Frankfort Archives - Our Changing Life

Frankfort Kentucky – A Colorful Capital

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 04:30:00 +0000

Before we visited Frankfort, Kentucky, we thought it was just about thoroughbred horses, fried chicken, and bluegrass music. What we were to discover was a vibrant past filled with curious moments in history. Did you know that Kentucky was originally part of the Virginia colony? The largest of the original 13 colonies, Virginia ceded the land for a new state in 1792. More than 230 years later, the state tempts visitors with delectable food, interesting attractions, and its famed Bourbon Trail. Join us as we explore the colorful capital of our 15th state.

We want to thank Visit Frankfort for hosting our visit. Rest assured that all opinions are our own.

Starting in Downtown Frankfort

In our opinion, every morning should start with an aromatic cup of coffee. (Okay, maybe two or three cups.) The Kentucky Coffee Cafe sits front and center in the Frankfort downtown. This quaint neighborhood includes brick-lined streets filled with cute shops and eateries. As we sipped our drinks, we enjoyed the view of the old Kentucky State Capitol Building. Those grounds are the site of the only U.S. state governor to be assassinated while in office. This factual tidbit was the spark to get us moving on our One Day Stay in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Colorful Capital

As settlers poured through the Cumberland Gap, new towns sprung up along the waterways. The land was prime for the cultivation of corn, tobacco, and hemp. Establishing a capital required selecting a city. Frankfort submitted the most compelling bid and by 1794, the first statehouse was erected. By the early 1900s, the government had outgrown its early statehouse. This new capital was erected about a mile from downtown. While this was considered “suburban” back in those days, the city’s growth would soon surround the new site. Over the years the city hasn’t rested on its laurels. Continuous improvements have made this capital a visual treat.

Quiet Reflection

Continuing our capital tour, we headed outside to check out the grounds. We’ve found that state capitals are a great place to find some beautiful artwork and are FREE to visit. While the interior holds many classical statues, outside we found it was more contemporary. This piece, titled “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”, was created to honor the Kentucky victims of Covid-19. As we gazed at the sculpture, we thought about how the world has changed over the past few years. Sometimes it’s good to reset our perspective and remember how we should cherish every day.

Artful Accents Around Frankfort

One of the other creative pieces we noticed was the 34-foot floral clock. For longer than we have been alive, this artistic timepiece has decorated the West Lawn. We noticed that daylight was burning, so it was time to move along. Frankfort doesn’t keep all of their art around their capital. During our explorations, we spotted murals and sculptures scattered around the city. When combined with the variety of architectural styles, it made our walks very interesting.

A Sweet Stop

We spotted a sweet surprise on our GPS when we returned from the capital to downtown Frankfort. Just off Capital Avenue sits Rebecca Ruth Chocolates. Way back in 1919, before they had the right to vote, two substitute teachers took a leap of faith and started a candy company. In the 1930s, mixing chocolate and bourbon sparked the research that would yield Bourbon Balls. These tasty treats pack a little punch, to boot. Visitors can schedule an $8 per person tour or drop in and shop their sweet selections.

Sampling Frankfort's Bourbon Trail

The early European settlers brought to Kentucky their knowledge of whiskey making. The unique climate, combined with the limestone bedrock, allowed for the creation of a new version that they called bourbon. Now that we were back in the downtown, it was time to learn a little about this integral part of Frankfort’s history. Local historian Russ Kennedy was happy to lead us on a fact-filled walk around town. For $11 per person, we felt this tour offered a lot of value, as well as some amusing stories. Afterward, we decided to check out one of the uniquely Frankfort restaurants. Located along the banks of the Kentucky River, Bourbon On Main was the perfect fit. We snacked on a variety of appetizers and I tried my first Old Fashioned.

Capital City History

Our lunch had satisfied our hunger but we were still yearning to learn more of Frankfort’s history. Just a couple of blocks from lunch was the Capital City Museum. Another FREE attraction, this one holds two floors of exhibits and collections. As we walked through time, we learned about subjects from VIP visitors to world-famous fishing reels. Since this was our first blogging visit to Kentucky, we didn’t want to miss anything. Our appetites were growing, so we started working our way toward lunch. On the way, we popped in some of the local shops to do some souvenir searching.

Down Home Dining

Like many of our excursions, we try to focus primarily on the downtown region. We find these to usually be filled with locally-owned businesses. Here we can savor the true flavors of a destination. Seeing the sign for Main Street Diner, we thought “What could be more local?” Stepping through the door, we felt like we were transported to the 1950s. The menu is filled with homestyle meals. It had been quite some time since we’d had a meal like this. We can see why so many locals frequent the restaurant.

Sweet Escape

Even with full bellies, we always find room for ice cream. Fortunately, Hoggy’s Ice Cream was just a block away. This quaint shop is locally owned and the staff is quite friendly. While savoring our treats, we reminisced about our fun-filled day in Frankfort. An evening stroll yielded us an impromptu concert. A small group of locals had assembled outside a local pub and provided background music for our walk.

Downtown Frankfort Lodging

We were tuckered out, after our adventurous day, so we headed to our lodging. Visit Frankfort had arranged a room at the Capital Plaza Hotel. We considered a dip in their heated pool but decided to head to our room. After a good night’s sleep, we packed up for the next leg of our trip. A stop at their breakfast buffet provided us with a solid start to our day.

Frankfort is Fantastic

As you can see, we had a marvelous experience in Frankfort, Kentucky. This capital city makes a good couple’s escape destination. The relaxed atmosphere helps visitors slow down and soak up the southern charm. Adventure seekers can choose to paddle along the Kentucky River or go for a hike at one of the local parks. The city also has an assortment of bourbon bars and wineries for some adult libations. Just make sure to leave time to soak up some of Frankfort’s unique history.

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Capital City Museum – Frankfort’s Time Capsule

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 03:30:00 +0000

It’s not as easy to be a capital city. Frankfort had to outbid neighboring cities to gain the title, in 1792. Twice the capitol building burned down, which allowed those other cities to attempt to usurp the seat of state government. Having a centralized location helped keep the capital in “Mainhattan” (Frankfort’s nickname). To learn more about Kentucky’s capital city (our 18th capitol visit), we stopped by Capital City Museum. This FREE attraction lays out the city’s history with a nice selection of exhibits.

We want to thank Visit Frankfort for hosting our visit. rest assured all opinions are our own.

A New State is Born

Right out of the chute, we learned that Kentucky was carved out of Virginia territory. We knew this was the case for West Virginia, but didn’t realize just how large Virginia had been. The area that has become the capital city originally had several river fords. They were used by herds of buffalo to cross the Kentucky River. By the time European explorers arrived, they discovered various native tribes were frequenting the region. Stephen Frank, an early settler, was killed during a skirmish with natives, in 1780. His demise would lead to the name “Frank’s Ford”, which was later changed to Frankfort.

VIP Appearances

Hailing from a state that gained statehood in 1861, we were surprised to see how many early notable names had come from or visited Frankfort. These days it’s a big deal when a president visits your city. It’s hard to imagine an event that would draw four American presidents (one past, the present, and two future). In 1819, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and Zachary Taylor paid a visit to Kentucky statesman John Brown. This capital city was also the location of Vice president Aaron Burr’s first trials for treason. Three times he was called to court and each one ended in acquittal.

Capital City Museum Makes it Personal

The unusual history didn’t end there. At the Capital City Museum, we learned that Frankfort was the only Unionist state capital ever held by Confederate troops. Many of the border states had both North and South sympathizers. Kentucky started the Civil War as a neutral state, but would eventually side with the Union. After the war, racial and political violence grew. While on a history walk, we noted a statue of Governor William Goebel. After winning a hotly contested election, he was shot in front of the Old State Capitol. He was sworn in the following day and succumbed to his injuries a couple of days later. This makes him the only state governor to be assassinated while in office.

Kentucky Gold

Before our visit to Frankfort, we had limited knowledge of Kentucky’s notable products. The Capital City Museum would help us gain more insight. We knew that the state was famous for its bourbons, but never realized how many distilleries there were in this state. Buffalo Trace is one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries. Their award winning operation has survived floods and fires, during its 200-year history. While prohibition signaled the end of some bourbon crafters, others have risen from the ashes to make Frankfort a key stop along the Bourbon Trail.

Unexpected Finds

I grew up in a family that enjoys fishing. Little did I know, but Frankfort is home to world famous reel makers. During the first half of the 1800s, the Meek Brothers, Jonathan and Benjamin, were successful watchmakers in Frankfort, Kentucky. Seizing on the demand for an effective baitcasting reel, they began building small reels for freshwater fishing. Over time, they would expand their line to include larger reels for tarpon and tuna.

Celebrating Our History Lesson

As we continued exploring the Capital City Museum exhibits, we found more surprises. In 1910, Boy Scout Troop 1 was chartered in Frankfort, Kentucky. Dr. Martin Luther King was joined by baseball great, Jackie Robinson, during a march on the Kentucky capital in 1964. There were many more memorable events in Frankfort’s history, but our time had come to move along. To celebrate our successful history lesson, we rewarded ourselves with a special treat from Hoggy’s Ice Cream. This woman-owned enterprise was another historic stop for us, in Kentucky’s capital city.

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Kentucky State Capitol – Timely Visit

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 03:30:00 +0000

The Kentucky State Capitol isn’t the first of its kind. In fact, it is the fourth building since Kentucky achieved statehood in 1792. We were excited to add a visit to our growing list of capitols, with Frankfort being the 18th under our belts. A trip to the eastern seaboard allowed us to plan two capitol city visits, with the other being Charleston, West Virginia. A warm September day welcomed our visit to the state where Abraham Lincoln was born. The clock was ticking and we wanted to make the most of this opportunity.

Hidden Gem

This trip totaled about 2500 miles in all. To break up the lengthy drives, we planned stops at either end of the journey. Charleston had been completed on the way out and Frankfort had been selected for our way home. After a long day of driving, we were excited to spend 24 hours exploring Kentucky’s capitol city. Arriving at the capitol building, we found it shrouded in scaffolding. This didn’t deter us, as we had found the same scenario during a visit to Jefferson City, Missouri. After finding a nearby parking spot, we made our way up the capitol steps.

Kentucky State Capitol Views

As I mentioned before, this is the fourth structure to hold the title of Kentucky State Capitol. The previous capitol building still stands downtown. In front of it is a statue of William Goebel, who served a Governor for four days after being shot on his way to his inauguration. Frankfort had fought long and hard to be home to the capitol. Competition from nearby Lexington and Louisville finally ended in 1904, when a vote was passed to build this structure. By the summer of 1910, the building was ready for dedication.

Changing Colors

As we made our way through the Kentucky State Capitol, we were in awe of the grandeur. Stepping into the space below the rotunda, we found ourselves looking up at a statue of Lincoln. Suddenly we realized that the dome was changing colors. This light effect made this unlike any capitol we had seen. I’ll admit that I was mesmerized by the changing hues and watched for quite a while. What drew me away was one of the capitol tour guides asking if we’d like to see the Governor’s office.

Secret Sights

There was no way we were going to pass up this opportunity. We followed him upstairs until we came to the office. Being a Saturday, the legislature was not in session. He pointed out the balcony and beckoned us to take a look at the view. The landscape laid out before us, as he pointed out some highlights. Straight across from the capitol is the graveyard that contains Daniel Boone’s grave. We really felt like we were being immersed in Kentucky’s history.

A Timely Visit

Time was not on our side, so we wrapped up our indoor visit. There was still some outdoor views we wanted to take in, before heading to our next stop. One that we had heard of was the huge floral clock on the West Lawn. Built in 1961, it has a face that is 34 feet wide. It takes thousands of plants to cover it and they are changed seasonally. After enjoying more amazing views, we noticed that time was slipping away. We completed our 18th capitol visit and headed off to explore more of Frankfort, Kentucky. How many state capitols have you visited?

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Exploring Bourbon Country In Frankfort, Kentucky

Jeff & Crystal — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:29:06 +0000

There are many reasons to visit the Bluegrass State. Some visit for the southern cuisine, which we found in abundance. Others come for the horse racing or bluegrass music. During our One Day Stay in Frankfort, we discovered Kentuckian’s love their bourbon. Nowhere else are the conditions so perfect for bourbon making. From the moment we landed in downtown, we found that their world-renown American whiskey is an integral part of the culture and tradition of Bourbon Country.

We want to thank Visit Frankfort for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Backgrounds & Beginnings

There are an assortment of ways to delve into the history of Bourbon Country. For those looking to hit the streets, there is a walking tour hosted by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. This one-hour guided excursion is actually led by historian Russ Kennedy. His grasp of Frankfort’s past is blended into the interesting stories that captivate his audience.

Walking Through Bourbon Country History

The person Russ portrays is considered the founding father of the bourbon industry. Col. Taylor designed the distilling techniques that are still in use today. In fact, one of the longest operating distilleries in America can be attributed to him. Buffalo Trace, which began as Old fashioned Copper, has become a favorite among whiskey drinkers. One of Taylor’s early warehouses, built in 1881, is still in use today.

Sweet Starts in Bourbon Country

When we saw a legacy candy shop on the Frankfort map, we had to drop by and check it out. Rebecca Ruth Candy has been creating gourmet chocolates since 1919. In fact, this family-run business is credited with inventing “Bourbon Balls”. While we had heard of them, we had never tasted these unique treats. After sampling them, we just had to pick up a box of their assorted treats for the ride home.

Riding the Bourbon Trail

With only one day to learn as much as we could about Bourbon Country, we needed a way to see a lot of the city in a short time. Along came the Frankfort Trolley to the rescue. Running on a 45-minute loop, this FREE transportation option is a good way to see the city. Besides hitting all of the high points, our driver also chimed in with an assortment of back stories. Riders can hop off at various stops around town and rejoin to catch the rest of the stories.

Give It a Shot

With all of this Bourbon Country history under our belt, it was time to test out this local favorite. Dinner was planned at Bourbon on Main, which is located in historic downtown Frankfort. As we made our way to our table, we could tell this place is popular with the locals. While we are not big drinkers, I am always willing to sample new tastes. I chose their BOM Old fashioned, which is made with Buffalo Trace bourbon. The sweet, yet strong, flavor has a hint of fruit taste. This was definitely a sipping drink for me.

Bourbon Country Cuisine

We decided to split a couple of dishes, since we had already had quite a few calories during the day. The first course was Kentucky Beer Cheese, which is served with pretzel bites and celery sticks. We nibbled these until we suddenly realized they were all gone. Fortunately, our Kentucky Hot Chicken Sandwich showed up just in time. A combination of sweet and spicy made this handheld a good compliment to our starter. By the time we finished our meal, I had drained the final few drops of my drink. Time to head outdoors to walk off our day’s tastings.

Bourbon Country Beginnings

Our first blogging excursion into Kentucky was leading us down the Bourbon Country trail. While previous road trips had led us past this region, this visit was giving us vital details. The history of this area is filled with unique flavors, notable landmarks, and interesting characters. Our day of discovery was filled with fun stories that we can’t wait to share with you.

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