Kentucky Historical Society

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The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet dedicated to the preservation of Kentucky history.

1 History
2 Activities
3 See also
4 External links
5 Sources

[edit] History

The society began on April 22, 1836, when members of the Secretary of State's office voted to form it. It was then called the Kentucky State Historical Society. A constitution was passed and the society incorporated in 1838, and the Society moved its headquarters from Frankfort to Louisville, Kentucky. In 1841, the General Assembly ordered that a copy of all public documents be filed with the society.

The society fell into decline after the death its first President, John Rowan, in 1843. Louisville historian Ben Casseday declared the society defunct in 1852.

In October 1878, members of the Frankfort Lyceum met to begin revitalizing the society. They re-incorporated it and relocated to the Old State Capitol in Frankfort. The state became more actively involved in the society around the turn of the century, and in 1906 it began regularly appropriating funds for the society. From 1909 to 1920, the society was headquartered at the new state capitol, after which it was returned to the Old State Capitol.

The word "state" was removed from the society's name in 1947, and in 1954 it became an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet.

[edit] Activities

The society operates several museums:

The Old State Capitol, a National Historic Landmark located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It served as the capitol of Kentucky from 1830 to 1910. The building is in the Greek revival style, and currently is one of three museums operated by the Kentucky Historical Society. It fearures a recreation of the state law library as it existed in the nineteenth century and a display of presidential campaign memorabilia.
The Kentucky Military History Museum, a museum operated by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky National Guard, located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It emphasizes the service of the Kentucky Militia, State Guard, and other volunteer military organizations. The museum displays a collection of firearms, edged weapons, artillery, uniforms, flags, photographs, personal items, and other equipment. It is housed in the Old State Arsenal, a castle in the Gothic Revival style built in 1850 to house the weapons and equipment of the Kentucky Militia.
The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, a museum and research library located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It houses the Kentucky Historical Society's permanent exhibit "A Kentucky Journey," and is named for Thomas Dionysius Clark, a Kentucky historian.