On this day in 1792, the Bluegrass state of Kentucky officially gained entry into the Union. “Larger-than-life” pioneer Daniel Boone and his dogged determination carved out the Wilderness Trail through the rough and rocky Cumberland Gap which enabled the safe passage and resettlement of countless citizens west of the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky.
Kentucky has a host of accolades, not the least of which is being home to the most famous horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby. Replete with the most exquisite thoroughbred horses, an endless supply of mint juleps (fashioned with Kentucky bourbon, of course), and some of the fanciest hats one could ever imagine, the Derby is quintessential Kentucky at its most celebratory!
And on a more somber note, who could forget that infamous feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky that led to the tragic demise of one family and a highly-publicized murder trial of the other?
Although Kentucky is fondly known as the Bluegrass State, perhaps it should have been called the “Golden State.” As home to Fort Knox, the world’s largest depository of gold, Kentucky plays host to the federal reserve that holds the honor and duty of protecting what was estimated in 2016 to be something north of 180 billion dollars worth of gold!
Kentucky, a state rich in both culture, history and resources, was the fifteenth state to joined the union much to the benefit of our great nation.
So now that you know a bit more about Kentucky, here’s a quick “quiz” question: What makes the horses stronger and the bourbon better in Kentucky? Please post your guesses on our FB page.
water filtered through limestone , combining the two .