The big week is finally upon us!

We’re excited to participate in the biggest day of online giving in the region. We invite you to join us for a day dedicated to investing in local organizations that make our city a better place.

This Thursday, we invite you to Give for Good.

Give for Good Louisville graphic. Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

For one entire day, we encourage you to give to learning, preservation, and building connection. Your donations to the Frazier Museum will directly support our educational and outreach programs as well as the presentation of Kentucky's storied history and culture that enriches our city and state. Learn more about our mission and who we serve here.

You ensure we remain an essential resource for all members of our community. At the outset of the JCPS bus crisis, the Frazier immediately offered a free admission day and pop-up camps for parents and children to meet unexpected needs. We’re here for you!

We firmly believe we’re better together, and we invite you to be an integral part of this meaningful day. Specifically, we ask for donations between 1 and 3 p.m. to maximize our impact during the Community Foundation of Louisville’s afternoon match drive.

Here’s how you can help us achieve our fundraising goal of $10,000:

Share our mission with your network.
Donate—every dollar counts!
Share again to help us spread the word!

Share this Link!

Your generosity, whether it’s $10 or $100, will make a tangible difference. By sharing our message, reposting our social content, and forwarding our emails to your friends and family, you’re not only supporting our fundraising efforts but also amplifying our mission to ignite the human spirit as the place where the world meets Kentucky.

Thank you for supporting the Frazier Museum as a vital educational and cultural resource for people of all ages and backgrounds. Get ready to Give for Good!

This Week in the Museum

Frazier to Stage 1831 Freedom Seeker Thornton Blackburn Performance

This Saturday, in honor of International Underground Railroad Month, I will debut a brand new historic interpretation inspired by the life of Thornton and Lucie (Ruthie) Blackburn. First documented in Karolyn Smardz Frost’s book I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land, and the main subjects of our drivable audio tour The Journey, the Blackburn couple are historic figures in Kentuckiana. A state landmark plaque at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets in downtown Louisville bears their names.

More than simply runaways, Thornton and Ruthie were freedom seekers. The enslaved couple escaped from Louisville in broad daylight, under the nose of a slave system which—though less rigid than the system of the slavery enforced on large plantations of the lower South—was just as pervasive. Pushed to the breaking point in Louisville, Thornton and Ruthie agreed to take matters into their own hands. Because of their efforts, a significant precedent was set for the Underground Railroad in the US and Canada.

First, some background on the interpretation itself, which is told from Thornton’s perspective.

Thornton Blackburn was born in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, in 1812. It is believed he was the offspring of an enslaved Black woman named Sibby Blackburn and her white owner, Robert Smith.

At the age of three, Thornton was separated from his mother when he was sold off by Smith. Thornton was sold off two more times by other owners before he came under the ownership of Gideon Brown, a doctor who lived in the nearby town of Washington, Mason County. But in 1829, Gideon Brown died—and his widow, Susan Talbot Oldham, entrusted her brother-in-law, Judge John Pope Oldham, to run his estate.

That same year, Judge Oldham had been appointed as postmaster of the emerging riverport town of Louisville. Seizing an opportunity to help pay off debts the Brown estate still owed its creditors, Judge Oldham brought what was appraised as Susan’s most valuable asset, Thornton Blackburn, on his journey north to his new home.

In 1831, Louisville was the place where the seventeen-year-old Thornton would partake in events that would change his life and that of his mate, Ruthie forever, and—in the process—change the face of slavery itself for two countries.

This dramatization/historic interpretation is based upon and inspired by Smardz Frost’s biography of the Blackburns.

Here’s a five-minute video preview of the performance.

To see the interpretation in its entirety, you are welcome to attend the premiere on Saturday, September 16, at 1 p.m. in the Brown-Forman Theatre, located on the first floor of the Frazier. Access to the interpretation will be included with museum admission.

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Sippin’ with Stephen: Peckuliar Circumstances with Buzzard’s Roost

As the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the Frazier History Museum shares stories of the people, places, and producers of the Kentucky Bourbon industry. To learn more, visit our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center or tour our Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

September is Bourbon Heritage Month! To celebrate, we’re welcoming a new distillery to Main Street: Buzzard’s Roost.

My guests for this episode of Sippin’ with Stephen are Judith Hollis Jones and Jason Brauner, co-owners of Buzzard’s Roost Distillery. Judith and Jason give viewers the history of how the brand came about and what they have to offer folks coming into Louisville to experience a top-level Bourbon experience. After that, Buzzard’s Roost head bartender Erin Strong showcases their Peckuliar Circumstances Coupe cocktail—the recipe for which you can find below.

Cheers!

Recipe for Peckuliar Circumstances Coupe

Ingredients:

2 oz. Char 1 Bourbon
0.75 oz. passionfruit
0.75 oz. vanilla demerara
0.5 oz. lemon juice
0.5 oz. orange juice
0.75 oz. egg white
Dehydrated orange spritzed with cinnamon tincture.

Instructions:

Place all ingredients into a shaker and shake without ice for 15–20 seconds. Add ice and shake for 15–20 more seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Take a dehydrated orange and spray with a cinnamon tincture.

Ingredients (Vanilla Demerara):

2 cups Demerara sugar
1 cup water
8 tsp. vanilla paste

Instructions (Vanilla Demerara):

Combine all ingredients into a saucepan and place on stove. Stir frequently and bring to a boil and immediately turn down to a slight simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Let sit until room temp and keep in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Ingredients (Simple Syrup):

1 cup white sugar
1 cup water

Instructions (Simple Syrup):

Put all ingredients into a saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. DO NOT BOIL. Let sit until room temperature and then place in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Ingredients (Passionfruit):

1 cup The Perfect Puree Passionfruit puree
1 cup simple syrup

Instructions (Passionfruit):

Combine all ingredients and place in fridge for up to 1 week.

Instructions (Cinnamon Tincture):

Pack a jar full of cinnamon sticks and top with vodka or Everclear. Place in fridge for 3 weeks, shaking every once and a while. Strain after 3 weeks. Keeps indefinitely.

Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager

See “Big Six”–Seized Still at September 19 Moonshine Program

Moonshine, Hidden Barns, and the Law graphic. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

Last call for moonshine!

I’m hoping that got your attention, and now here’s a special invitation to join us to learn more about moonshine and its ties to Kentucky at our program on September 19.

Some of that history dates back to the first American tax on distilled spirits in 1791, which led to violence in Pennsylvania.

The Whiskey Rebellion was the result, sending hundreds of families down the Ohio River on flatboats, with their stills on board, to settle in the fertile bottomlands of Kentucky.

Our state was among the new hotbeds for the moonshining industry.

This still is in our collection at the Frazier thanks to the Calvert family who donated it. You’ll learn more about its history the night of the program from our registrar and manager of collections engagement, Tish Boyer.

But let me tell you this: the still was seized by the legendary federal agent “Big Six” Henderson, who busted up thousands of stills in Kentucky during his nearly thirty-year career.

Big Six was also a name the Neeley family knew very well with their moonshine operations in Eastern Kentucky.

Lead distiller Royce Neeley of the Neeley Family Distillery will tell those stories and lead us in tasting their authentic family recipe of moonshine and a whole lot more. The Neeley family is legal now, so no worries!

Author Chris Skates will join us too with the family story he tells in Moonshine over Georgia. His grandfather was a state revenue officer from 1936 to 1952.

Andy Treinen and I are teaming up to moderate this unique program that certainly has its own shine . . . moonshine!

Frazier’s Pappy Van Winkle Exhibition to Close October 2

Like a page-turning book that you hate to see end, or a Ted Lasso–like streaming series that is so entertaining you are longing for another season, sometimes our exhibitions at the Frazier must also come to a close. Pappy Van Winkle: The Van Winkle Family Collection is one of those exhibitions. Fortunately, you have a few weeks to check it out before it closes on October 2.

Not only does the exhibition share the story of one of Bourbon’s most iconic brands and most influential families, it also represents an important friendship for the Frazier. Sally Van Winkle Campbell and Julian Van Winkle III have long been friends of the Frazier. In 2018, the family donated its collection to the museum—so, in 2020, in the heart of COVID, we decided to put much of it on view for our visitors.

Boy, am I glad we did!

In the years since, we have had tens of thousands visitors explore the exhibition, and dozens of media outlets report on it, including CBS Sunday Morning. The package they produced, which was filmed largely inside the exhibition, aired November 8, 2020; it has since racked up nearly half a million views on YouTube. It features an interview with Julian Van Winkle III and Wright Thompson, who co-authored Pappyland: A Story of Family, fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last. That book is a very special read, one that dives deep into the relationship between a father and son. It provides a glimpse at the creativity, ingenuity, and just plain grit that built this amazing brand.

On June 7, 2022, we hosted a party in the exhibition, further strengthening the ties with a family celebrating great legacy, living brilliantly in the present, and planning for even better days ahead.

I’m pleased to announce that many of the objects on view at the Frazier will eventually be part of a temporary exhibition at Pappy & Company, right down the street in NuLu. The Frazier is loaning much of the collection back to the Van Winkle family, to be part of a new display.

In the meantime, you have about three weeks to see the Van Winkle Family Collection like you’ve never seen it before.

Museum Shop: Pappy & Co. Maple Syrup and Hot Sauce

Spice up your fall with Pappy & Company Barrel-Aged Pepper Sauce and Maple Syrup! Both of these amazing, tasty products have been aged in barrels, leaving them imparted with the flavors found in Bourbon. The Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup is an excellent addition to any fall-themed old fashioned! Purchase either product in our gift shop: the syrup is $38 and the pepper sauce is $14.

Frazier, Cave Hill Cemetery to Team Up for October 3 Cocktails by the Lake

Cave Hill Cemetery is not only one of my very favorite places because it’s rich with history, but also because its beauty is unmatched. Cave Hill and the Frazier have strong connections, so we know this beautiful Cocktails by the Lake event on October 3 will be the first step in a new and exciting partnership. Using the mobile app Frazier+, Cave Hill and the Frazier plan to share stories of the Commonwealth beyond the walls of any one institution. The free app is available for download for Android and iOS devices through the App Store and Google Play.—Mick Sullivan, Curator of Guest Experience

The Cave Hill Heritage Foundation and the Frazier History Museum are excited to announce a tremendous partnership that will showcase the essence of history in the region. Connecting the exhibitions at the Frazier to the people that wrote and lived in the elements of history is central to this new and exciting educational venture.

Earlier this year, the Frazier Museum launched the mobile app Frazier+ to facilitate learning through exhibitions with a multimedia platform that combines written text, video, and audio files. Museum visitors can simply use their mobile device to scan any of the QR codes located in the museum’s exhibitions to access educational content created by Frazier staff.

The Frazier and Cave Hill will join forces to announce this opportunity to connect the people, places, and history of our region Tuesday, October 3, during Cocktails by the Lake at Cave Hill Cemetery. This event will showcase the finest elements of the Cemetery’s history—combining music, tours, wonderful culinary delights, and a special tour to highlight the connections between the Frazier and Cave Hill Cemetery. As participants tour the Cemetery, in an experience similar to that in the museum, they will be able to scan select QR codes and connect to a virtual learning experience.

For more information about Cocktails by the Lake, or to purchase tickets, visit our website or call (502) 813-7761.

Frazier Classic Auction Up and Running Now through September 29!

Get ready to explore the essence of Kentucky! Now through our Frazier Classic Sporting Clay fundraising event on September 29, you will have the opportunity to browse our online silent auction that features Kentucky-centric experiences and hand-crafted items.

Don’t Worry, You’re in Good Hands! Enjoy the VIP treatment with a Presidential Tour, Tasting, & Rooftop Dinner at the Frazier Museum with president and CEO Andy Treinen. He will take you and up to three friends or family through our amazing exhibitions, immersing you in Kentucky’s rich history and culture before going “into the vault” to see artifacts up close in our permanent collection storage. Your tour will be followed by a private Bourbon tasting and end with a rooftop dinner with a view of the wide Ohio river. This is the ultimate and exclusive Frazier History Museum experience!

Sip & Savor with a Kentucky Peerless Tour & Tasting for Two that grants you a behind-the-scenes look at how Peerless crafts the finest Kentucky spirits from grain to bottle. This gift basket also includes their Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye, complete with a tasting glass and wooden coaster for both of you.

Appreciate Hand-Crafted Excellence with a custom barrel head charcuterie board, finished with hand-forged silver handles. This unique piece will elevate the presentation of any gathering and become the highlight of your table.

By participating in our online silent auction, you’re not only acquiring exceptional items and experiences, but you’re also supporting the Frazier Museum, where the world meets Kentucky. All proceeds support our educational initiatives, exhibitions, and community outreach programs that have a positive impact locally and throughout our state. Don’t miss your chance to support a good cause and capture your own piece of Kentucky!

Hayley Harlow Rankin
Sr. Manager of Fundraising

Frazier’s Model T to Roll Out at Bourbon & Beyond, Louder than Life

Want to snap your photo in the Frazier’s iconic Model T? Then come visit us at the upcoming music festivals! Frazier staff and volunteers are wheeling out the car every day at Bourbon & Beyond, September 14–17, and Louder than Life, September 21–24. (I signed up for the shift this Thursday so I can catch Kelsey Waldon—the Ballard County pick for our Musical Kentucky playlist!) We’ve asked Danny Wimmer Presents marketing manager Kate Webster to share the details.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Don’t miss the eight biggest days in music: Bourbon & Beyond and Louder than Life, September 14–17 and 21–24!

Hailed by Forbes magazine as “one of America’s most unique festival offerings,” Bourbon & Beyond continues to live up to its reputation as the world’s largest music and Bourbon festival with a wide array of talented music acts along with the best pours and tempting eats from Kentucky’s favorite establishments. For the first time ever on the Bourbon & Beyond stages, the festival welcomes headliners Bruno Mars, the Killers, and the Black Keys, along with the return of Brandi Carlile after her unforgettable performance last year.

One of the top rock music festivals of the year, Louder than Life will feature performances from a spectacular list of bands, including Foo Fighters, Green Day (making their DWP festival debut), Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Pantera, Queens of the Stone Age, Weezer, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Turnstile, Rancid, Falling in Reverse, 311, Pierce the Veil, Run the Jewels, Corey Taylor, and many more.

Fans can bundle and save by purchasing our EXACTA pass for access to all eight days of music—for only $57.50 per day! Weekend and single-day passes are available now at bourbonandbeyond.com and louderthanlifefestival.com.

Kate Webster
Marketing Manager, Danny Wimmer Presents
Guest Contributor

Bridging the Divide

Black Bourbon Society Honors Elmer Lucille Allen with Pioneer Award

She is greatness in our midst, and the Black Bourbon Society honored Elmer Lucille Allen for all she has done at their recent luncheon.

The ninety-two-year-old received the group’s Pioneer Award for being a trailblazer in the Bourbon industry—for women and African Americans.

Allen was hired as the first African American chemist at Brown-Forman in the 1960s, at a time when Louisville was still very much a segregated city.

The Frazier’s Brian West helped pay tribute to Allen, which is fitting since Allen is featured in the Black Americans in Bourbon tasting experience West leads every third Saturday at the museum.

Her history is part of our Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition thanks to her contributions to the Bourbon industry.

From left, Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Elmer Lucille Allen, and Rachel Platt pose, September 1, 2023. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

But Elmer Lucille Allen is a fixture here at the Frazier in other ways, too: she is a member, she comes to our programs, and she even helped teach one of our camps for children. Allen is also a talented ceramic and fibers artist who earned her Master of Studio Arts from U of L in 2002. By the way, she was in her seventies when she did that!

Elmer Lucille Allen says you wake up each day and just keep moving.

I am going to wake up each day and try to keep up with you, Elmer Lucille.

Much love.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

Give for Good Louisville, Freedom Seeker Thornton Blackburn Performance, Pappy Exhibit Closing, and More

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Underground Railroad Month, Kentucky Living Columnist Byron Crawford, Odd Fellows Parade in New Castle, and More