Good morning, Kentucky!

Bonjour to Bell County, goddag to Garrard, olã to Oldham, shalom to Simpson, and merhaba to Muhlenberg! This is the week we are bringing all of Kentucky together to celebrate what makes our Commonwealth special.

We’re hosting an open house on Friday for the public opening of our new exhibit 120: Cool KY Counties—and folks from all 120 Kentucky counties are invited to be here! Over 240 folks from 107 of our counties have already RSVP’d that they will attend. They’ll be here for an exhibit opening party between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to learn about all of the Commonwealth and show off what makes their county so darn cool.

The exhibit will feature Lincoln’s true lawyer, Hart County’s Harlem Globetrotters, Monroe County’s marbles, and so much more. Featured musicians attending the open house will include an American Idol standout, a Psychedelic Furs bassist, and Lily May Ledford’s son JP Pennington, who with his band Exile recorded the 1978 song “Kiss You All Over.” Dozens of other artists featured on our Musical Kentucky playlist will also be here.

We’re talking about the entertainers, traditions, industry, sports, nature, notable figures, and folklore that will inspire folks to get in their cars and explore Kentucky—all of Kentucky!

From this date forward, we will feature one of those stories each week in this newsletter, Frazier Weekly. While you enjoy them, know that it was a partner in that county who helped to curate the content. Cool, right?

In today’s issue, Nick Cook details the impressive 120 exhibit build, Amanda Briede dives a bit deeper into how we gathered stories for 120, and Tish Boyer talks about some of the artifacts guests will see displayed in it.

Also, in this Frazier Weekly, Leslie Anderson teases our Old Forester program, Simon Meiners shares another 20th anniversary photo, Sammie Holmes overviews the history of Museum Row, and Channa Newman announces the reopening of Louisville’s Water Tower on River Road.

I hope you enjoy.

Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier History Museum

This Week in the Museum

Design and Build Process for 120: Cool KY Counties

As we prepare to unveil our new exhibit 120: Cool KY Counties on Friday, I thought it would be fun to share the design process from the initial sketch in the fall of last year to just a week out from opening!

We knew there would be a need for both touch screens as well as objects, so giving the case a good amount of depth was important. We also know it’s being placed in a louder room, so having focused sound is vital. The first draft included angled panels with case work in between.

Once the initial design was crafted, I made a 3D rendering of what would realistically work best in the space. Keeping in mind difficulties with cases around the museum, I wanted to make it most accessible for the guest experience as well as for staff when changing out objects or electronics.

With its location prominently displayed as you enter Cool Kentucky, we wanted to make sure it was eye catching, so a large colorful Kentucky logo was placed at the top towering above most other objects in the room. When it came time to build, we enlisted our contract preparator, Lucas Keown, to help plan all the intricacies and specifics of the construction which quickly filled our nine-foot-tall garage.

Pieces are brought up in sections to be permanently attached in the gallery with the final outer shell being attached just days before we open! This will be the third largest case in the museum by size and the only one not built into the existing rooms! By design, the 120 case will always be changing. Objects as well as images will be rotated out and the interactive screens will constantly be gaining new content.

It is the best representation of the Frazier History Museum and we are so excited to share it across the Commonwealth!

Nick Cook
Exhibit & Design Manager

Curator’s Corner: Gathering Stories for 120: Cool KY Counties

In 120: Cool KY Counties, we are so, so excited to share stories from all 120 Kentucky counties. We found many of the stories for this project in a very special way. Instead of me just sitting in my dungeon office doing research all by myself, we reached out to representatives from every single county to get their ideas about what makes their part of Kentucky special. It all started with the hard work of one intern, Jason Berkowitz. He contacted so many representatives from so many counties and created a fantastic list of contacts and potential stories from across the state. In fact, we appreciated Jason’s hard work so much that he is now a facilitator for the Frazier’s Stories in Mind program—and he continues to work on the 120 project!

Some counties gave us story ideas, some sent articles for us to read, and some even wrote the stories for us. Several staff members researched more county stories—and for some counties, we fought about whether the writing team or the video team would get to use a particularly interesting story! Once stories were written, we also found an image for each one and the collaboration continued. In finding images, I found myself reaching out to additional institutions across the state and making even more connections.

A goal for us in this project was to expand our community from just Louisville and the surrounding areas to include all parts of the state—and I would say that we were successful. This has been the most collaborative project I have been a part of here at the Frazier. I am truly amazed at the number of people across the state that don’t really know the Frazier but were willing to teach us so much about their counties. It has been so exciting to get to connect with so many people who are so passionate about Kentucky history, and in some cases, to get to visit the places that we wrote about.

One hundred and twenty stories from all over the state with 120 images to go along with them is a whole heck of a lot of work. I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to shout out a couple more incredible interns: Emma Ellis and Railey Stonex. Both of these incredibly passionate young ladies joined me for their fall semesters in 2023—and when we didn’t finish the project by the end of that semester, they stuck around until the job was complete. I’m incredibly grateful for their help. Finishing the 120 stories truly would not have been possible without them.

As you can see, this project has been a true team effort. Luckily, we have gotten to add a lot of people to our team. I can’t wait for you to come in and see the stories we found about your county–and for you to learn a little something about some of the others.

Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions

From the Collections: Selected Objects in 120: Cool KY Counties

So, Frazier Weekly readers: Nick and Amanda have already told you about the design and build of the 120 case as well as the curation of the stories displayed in it. But there’s one thing left to discuss: the objects!

The 120: Cool KY Counties case will showcase a rotating cast of objects from our own collection as well as a few on loan from other museums around Kentucky.

When 120 opens on Friday, we will have objects from five different counties on view. Three are on loan from other counties in the state. You will see pieces by folk artist Edgar Tolson on loan from the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Rowan County. We will have tobacco industry objects from the Nicholas County History Museum and minerals from the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum in Crittenden County. From our own collection, we will have a homespun wool coat made in Adair County in the 1820s as well as an model of the Audubon Museum & Nature Center which was made in the 1930s as part of the WPA Museum Extension Project.

This project has been a real labor of love to show off our amazing state. So come on down when you can and see this new addition to our lineup of exhibits!

Tish Boyer
Registrar & Manager of Collections Engagement

March 27 Old Forester Program to Feature Tastings, Artifacts, and More

The year 1870 was an industrious one: John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil, which at the time became the most substantial petroleum company in the world; construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began in New York; and in Louisville, Kentucky, pharmaceutical salesman George Garvin Brown bottled and sold the first bottle of Old Forrester—originally spelled with a double ‘r’ in honor of the physician Dr. William Forrester.

Old Forester’s Whisky Row Series commemorates the origin and legacy of Brown-Forman and of America’s first bottled Bourbon. Today, Master Distiller Chris Morris continues to honor the tradition that George Garvin Brown established over 150 years ago and the Brown-Forman Archives, housed at the Frazier History Museum, preserve the history and artifacts that chronicle watershed moments of Kentucky’s favorite spirit.

On Wednesday, March 27, join us at the Frazier as we welcome George Garvin Brown descendant Mac Brown, Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris, and Tim Holz of the Brown-Forman Archives to lead us through 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, such as the 1930s Bottled in Bond pint shown above. 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.

Click here to learn more or purchase tickets!

Leslie Anderson
Partnership Manager

Frazier Museum Featured in Smithsonian Piece on Hill Sisters

We love sharing stories about Kentucky history and are often asked to do exactly that for publications like Smithsonian. They recently came calling about the Hill sisters of Louisville who are represented at the Frazier. You can’t mention the Hill sisters without talking about the most famous song on earth, which they wrote and composed. The Frazier’s Mick Sullivan was happy to help—and so was Elizabeth Rightmyer, who talks about big plans to honor them in Louisville.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

History All Around Us

20th Anniversary Photo: Water Works Exhibition, 2010

Louisville was once nicknamed the “Graveyard of the West.” Why? Because its sewage-contaminated wells spread cholera and typhoid! Even as late as 1931, it was the sixth dirtiest city in the US. But by 2008, it had made vast improvements—so much so that it won “Best Tasting Tap Water in America” that year. The impressive arc of Louisville Water Co. and its long history was the subject of Water Works, an exhibition the Frazier hosted from October 23, 2010, to May 1, 2011. Cheers to that!

Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist

Iconic Louisville Water Tower to Reopen March 16 and 17

In 2010, as part of the Water Works exhibition, the Frazier first borrowed a large model replica of the historic Louisville Water Tower. Ever since, the museum has maintained a strong partnership with Louisville Water Co. (Their mascot Tapper was a big hit with our spring break campers!) Now, since the actual tower on River Road is reopening to the public, we’ve ask Louisville Water education and outreach manager Channa Newman to shed light on its impactful history in this city.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

You can’t miss it driving along River Road. You can even see it passing by on I-71. The Louisville Water Tower is a signature landmark. We have waited more than three years for this day: it’s finally time for the grand reopening at Louisville Water Tower.

Louisville Water began pumping water for the city at this location along the Ohio River in 1860. It has stood the test of time, with a few minor bumps and bruises, including a tornado in 1890 that toppled the Tower. It is both a Louisville icon and one of the most photographed spaces in the city. The restoration work is confirmation of the importance of this place not only for the company but for the community. It’s a testament to the quality and innovation at the foundation of Louisville Water’s mission.

It took 977 gallons of paint, scaffolding that stretched more than 185 feet, and meticulous attention to architectural detail to revitalize this National Historic Landmark into what we see today. With the restoration work finished on Pumping Station No. 1, the Water Tower, and the ten statues returned to their posts, this remarkable piece of history is ready to welcome back the community!

Louisville Water Tower opens to the public on March 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is only $5 per person and includes time in the WaterWorks Museum as well as a guided tour at the top of each hour beginning at 11 a.m. The final tour will start at 4 p.m. each day. Purchase your tickets in advance.

We can’t wait to meet you at the Tower!

Channa Newman
Education & Outreach Manager, Louisville Water Co.
Guest Contributor

Did you know the Frazier occupies a building called the Doerhoefer? In past issues of Frazier Weekly, we’ve published articles on the history of the Doerhoefer. But we haven’t shined much light on the history of Museum Row as a whole. So we’ve asked longtime guest contributor Sammie Holmes to educate us on this historic strip of downtown Louisville! Sammie is the program coordinator for the University of Louisville’s department of classic and modern languages.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Have you ever wondered how Museum Row became Museum Row? As the Frazier History Museum celebrates its 20th year, let’s dive into a bit of history of the area.

The now-historic Museum Row was once a large expanse of warehouses that supplied things such as Bourbon, tobacco, and clothing to the greater Louisville, Kentucky, and Indiana area. Put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, it is the second largest cast-iron warehouse complex in the country just behind lower Manhattan—known as the West Main Street Historic District. It served as the connection between the neighborhoods of eastern Louisville and the budding neighborhoods of western Louisville during the 1800s. Buildings like the Doerhoefer (the Frazier), Falls City Tobacco Bank (21C), and more have been renovated to support the growing arts and museum scene of Louisville. If you look up the sides of the buildings, you’ll still see the remains of “ghost advertising” from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Before Owsley Brown Frazier founded the Frazier Museum in 2004 at 829 West Main Street, the building had gone through other life cycles. In 1898, it was known as the Doerhoefer Building. A fabric and clothing factory in origin (the Ox Breeches Manufacturing Co.), the building caught fire on a snowy night in 1916, the remains of which you can see in the third floor beams left exposed in the Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition.

Across the street from the Frazier boasts the largest bat in the world “leaning” against the historic home of Louisville Slugger Bats. The bat itself weighs in at a whopping 68,000 pounds and is 120 feet in length—made to be an exact replica of Babe Ruth’s historic bat made by the factory in the early 1920s. According to the company legend, Bud Hillriech was an avid baseball fan while working in his father’s woodworking shop. One day he witnessed Pete Browning, a local Louisville Eclipse player, break his bat during a game and offered to make him a replacement. Pete scored three hits in his next game with the newly lathed bat, appropriately earning the nickname “Louisville Slugger” and the bat factory was born in the late 1800s. Though it did not always reside on 800 West Main Street, it, like the Frazier, suffered through a series of fires, including a massive fire that made the front page of the Courier Journal. Today, Slugger is the official bat of MLB and adds a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® with Billets and Bourbon.

Walking further down West Main Street, you’ll encounter a colorful building that is equally historic to Louisville and the state of Kentucky: the Kentucky Science Center. It began in 1871 as part of the Kentucky Libraries system known as a Cabinet of Curiosities (historically the precursor to many museums). KSC added its moniker to downtown Louisville in 1977, becoming the first major museum to belong to today’s Museum Row. At the time, it was known to have an Egyptian mummy (she’s still there) and a large mineral collection (over 16,000 pieces)—and it is now the largest science museum in the state! The building itself is actually five separate buildings combined to create an expansive exhibit space.

Next door to KSC is the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (officially rebranded in 2016 as KMAC Museum). It was founded in 1981 as a way to celebrate Kentucky’s rich craft heritage. In 2001, KMAC added its moniker to the large cast-iron building it occupies, boasting three large gallery spaces for local, Kentucky, national, and international artists. KMAC remains one of only three American Alliance of Museums (AAM)–accredited museums in the state and continues to support and educate the public about the beauty of craft work.

Across the street from both KSC and KMAC sits 21C and the famous golden David statue as well as the 21C penguins (whom you can also see at the Frazier in the Cool Kentucky exhibition). Five historic tobacco and Bourbon buildings were renovated to become one; this museum is also a hotel and restaurant. In addition is one of many locations throughout the country helping to revitalize downtowns with art, food, and ambiance.

Museum Row boasts lots of historic Louisville and Kentucky knowledge lending it to be a major tourist destination to a city full of art, Bourbon, horses, and Kentucky heritage.

Sammie Holmes
Program Coordinator, Department of Classical and Modern Languages, University of Louisville
Guest Contributor