Happy Halloween!

It is a monster week here at the Frazier and it has nothing to do with Frankenstein, the Werewolf, or King Kong. For the next year, guests and members will be visiting the museum in search of the sports icons that have shaped their fanatic highs and lows over the years.

Opening this Saturday, November 5, is Kentucky Rivalries—one of the most interactive exhibitions the museum has ever presented. I want to thank our community of amazing contributors, because it is also the most collaborative exhibition in the museum’s history. With 185 items on display, twenty-one lenders, and thirty different guest writers, Kentucky Rivalries is full of players, coaches, fans, and historical figures who take competition to an entirely different level.

You know the Shillelagh that goes to the winner of the St. X-Trinity football game each year? We’ve got that. We also have a replica of the barrel awarded to the winner of the annual Male-Manual football game. Skirmishes between the Cats and the Cards over the years are symbolized brilliantly on a replica hardwood basketball court in the middle of the exhibition. All the great Kentucky high school and college rivalries are represented along with the competitive spirit that has defined the Commonwealth since the days of the Hatfields and McCoys.

From a slam-dunk photo op to Pop-a-Shot, Quarterback Toss, and a high-five experience, I’m certain you and your kiddos will enjoy every trash-talking turn. This Saturday is the first of our Kentucky Rivalries Spirit Days, and to celebrate we’re offering half-price admission to anyone wearing team gear!

In today’s Frazier Weekly, we go high into the air with former Cardinal Wiley Brown to tell you about the first-ever high five. Rachel Platt announces a new program honoring Denny Crum, then Haley Hickey recaps a special program where we went down the Rabbit Hole with Shakespeare. Finally, Male alum Brian West and Manual alum Hayley Rankin follow up on Friday night’s historic “Old Rivalry” game.

Play nice, kids—this is going to be fun!

Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier History Museum

This Week in the Museum

Kentucky Rivalries: How to High Five With Co-creator Wiley Brown

From archrival teams like the Cats and the Cards to dueling editors, competing caves, and beefing barbecues, Kentucky Rivalries celebrates the most iconic conflicts in the Bluegrass State. As we pregame for this fun new exhibition, which opens to the public Saturday, November 5, we’ve asked manager of collection impact Hayley Rankin to highlight some of the notable objects to be displayed.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Preparing for our new exhibition Kentucky Rivalries has connected us with sports all-stars and alumni from rival schools across the state. Recently, my colleagues and I visited Wiley Brown, a former University of Louisville basketball player and NCAA Champion, current basketball coach at Indiana University Southeast, and co-creator of the high five. Brown and his former U of L teammate, the late Derek Smith (1961–96), are credited with inventing the high five during their days as starting players on the 1980 championship team. Wiley still quotes today, “Why go low when we go high?”

As we interviewed Wiley for our exhibition’s high five interactive about his rivalry experience, his friendship with Derek Smith, and his unwavering claim as the first ever to do a high five, I learned that rivalries come in many forms. He spoke of former rivals during his time as a Louisville Cardinal, but also expressed how he and his former teammates now have their own, good-spirited rivalries with each other as the coaches of basketball teams at several different colleges. When they meet on the court, the trash talk begins! Rivalries might pit us against one another, but they also connect us and carry on traditions like the high five, now an integral part of our culture and a way to say “Great Job!” “Yes!” or “That’s how we do it!” without having to use words.

During our visit with Wiley, I also attempted to give him a high five—my five-five to his six-eight. As you can see in the video below, I didn’t succeed on the first try. Now, just imagine how high the high five of two basketball players, both jumping in the air, would be!

Wiley Brown is a featured athlete and coach in our upcoming exhibition, where you too can give Wiley a high five! Kentucky Rivalries opens to the public this Saturday, November 5.

Hayley Rankin
Manager of Collection Impact

Frazier Program to Honor Denny Crum, Spotlight 1980s U of L Championship Teams

As Kenny Payne begins his history-making reign as the University of Louisville men’s basketball head coach, we are paying tribute to the man who coached him to win a national championship as a Cardinal in 1986.

Coach Denny Crum was of course the coach at U of L from 1971 to 2001—and he led the team to a national championship in 1980 and again in 1986.

During his tenure, he coached and touched the lives of hundreds of young men. As Payne has said, Crum helped build the foundation and tradition of Louisville basketball.

So as we open our new exhibition Kentucky Rivalries, we couldn’t think of a better public program to get us started than Rivalries and Cool Hand Luke, on Thursday, December 8. (Don’t worry, the Cards don’t play that night!)

We’ll let Crum’s former players and assistant coaches like Wade Houston tell us about that nickname, “Cool Hand Luke.” They will take us down memory lane with the wins, losses, rivalries, and defining moments in a young man’s life.

I recently sat down with Coach Crum and Roger Burkman, from the 1980 Championship team, to talk about Crum’s career. Burkman recounted how Crum broke the ice just before the big championship game.

Oh, how I wish he could recall what song that was!

Expect many stories like that when you join us December 8.

U of L director of athletics Josh Heird will tip things off with special remarks.

The program starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for Frazier members (Contributor-level and above).

We sure hope you’ll join us as Andy Treinen and I talk to some of the biggest names in the game to honor a legend.

Rachel Platt
Director of Community Engagement

Alumni Brian West and Hayley Rankin on Last Friday’s Male-Manual Football Game

Last week, in advance of the 140th Male-Manual football game, we asked two staff members—teaching artist Brian West and manager of collection impact Hayley Rankin—to share their perspectives on the rivalry as alumni of each school, respectively. This week, hot on the heels of Male’s victory, we’ve asked them to recap the game, with all its peaks, valleys, and clock-related drama. As the editor of Frazier Weekly, I knew I’d have to come down to the museum on a rainy Sunday to edit this piece—but as a Manual alum, I had hoped Hayley would be doing the gloating, not Brian! We’ll get `em next year, Crimsons.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Manual Alum Hayley Rankin (Class of 2014) on Manual’s Defeat

Despite the outcome of Friday night’s game, and the outcome of the past eight years, the Crimson spirit was strong as we gathered to watch the Old Rivalry meet for the 140th time. Unfortunately, Male played well and Manual couldn’t seem to get it together, contrary to their respective season records, proving every game is its own challenge. So as eight years becomes nine, it is disappointing, to be sure—but there’s always next year . . . and likely 100 years after that. Besides, I’d rather be a losing Ram than a winning Bulldog any day.

Hayley Rankin
Manager of Collection Impact

Male Alum Brian West (Class of 1996) on Male’s Victory

Despite my smack talk about the Old Rivalry in last week’s Frazier Weekly, I was not so sure Male was going to pull out a victory against Manual on Friday. The Bulldogs entered the game at 5-4, after all.  Manual’s only loss before the Male game had come against the defending Class 6A State Champs: St. Xavier.

So, having not seen Male play at all this year, I had no idea what to actually expect.

But, the Bulldogs did not disappoint. The presence of Male running back Daniel Swinney was felt right away. The back was able to grind out hard yardage throughout the game, finishing with 147 yards rushing for 21 carries. His running helped set up Male’s passing attack. Male quarterback Kolter Smith connected with wide receiver Max Gainey twice for touchdowns. First, there was a 20-yard fade to the right for a score at the 4 minute mark of the second quarter. Then, with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter, on third and ten at the Manual 14, Smith converted with a pass to Gainey for another Male touchdown. This was all the more impressive to see from Gainey, since this was only his second game back from a broken collarbone, an injury he had sustained earlier in the season.

Though Male’s offense was good enough to win, Male’s defense truly carried the day. Despite the fact that Manual running back Zeek Washburn gashed Male’s defense all night long for nearly 100 yards, despite the fact that Rams wide receiver Jeremiah Blakey had the longest play of the night with his reception of a bomb thrown by freshman quarterback Tyree Stoner for 62 yards (and nearly a touchdown) in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs defense bent but never broke.

In the second quarter, Bulldogs defensive end Ra’shandre Moore recovered a fumble off a Manual screen pass. That helped set up Male’s first touchdown. Then with 4 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Manual was trying to drive the length of the field when another Manual pass was intercepted. Then, after Male offense had turned over its possession on downs, Male defensive back Antojuan Weathers Jr. sealed the victory with a fumble recovery.

After Weathers’s fumble recovery, Male’s offense tried to run out the clock—but, for some reason, the clock stopped with 2.0 seconds left. At the same time, Male fans stormed the field.

There was confusion for a few minutes. The public address announcer for Male tried to tell the kids who were storming the field that there was still time on the clock and that they had to return to the stands. But with the Manual players slowly walking off the field, and Male fans refusing to return to their seats, the referees conferred for a moment and decided to run off the remaining two seconds.

The game was finally over. Male had pulled off the upset.

The series now stands at 89 wins, 45 losses, and 6 ties for the Bulldogs.

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Kentucky Rivalries: IU-UK Rivalry Set to Resume in 2025–26 Season

In the cloudy days of autumn, many college basketball fans in Kentuckiana are seeing a ray of light: news of the potential resumption of the rivalry between Kentucky and Indiana men’s basketball. Rumored to be in the works during the summer, this month Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari officially confirmed that the two schools “have agreed in principle” to resume their interstate rivalry by the 2025–26 season.

This is welcome news to many fans. Since 1969, when the regular season series between IU and Kentucky began, the two schools have combined for sixteen Final Four appearances and seven National championships. With their relatively close proximity, rich basketball traditions, legendary head coaches, and on-court talent, UK versus IU was the marquee matchup in Kentuckiana for college basketball fans of a certain age. Yet, for various reasons, the regular season series was suspended after the 2011–12 season.

However, in light of Calipari’s comments, along with those by former IU player and current Hoosiers head basketball coach Mike Woodson, the future looks bright for fans of one of college basketball’s longest, and most spirited, rivalries.

Speaking of rivalries: don’t forget that our Kentucky Rivalries exhibition will open to the public Saturday, November 5!

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Promo Code for $10 Off Membership Expires Today

Become a member today and join us for our Member Exclusive Opening Pep Rally! (Remember to RSVP today!) Let us help you get that pep rally spirit with a discount!

Use promo code: SCHOOLSPIRIT* for $10 off your membership!

Promo expires October 31, 2022.

*Only applicable to Contributor level memberships and above.

Hurry, this offer expires today!

Avoid missing out and become a member now!

Have questions? Call us at (502) 753-5663.

Amanda Egan
Membership & Database Administrator

Museum Store: Basketball Ice Molds

We are gearing up for basketball season by dunking—dunking our ice molds into our Bourbon, that is! These are a slam dunk for sports fans on your gift list. Purchase your very own basketball ice mold at the Frazier’s Museum Store.

Frazier Museum Adjusts Sunday Hours for Winter

You’ve been waiting outside as we open up on Sundays at noon, and we’ve noticed!

So starting this Sunday, November 6, we are going to open at 11 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. These Sunday hours of operation will remain in effect through the end of February.

We are “Where the World Meets Kentucky”—but more importantly, we aim to meet your needs.

These new hours will get you inside sooner to explore and shop on Sundays.

Guests Hop Into Shakespeare at Rabbit Hole Program

Last Wednesday we hosted 150 people for a Shakespeare-inspired event with Rabbit Hole Distillery. Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian and creative director Dac Austin were here to share stories about the inspiration for the brand and their Bourbons.

Guests were served a delicious welcome cocktail to sip while they walked around the museum before the program. The team at Rabbit Hole created the drink and named it Thought is Free in homage to Shakespeare. I highly recommend it!

Thought is Free

1.5 oz. Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon
0.5 oz. Copper & Kings American Apple Brandy
3 dashes Hella Apple Blossom Bitters
0.75 oz. Vanilla Demerara

Stir and serve over ice in a rocks glass. (No garnish is necessary, but I think an orange twist or an apple slice would be a fantastic and festive addition.)

Guests enjoyed tastings of four expressions from Rabbit Hole distillery—Cavehill, Heigold, Dareringer, and their rye whiskey, Boxergrail—as well as a fifth tasting of a single barrel Cavehill Bourbon chosen by the team at Frazier Museum. The bottles of this single barrel have the most amazing Shakespeare-inspired labels designed by collage artist Beppe Conti, and the Bourbon is absolute perfection. Guests had the option of buying a bottle, which I did and got the Othello label. I’m obsessed. The few remaining bottles will be sold in the Frazier’s Museum Store. They’re all signed by Kaveh and come with a print to match the label. Is it too early to start your holiday shopping? It’s the perfect gift for that person in your life who loves Bourbon . . . or art . . . or Shakespeare.

Kaveh, Dac, and everyone on the Rabbit Hole team were so incredibly charming. If you haven’t had the chance to visit their distillery, you should. And while you’re downtown, we’d love to see you at the Frazier!

Haley Hicky
Product & Program Manager

Bridging the Divide

Ground Broken on Waterfront Park Westward Expansion

As one official said at the groundbreaking last Monday, another door has opened in bridging the divide with West Louisville. Phase IV of expanding Waterfront Park Westward is now underway with developing an additional twenty-two acres for thousands of residents between Tenth and Fourteenth Streets. We’ve asked the executive director of Waterfront Park, Deborah Bilitski, to give you more details on what to expect, complete with a couple of renderings!—Rachel Platt, Director of Community Engagement

Thirty-five years ago, this community joined together and decided to take on the impossible task of transforming our waterfront from a blighted industrial wasteland into a beautiful, welcoming, accessible community amenity. Through intense community resolve, junk yards, heavy industrial uses, and environmentally contaminated lands were replaced with thousands of trees and acres of recreational green space along the river that have improved quality of life and the health of our air, our land, our waterways, and our residents.

The impossible became possible only because the entire community believed in the vision and participated in the planning, fundraising, and ongoing stewardship of our waterfront every step of the way. Waterfront Park is now the welcoming green gateway to Kentucky, the most visited destination in downtown Louisville, and consistently recognized as one of the best urban parks in the country.

On October 24, Waterfront Park celebrated another major milestone with the community as we broke ground on Waterfront Park Phase IV, the twenty-two-acre westward expansion of Waterfront Park between Tenth and Fourteenth Streets along the river. This $50 million project will unite our city across the Ninth Street Divide, bring Waterfront Park’s world class amenities within a short walk of over 12,000 residents of our west end neighborhoods, and attract visitors from throughout the region and beyond.

The first component to be constructed is an outdoor experiential learning area we’ve designed in partnership with Kentucky Science Center. This extraordinary and unique experience for children will incorporate authentic river and industrial artifacts with STEM-based educational features unlike anything else in the region. This phase of construction will also include an event building, restrooms, beautiful landscaping, and a new parking area for visitors. Future phases of the park expansion will include exciting new amenities, including an observation pier large enough to accommodate events, an outdoor exercise area, plazas, picnic areas, tree groves, and more.

To date, we have raised $26 million of the $50 million needed to complete Phase IV and we are excited to begin construction. As a nonprofit, donor-supported public park, Waterfront Park is grateful for the support of the community and we look forward to bringing the westward park expansion to life.

Deborah Bilitski
Executive Director, Waterfront Park
Guest Contributor

History All Around Us

Abandoned Ship USS Sachem Banked in Taylor Creek in Petersburg

Imagine: you and your friends decide to go on a scenic kayaking trip on a stretch of the Ohio River close to Cincinnati. You are appreciating the slight breeze and richly colored autumn leaves until you stumble upon a small waterway adjacent to the river. After turning into the small creek, you notice a man-made object banked up ahead. As you approach, you realize what you’re seeing is a small ship, and a very old one at that!

You wonder: How did this get here, and what is its history?

This theoretical ship is indeed real, and it’s located in Petersburg, Kentucky!

The USS Sachem, now popularly known in the area as the “ghost ship,” is located on Taylor Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River in Boone County in Northern Kentucky.

The ghost ship has been named and renamed many times over the years, but its original name was The Celt. It was built in 1901 by the Pusey & Jones Company, a large shipbuilder of the era. It was first owned by wealthy businessman John Rogers Maxwell, who used it as the flagship of his yacht racing fleet. After Maxwell’s death, The Celt was sold to Manton Bradley Metcalf Sr. He renamed the vessel Sachem and used it as a private yacht in New York.

The Sachem was requisitioned by the United States Navy at the start of WWI and became the USS Sachem. After being converted for service by the Gas Engine & Power Co. and Charles L. Seabury & Co., the USS Sachem went to work! The ship traveled on harbor patrol along the East Coast, the Florida Keys, and even down to the Caribbean. Its duty was to locate submarines in these major water territories.

In addition to its patrolling, the USS Sachem was used as a floating laboratory by Thomas Edison. He was doing naval research to support the war efforts. He developed nearly fifty projects on behalf of the US Navy, but none of them took off.

I could go on and on about the rich history of the USS Sachem. However, I’d rather turn it over to the experts. (Plus, we have limited space in Frazier Weekly!)

Visit the USS Sachem Preservation Society website for additional details about this fascinating piece of history. You won’t regret it.

If my encouragement isn’t enticing enough, I’ll give you a teaser of what you’ll find on the website.

The USS Sachem was also used as a patrol craft during WWII, a rum runner mother-ship during Prohibition, a sightseeing vessel, a fishing yacht, and was featured in Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” music video and in several films. (You’ll have to visit the website to learn how it ended up in Kentucky!)

After researching the Sachem, I’m convinced that not only do cats have nine lives—so do ghost ships!

Note: You cannot access the USS Sachem ruins on foot. The land surrounding the vessel is privately owned. You can only visit the ship by kayak. Climbing aboard is strictly prohibited.

Shelby Durbin
Education & Engagement Specialist