Step into an era of opulence and clandestine revelry and kick off Bourbon Heritage Month at Michter’s Speakeasy, a Prohibition-Era party, at the Frazier History Museum. On September 5 from 7 - 9:30pm, let us whisk you away to the intoxicating world of the Roaring Twenties, where the giggle water flows as freely as the Charleston.

The Summer Beer Fest at Frazier is back and we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary or the Frazier History Museum! If you love drinking tasty craft beers, festivals, and you’re ready to hang out with friends listening to music and having fun — the Summer Beer Fest at Frazier is on tap. With over 200 specialty beers, food, live music, and Kentucky pride spilling over with each tasting, this promises to be one of the largest beer-tasting events in Kentucky. So grab a group and secure your tickets today to hang out with the best barley brewers and most creative brewski drinkers around. We can’t wait to party with you again this year!

Let’s see where the river takes us. This week, we’ll explore the history, creatures, and lore of the Ohio River. We’ll look at life on the water, from shantyboats and pirate ships to Tori Murden’s transatlantic row boat. And we’ll look at life in the water, from giant catfish to the prehistoric creatures that lived in the ancient oceans that once covered Kentucky. With visits to our friends at the Belle of Louisville and the Science Center, this camp is sure to be a splash.

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Please join us for a screening of the documentary Fleeting Reality featuring multiple Pulitzer Prize–winning photographers from the Courier Journal. Each of their pictures tells its own story, some funny, some tragic, but always interesting.

Behind every success there lies a great many do-overs. And often the failures are just as interesting! This week is dedicated to the failures that occurred on a spectacular level. From terrible inventions, stolen ideas, and military flops to hoaxes, fakes, and bumbling criminals, join us as we celebrate some of history’s most epic fails.

We love printed art and media, so this week we’ll deep dive into the world of comic books, manga, newspaper comics, and zines. (A zine, pronounced ‘zeen,’ is a self-published magazine or pamphlet that springs out of artistic passion and self-expression.) In true zine fashion, we’ll start by reading and then get busy creating. With help from visiting artists, campers will write, draw, print, and collage their own writing and art. And at the end of the week, we’ll print our own collection to share with the group.

Let’s see where the river takes us. This week, we’ll explore the history, creatures, and lore of the Ohio River. We’ll look at life on the water, from shantyboats and pirate ships to Tori Murden’s transatlantic row boat. And we’ll look at life in the water, from giant catfish to the prehistoric creatures that lived in the ancient oceans that once covered Kentucky. With visits to our friends at the Belle of Louisville and the Science Center, this camp is sure to be a splash.

Behind every success there lies a great many do-overs. And often the failures are just as interesting! This week is dedicated to the failures that occurred on a spectacular level. From terrible inventions, stolen ideas, and military flops to hoaxes, fakes, and bumbling criminals, join us as we celebrate some of history’s most epic fails

Experience the rich flavors of James B Beam and legacy of the First Family of Bourbon at the Frazier on June 11th.

In a prelude to Father’s Day, Fred and Freddie Noe will take you on an adventure telling legendary tales about the eight generations that have made up James B Beam and what it means to Fred to pass the master distiller torch to Freddie. This event wouldn’t be complete without Fred and Freddie leading a guided tasting of James B Beam’s best Bourbons – including Frazier’s Knob Creek Single Barrel – and exquisite food from The Kitchen Table, Beam’s new Clermont restaurant.

Bring your father or favorite Bourbon connoisseur to fall into flavors with the largest Bourbon brand in the world at the Frazier, the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Do you have what it takes to be in charge at the Frazier? We’ll spend this week learning what goes into all the ways our museum engages with the public. We’ll uncover behind-the-scenes secrets by taking basement-to-boardroom tours and by meeting with staff members in different museum departments. Each camper will work solo or in teams to create what we in the biz call an “engagement:” a historic interpretation, a game or craft, or a tour of their favorite exhibit. Campers will spend the week perfecting it before they run the show on Friday for the public–and for invited parents.

Come take “The Journey” with us and see how Kentuckiana played a central role in the Underground Railroad as freedom seekers looked to flee bondage, including Thornton and Lucie Blackburn. This walking tour is free and will start in front of the Frazier History Museum.  It will cover 4 stops on a two-mile route with immersive storytelling from our staff members.

We will gather at 9:30 a.m. with tours happening at 9:40 and 9:50 a.m. Each tour is limited to 20 people.  The final stop will be at “On the Banks of Freedom” installation behind the floodwall near the Frazier.

You’ll be just in time for a special unveiling and program at 11 a.m. by our partner IDEAS xLab called “In Our Elders’ Footprints,” a new (Un)Known Project installation featuring over 20 sets of footprints from Black Louisville elders including activists, educators, and civil rights leaders.

These events are supported by the Louisville Metro Government Juneteenth Jubilee Commission.

We’ll kick off summer with creative energy. Each day this week we’ll focus on a different art discipline–painting, sculpture, music, theater, and film. We’ll host visiting artists for hands-on experiences, learn about the history and cultural influence of specific artists and art movements, and take mini-field trips around the block to explore Main Street art sites and museums.

This is a day camp - join us for one day or all five!

He will tell you John Boy Walton, a country boy who wanted to be a writer, was his hero. Silas House was living that same life in Southeastern Kentucky, and when a teacher told him he was a writer, he believed her as she had believed in him.

With his many novels, Silas House is among the strongest voices of Southern writers. He is a New York Times bestselling author, a Grammy finalist, Kentucky’s current poet laureate, and a faculty member at both Berea College and Spalding University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program, from which he received his degree. His working-class upbringing and deep roots in Appalachia helped shape him. And it wasn’t always easy as a gay man. Even so, you won’t find a greater advocate for Kentucky.

Come hear Silas House tell his own story in his most eloquent voice.

You will learn. You will be moved. You will be inspired.

The Frazier History Museum presents an exclusive evening with award-winning chef and humanitarian Edward Lee! Prepare your senses for a sensational fusion of food, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, and live music by special guests Tyler Lance Walker Gill and his band. This hybrid book release and cocktail party is sure to be a memorable evening at the Frazier. Join us to celebrate the release of Chef Lee’s highly anticipated follow-up to his James Beard Award–winning Buttermilk Graffiti. In his latest literary masterpiece, Bourbon Land: A Spirited Love Letter to My Old Kentucky Whiskey, Lee explores Kentucky Bourbon culture with expertly crafted recipes, insightful essays, and exclusive distillery tours. Your program ticket gets you: a cooking demo led by Chef Lee and his culinary team, featured appetizers, a complimentary cocktail, a signed copy of Bourbon Land, and exclusive tastings and swag from Maker’s Mark! Plus, you can mingle with Chef Lee and enjoy the honkytonk tunes. Take home cherished memories of this unforgettable experience!

Join us at the Frazier for a unique, sensory experience with Log Still Distillery; tap your toes to the live music of Kaleb Cecil, a regular in the AMP lineup, taste recipes from Monk’s Road’s new restaurant on Main, and sip on some of the spirit industries finest pours. From its inception, Log Still Distillery has brought faith, family, and community together along Monk’s Road in historic Gethsemane, KY. Now, they are opening a high-end restaurant and tasting room, called Monk’s Road Boiler House right down the street from the Frazier History Museum. To celebrate their arrival in the neighborhood, we’re hosting a party, a Bourbon tasting, and a barrel selection showcasing all that Log Still has to offer. Listen to live music as we discuss Amp’s 2024 concert series, savor great food and outstanding Monk’s Road spirits, culminating with our Frazier barrel selection.

Brace yourselves folks for an event that is sure to be the talk of the town!

Night at the Museum: Celebrating 20 Years of the Frazier is an experiential museum takeover with all the makings of the party of the year. Four bands featuring live, local music, incredible food from multiple Frazier caterers, and a wide range of drinks on every floor - all included with your ticket.

Join us April 9 at the Frazier History Museum for a community conversation to learn more about Norton West Louisville Hospital opening in November. You’ll meet the newly announced leadership team and learn what services the hospital will offer as well as dozens of job opportunities. There will be a program with Russell F. Cox, president and CEO of Norton Healthcare, and Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer of Norton West Louisville Hospital, to discuss the historic opening. It’s the first hospital to be built west of Ninth Street in more than 150 years. The forum is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.

Settle in folks, for a one-of-a-kind Bourbon program and barrel selection that could only be hosted at the Frazier History Museum, the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® Since the release of their 1870 Original Batch, Old Forester has crafted watershed moments in Bourbon’s history with a unique tale in every glass.

Join George Garvin Brown descendant Mac Brown, Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris, and Tim Holz of the Brown-Forman Archives as they lead tastings of Brown-Forman’s Whiskey Row Series, culminating with a barrel proof selection available for purchase to attendees only. We’ll share stories and show off artifacts and objects from both the family and the Brown-Forman archive, housed at the Frazier. This event provides an unparalleled opportunity for bourbon historians to dive into the Brown family archives and discover rare objects to complement the story of the world’s only Bourbon bottled before, during, and after Prohibition.

Join us as Ben Chandler shares stories of his grandfather, A. B. “Happy” Chandler, who served as Commissioner of Baseball from 1945 to 1951. In 1947, Chandler was pivotal in breaking baseball’s “color barrier” by giving the necessary Commissioner approval to Jackie Robinson’s contract. Chandler supported Robinson and other players behind the scenes as they faced ongoing hostility and racism. As the nation gets ready to play ball once again, Ben will recount details of this time. He’ll also share how his own personal love of the game grew out of that family tradition. Lexington author Dorian Hairston will also join us to read from “Pretend the Ball is Named Jim Crow: The Story of Josh Gibson”, his debut poetry collection that explores the Black American experience through the lens of Gibson’s life. Louisville Bats President Greg Galiette will be here too, talking about the upcoming season and their efforts to highlight the diverse stories of baseball.

Learn the incredible stories of Black Americans in the Bourbon industry throughout Kentucky’s history. Frazier Teaching Artist Brian West leads guest through a bourbon tasting/cultural experience that highlights the lives of five important Black Kentuckians who have made the industry what it is today: Elmer Lucille Allen, Freddie Johnson, and Brough Brothers.

The Frazier History Museum strongly believes that every county possesses a unique and incredible story deserving to be shared with the rest of Kentucky (and beyond). Premised on this conviction, the 120: Cool KY Counties project has collected hundreds of stories from across the Commonwealth—including histories, legends, and oral traditions curated at the local level. As an addition to our immensely popular Cool Kentucky exhibition, we believe that by sharing these “hidden stories,” we will be able to encourage empathy, promote exploration, cultivate mutual respect, and bridge divides on the basis of Kentucky's extraordinary history and heritage.

Join us at the museum on Saturday, March 9 for a family-friendly day of performances and programs. We’ll have hands-on art activities, Cool KY Trivia, live music, a food truck serving coffee and lunch, and puppet variety shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. from Louisville’s own Mary Shelley Electric Co.

Join the Frazier History Museum, Louisville Metro Government Office of Equity, and the Courier Journal as we present March on Frankfort: The 60th Anniversary.

We’ll talk with organizers of the march, hear from people who took part, and discuss its impact. We’ll also talk about where we are today with civil rights and race relations, the threats to continued progress, and how we all play a role in making things better.

We invite anyone who took part in the March 5, 1964, march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to join us and bring any mementos.

Some of our special guests include Rev. Louis Newby, Raoul Cunningham, John Johnson, Senator Gerald Neal, State Rep. Keturah Herron, Mattie Jones, Chaka Cummings, Charlene Holloway, Lamont Collins, and Mike Ward.

Click for streaming options.

Join us at the Frazier for our first barrel selection of 2024 and snare your own bottle of our Blue Run Spirits Single Barrel Selection! Special guests Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge and Trey Wade, founder of Black Bourbon Society and head of consumer experience at Coors Whiskey Company, will lead the tasting and share their vast knowledge and experience. Participate and discover Blue Run’s “whiskey metamorphosis” and hear the unique brand story that makes Blue Run a true butterfly of Bourbon. Since opening in 2020, Blue Run has become one of Kentucky’s most elusive and exclusive whiskey producers. Their award-winning brand is a nostalgic tribute to Georgetown, Kentucky’s Royal Spring, where many a young Kentuckian devoted their summers to chasing dreams and butterflies along the river.

Food pairings provided by Black Jockey’s Lounge!

The Frazier History Museum is partnering with the Louisville Historical League to commemorate Eliza Tevis and a new mini-exhibit in her honor at the Frazier. Eliza Tevis: She Did What She Could was curated by students in Dr. Glenn Crothers’s Introduction to Public History class at the University of Louisville. Students in another U of L class taught by Dr. Felicia Jamison will expand the exhibit.

Eliza Tevis was an enslaved woman who gained her freedom in the 1830s, purchased land, and built a home in the “Wet Woods,” now the Newburg neighborhood of south Louisville.

U of L students will offer tours of the exhibit and reflect on what they learned about this intrepid woman. Members of the Eliza Tevis Society, many of them descendants, will also join us. Janis Carter Miller will begin the program with a special engagement. Other guests will include Dr. Glenn Crothers, Dr. Felicia Jamison, Frazier curator Amanda Briede, Frazier VP of mission Rachel Platt, Louisville Historical League president Steve Wiser, and artist Irene Mudd.

Learn the incredible stories of Black Americans in the Bourbon industry throughout Kentucky’s history. Frazier Teaching Artist Brian West leads guest through a bourbon tasting/cultural experience that highlights the lives of five important Black Kentuckians who have made the industry what it is today: Elmer Lucille Allen, Freddie Johnson, and Brough Brothers.

Inspired by the collection of poems Load in Nine Times – especially the poem “Catch Me If You Can” – by Frank X Walker, this is a special tour of our exhibit The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall. Teaching artist Brian West will guide guests through portions of the Commonwealth that document the experience of Black Kentuckians – both free and enslaved – before, during and after the Civil War. He also will read aloud some of the poems written by Walker for the exhibit itself.

Inspired by the collection of poems Load in Nine Times – especially the poem “Catch Me If You Can” – by Frank X Walker, this is a special tour of our exhibit The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall. Teaching artist Brian West will guide guests through portions of the Commonwealth that document the experience of Black Kentuckians – both free and enslaved – before, during and after the Civil War. He also will read aloud some of the poems written by Walker for the exhibit itself.