THEN AND NOW: KENTUCKY

Kentucky during the Revolutionary War During the Revolutionary War few British troops came into Kentucky. However, in 1776, 500 pounds of gunpowder went to the Kentucky militia to use in defending its settlement against the Indians. American Indians were paid by the British for the number of Kentucky scalps they collected. George Rogers Clark led the Kentucky militia through most of the war. Click on the picture of George Rogers Clark for a short video

Statehood Kentucky Kentucky became the 15 th state on June 1, It became the first U.S. state west of the Appalachian Mountains. It was originally part of Virginia. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states designated as a commonwealth (the others being Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts).

Kentucky during the Civil War Kentucky was one of the "border states" in the Civil War. It was a slave state that opted to stay in the Union. The residents were divided – some supported the North; others supported the South. Both Civil War presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, were born in Kentucky. Born in Hodgenville Born in Fairview

Abraham Lincoln He was born in a single-room log cabin in Hardin County. His leadership in the North helped the country to remain strong and defeat the South keeping the country united. On January 1, 1863 Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This was an order that freed the slaves in the Confederate States. On November 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. It was only a few minutes long, but is considered one of the great speeches in American history. President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at the Ford Theatre in Washington D.C. He died the next day on April 15, Click the image of Lincoln to hear his Gettysburg Address

Henry Clay Henry Clay was born in 1777 in Virginia, but at age 20, Clay moved to Lexington, Kentucky and became a successful lawyer. In 1811, Clay was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He was chosen Speaker of the House on the first day of his first session, something never done before or since. He became known as "The Great Compromiser" for his ability to get people to agree on difficult topics. He became Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams and ran unsuccessfully for president three times. Henry Clay house

The Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. The first race was held in In 1904 the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. The winner of the Kentucky Derby receives a garland made of over 400 red roses. It is the first leg of the “American Triple Crown” and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. Derby participants are limited to three- year-old horses that run the 1¼ mile track.

Which horse will win? Which horse won at the last Derby? Click on Secretariat to see a video of his 1973 record-breaking win!

Kentucky Blue Grass and Bluegrass The name Kentucky Bluegrass comes from its flower heads, which are blue when the plant is allowed to grow to two or three feet. The early European colonists brought seeds of bluegrass to Kentucky in mixtures with other grasses. It has come to be associated with a style of music that uses a variety of string instruments. Click HERE for a short clip.HERE

Famous People from Kentucky… Can you name them? Johnny Depp, actor Owensboro Muhammad Ali, boxer Louisville George Clooney, actor Lexington Loretta Lynn, actress Butcher Hollow Duncan Hines, founder Bowling Green Rosemary Clooney, actress Maysville Diane Sawyer, reporter Glasgow Darrell Waltrip, racing Owensboro

Kentucky Industry Auto manufacturing is a top industry in Kentucky, supporting more than 65,000 jobs. More than 400 plants are located in Kentucky, for companies such as Toyota, Ford and General Motors, which makes the Corvette in Bowling Green.

More than 93,000 people work at Kentucky's biotechnology and life sciences employers. They include major research centers such as the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. Kentucky Industry

The horse industry in Kentucky generates an annual $4 billion. Horse racing and related industries are major Kentucky employers, supporting 80,000 to 100,000 jobs. Kentucky Industry

Kentucky is home to the UPS Worldport in Louisville and DHL Express cargo operations in Covington. Kentucky is also a major rail center. Kentucky Industry

Tobacco, soybeans, corn for grain, and wheat are Kentucky's leading field crops. Apples are the leading fruit crop. Kentucky Industry

As of 2010 there were 442 operating coal mines in Kentucky. In 2013, Kentucky ranked as the third highest coal producer in the United States at 80.5 million tons. Coal mines in Kentucky employ 11,885 people and mining contributes billions of dollars to the economy of Kentucky. Kentucky Industry

Click the postcard to see a video about Kentucky’s tourism