckians like Richard M. Johnson, who led his regiment of Kentucky Mounted Rifles to victory in the Battle of Thames. Or the story of William Horsfall, a young man from Newport, Ky. who became a drummer and later a private in Company G, First Kentucky Infantry Regiment, U.S.A. and who—to  this day—is the youngest Kentuckian ever to have earned the Medal of Honor. He was 15 when he received the honor.

“The benefit of taking a guided tour of an exhibition like ‘Kentucky Military Treasures’ is having the opportunity to engage in dialogue with museum staff about the artifacts and stories in the exhibition, as well as with guests who may have personal stories to share,” said Mike Deetsch, KHS interpretive education administrator.

Guided tours can cover a range of exhibition-related themes. The tours take place on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and are free with museum admission.

Additional resources for teachers and students are also available.  KHS will host an open house specifically for teachers on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. At this come-and-go event, teachers can explore “Kentucky Military Treasures” after hours; enjoy refreshments; network with other educators and find out about exhibition-related classroom resources, including pre-visit exhibition materials, and programs offered this spring.  This event is free for all teachers.

The “Kentucky Military Treasures” exhibition is on display in the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery at the Center for Kentucky History and was made possible by generous support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, Martin F. Schmidt, Tawani Foundation and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. To find a sneak peek of the exhibition and to take a look at student pre-visit materials, visit the Kentucky Military Treasures page on the KHS Web site. 

The Center for Kentucky History – headquarters of KHS -- is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.