Dr. John Croghan

William Croghan and Lucy Clark Croghan owned the land at Locust Grove near the Ohio River.  Their son was John Croghan.  After he completed his degree in medicine he set about in the field of tuberculosis treatment.  To this end he purchased Mammoth Cave to provide for the care and healing of people with tuberculosis. Men who had mined saltpeter from Mammoth cave reported that after being in the cave they  experienced feeling better.  Dr. John Croghan thought that the cave would do the same for people with tuberculosis.  After some people with tuberculosis stayed in the cave for some time Dr. Croghan observed that living in the cave did not help.  

Frederick Law Olmsted

Frederick Law Olmsted gave Louisville the plans for its parks and for parkways connecting major areas of the community. In addition the Olmsted firm was hired to lay out the grounds for some of the bourbon manufacturing sites.  Some landowners selected the Olmsted firm to design the fences and gates at their homes.

Rowing across the Atlantic

The boat used to row across the Atlantic

Tori Murden McClure was the first American woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean. The first time she tried she was frustrated by Hurricane Danielle. After she tried to cross the first time she talked with Muhammad Ali. The second time she tried she completed the crossing. She showed perseverance and leadership.

The Shakers

The Shakers set up communities at South Union and at Pleasant Hill in Kentucky. Men and women lived communally in separate houses. The communities began operation around 1810.  The last members left around 1910.  There were communities in Ohio and New York State. The Shaker movement began in New York State. The seeds sold by the Shakers were popular with buyers.  The Shakers had a good reputation as sellers. 

Knowledge was once appreciated

Kentucky was once considered to be “the West.”  When Ephraim McDowell was perfecting his skill at treating people, Kentucky was considered to be a location where the best minds were living and working.  In more recent times an antipathy has has come to the fore about expertise.  Experts in their field are mocked.  Kentucky was once a place that drew the top minds of  North America.  In Kentucky knowledge was once appreciated.

The most difficult problem

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky.  There is a Lincoln Birthplace property that people can visit to see this site in a rural area in Kentucky. Of all the presidents Lincoln had the most difficult problem to deal with during his term of office.  It is remarkable that he bought the nation through the rebellion that threatened the nation’s existence.

General Butler State Resort Park

 

General Butler State Resort Park - Carrollton, Kentucky 

General Butler State Resort Park is a state historic park in the Kentucky State Parks system. The park has the Butler-Turpin historic home built in 1859.   The park is located  in Carrollton , KY.  The park's knolls stand above the surrounding area.  The woods have been heavily cut and are in the process of maturing.  The CCC built the lake, trails, pavilions and  shelters.  The park would not exist were it not for the CCC work. The site has been protected. Many groups hold meetings at this park.  It is a busy site year round. A dulcimer group meets regularly.   It is one of the good experiences of the experiences in exploring Kentucky.

Rough River Dam

Sign at Trail head - Rough River Dam State Resort Park

Rough River Dam State Resort Park near Hardinsburg, Kentucky does not have several trails to explore.  Hardinsburg is the county seat of Breckinridge County, Kentucky.   The population was 2,343 at the time of the 2010 census. Hardinsburg was named after Captain William Hardin. Captain William Hardin  was an American Revolutionary War soldier, farmer, marksman, and hunter.  The area the park has is smaller than some of the other parks.  The park does not offer the scenic features that many of the other parks offer.  It does offer an airfield.  People can land at the airfield walk to the park dining room, eat and return to the airfield and fly away.   The park is located in a rural area.  It can be a quiet getaway especially after the last week in October when demand lessons.  It is said to be off the beaten path.

Kentucky's Favorite Places

Cumberland River, High Water, Kentucky

 

The stone bridge constructed by the CCC at Kentucky's beautiful Pine Mountain State Park.  The high explosives storage structure and the cabins constructed by the CCC at Cumberland Falls State Park.  The stone fenced overlook constructed by the CCC at General Butler state park.  The woodland steps constructed by the CCC at John James Audubon state park. These are places to lift our spirits.  The CCC made these bridges and other things out of a faith that our country could come out of hard times.  It can happen again. 

Jefferson Memorial Forest

Fall scenery in the Jefferson Memorial Forest

The Jefferson Veterans Memorial Forest was founded after the ending
of World War II.  The site is in Jefferson and Bullit counties in Kentucky. The site has some high places that make good overlooks.  Paul Yost
worked to acquire the initial parcels of the site.  Paul Yost was the first forester of the forest. He had worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Army Air Forces.  The Paul Yost  section of the forest is named to honor his work.

The Tom Wallace Lake in the forest is named  for the conservationist Tom Wallace.

He led opposition to the installation of a power plant near the Cumberland Falls. He collaborated with Stephen Mather.
 Stephen Mather headed up the staff of the National Parks. 

Kentucky's Most Scenic Place?

Natural Bridge in Eastern Kentucky

The Natural Bridge is in one of the oldest Kentucky State Parks. The park was developed by the Lexington and Eastern Railroad. The location was later integrated into the Kentucky State Park system. The sandstone arch is located  near Slade, KY. The woods have thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel.  Mature hemlocks and tall oaks make up the forest around the span of the arch. 
The sandstone arch stands 65 feet high and spans 78 feet in length. The arch is arguably among the most scenic places in Kentucky.  The site has been protected.  It is one of the best experiences of any of the experiences in exploring Kentucky.

Kentucky's President of the United States

Bronze statue on Kentucky Street, Bowling Green, Kentucky

The bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln was installed for the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.  Of the U.S. presidents Lincoln was perhaps the person of least means.  After the end of the War Between the States deep divisions continued in Kentucky.

Lincoln put his effort into preserving the republic.  Over the years his incredibly important service to the republic have been appreciated in Kentucky and in the nation.

Ooops, A Year Gone Away

And I was just having fun.  Well.  The granola and nature enthusiasts are slowly fixing the problems. The water, and habitat.  Wildlife, species diversity.  Yes.  Green plants are transforming sunlight. Our talented minds are going to solve the problems.  There have been tough challenges before.  Our children are going to have a future.