Lexington: More Than a City of Horses
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| A Lexington Area Horse Farm1 |
ORIENTATION
Located just north of the center of Kentucky, the Lexington-Fayette county area covers 283 sq mi (735.8 sq km) of rolling plateau, with 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of it dedicated to park facilities. The state of Kentucky is bordered by Illinois to the west, Indiana and Ohio to the north, West Virginia and Virginia to the east and Tennessee to the south. The city of Lexington itself is easily accessible from major American interstate highways, state highways and the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway. Although no major bodies of water flow through Lexington, the city relies on the Kentucky River for drinking water through man-made locks. Many small creeks trickle down from the Kentucky River into the city.
HISTORY
Originally hunting grounds for the Shawnee and Cherokee tribes, the Lexington area was settled by European settlers in the 1700s. Kentucky legend Daniel Boone was one of the first men on the scene to help build the forts for housing accommodation in Boonesborough, located southwest of present-day Lexington.
Lexington was founded in 1775 by William McConnel, 17 years before Kentucky became a state. McConnel named the city after the first battle of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Lexington, which took place at Lexington, Massachusetts.
Even early on, the Lexington area was horse mad, with farms throughout the area and a pride exhibited by Kentuckians on their equine industry.
By 1820, the city had earned the nickname Athens of the West because of its growth, wealth and lifestyle. A prominent citizen, John Wesley Hunt, became one of the first millionaires west of the Allegheny Mountains.
During the early 1800s, slavery was entrenched in American culture and slaves were being heavily used as laborers, field hands and domestic servers. By 1850, one-fifth of the population of Kentucky were slaves, with Lexington having the most slaves in the state. During the beginning of the 1860s, Abraham Lincoln had been sworn into office. Born in Hardin County, Kentucky, the president visited Lexington often. Kentucky tried to remain neutral during the Civil War and by 1863, slaves were set free through the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lexington's economy was based on farming from early on in its history, with crops such as bluegrass seeds, hemp and tobacco. While horses and tobacco were the area's major crops, the city began to diversify in the 1950s, moving more towards manufacturing and post-secondary education. Today, Lexington is home to eight private colleges and universities and two theological seminaries.
In 1974, Lexington became the first Kentucky community to consolidate the separate city and county governments into a single system, known as Lexington-Fayette county.
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| Climate
Data From the Midwest Regional Climate Center |
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CLIMATE
The Lexington area has a moderate climate which offers four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumnn and winter. As there are few prolonged periods of cold, heat, rain, snow or wind, the area is an ideal vacation destination. The wettest months in Lexington are during the Spring (May through June), so be prepared with a rain jacket or umbrella if visiting during this time period.
TRANSPORTATION
Lexington is easily accessible by land and air. The city is located at the intersections of a number of Interstate highways, state highways and the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway, which starts near the outskirts of the city and ends in the southwest at Elizabethtown. Interstate-75 (I-75) connects Louisville to the major centers of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, in the north and Knoxville, Tennessee, in the south, while Interstate-64 (I-64) runs east from St. Louis, Missouri, through Louisville to Lexington and on to Charleston, West Virginia, and Richmond and the Hampton Roads area (Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach) in Virginia.
National commuter air services fly to Blue Grass Airport, located only a 10-minute drive from the downtown core. Lexington is also accessible by the national motorcoach service of Greyhound Lines.
Once in Lexington, there are numerous options for travelling in the city, from renting a car or taking a limousine or a taxi to taking the city's public transit system, Lextran. For a Lexington-esque change of pace, horse-drawn carriages are available, weather permitting, in the evening from the Lexington Livery Carriage Company.
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| Entertainment at the Kentucky Horse Park2 |
Horse Attractions
Since Lexington prides itself on its love of horses, the Kentucky
Horse Park is a must-see for visitors. The park displays more than 50
different breeds of horses and is open year-round.
The most bred horse in Kentucky, the American Saddlebred is showcased at the American Saddlebred Museum. Located on-site at the Kentucky Horse Park, this museum pays tribute to this native pedigree. Visitors can gain insight into the important role this breed has played in America over the years through permanent exhibits and a theater show.
Numerous horse farm tours are offered to learn about the history and the different breeds of horses. Group tours are provided through companies such as Blue Grass Tours and Horse Farm Tours Inc. Guided and self-directed tours can also be arranged.
Horses in action can be seen within the genteel atmosphere of the Keeneland Race Course. Saturdays are spent enjoying breakfast before watching the live thoroughbred racing through the months of April to October. The Kentucky Futurity Quarter Horse Show runs at the Kentucky Horse Park in the fall annually. This horse competition includes jumping, barrel racing and reining, as well as a tradeshow. Another outdoor show to take in is the Lexington Junior League Horse Show that runs for a week in July. This event is the nation's largest outdoor Saddlebred show and takes place at the Red Mile Harness Track.
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| A Performance at the Festival of the Bluegrass3 |
Lexington offers a large selection of festivals during the warmer months (May through September), starting with the ever-popular Festival of the Bluegrass. The largest of its kind, it is held annually during the second week in June at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground.
The Big Band & Jazz Festival also starts in June and offers free live music every Tuesday night throughout the summer months. The Shakespeare Festival and Ballet Under the Stars are both artistic festivals that run solely in the summertime. Free music and dance performances are also hosted at the ArtsPlace, a multi-purpose center that is home to a gallery of works by Central Kentucky artists.
Contemporary music lovers can check out the Lexington Philharmonic and the Lexington Opera House, while those who enjoy live rhythm and blues can take in smaller pub venues. Intimate concerts can be viewed at the restored 1920s Kentucky Theater, which also offers foreign, independent and classic films.
Sports
Experience the sports enthusiasm of locals by visiting the state-of-the-art
Applebee's
Stadium, home to the minor league professional baseball team, the Lexington
Legends. The stadium is also used as an outdoor concert venue throughout
the year.
The University of Kentucky is known for its excellent basketball program, so taking in a game during the season is a must. Their talent is showcased during the months of November through March at Rupp Arena, which seats up to 23,000 boosters. The U of K Basketball Museum pays tribute to the 96-year history of the United States' most successful men's collegiate basketball team through educational exhibits.
Lexington boasts more than a dozen public and private golf courses but the Kearney Hill Links, once a stop on the PGA Senior Tour, is one of the most challenging.
Museums
To gain insight into Lexington's past, the Lexington
History Museum is presented via photos, displays and a timeline of events.
For family-oriented learning, the Explorium
of Lexington is geared more towards children, with seven galleries that
feature hands-on exhibits, including topics such as nature, the human body,
geography and archeology.
The evolution of airplanes can be viewed at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, which showcases the history of flight through interactive exhibits. Fifteen airplanes from the 1920s to the present are on display, along with various engines and propellers.
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| A Tour with the Lexington Livery Carriage Company4 |
For a taste of Kentucky tradition, brewery tours are offered at the Alltech Lexington Brewery Company. Since 1794, Kentucky Ale has produced and distributed their original brew to most pubs and restaurants within Lexington.
Wineries and vineyards are also present in the Lexington area, boasting three in the area. The Talon Winery, located on the outskirts of Lexington, as well as the Chrisman Mill Vineyards & Winery and the Equus Run Vineyard are all enjoyable locations, dedicating their time to hosting tastings, tours and events. The Chrisman Mill is located about 10 mi (16 km) to the south, just outside of Nicholasville, while Equus Run is located outside of Midway, approximately 12 mi (19 km) west. Concerts run at the Equus Run on some Saturdays in the summer, along with wine tastings and buffet dinners.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Joshua Melvin; c/o Stock.Xchng; A Lexington Area Horse Farm; Lexington, KY, USA
- The Kentucky Horse Park; Entertainment at the Kentucky Horse Park; Lexington, KY, USA
- The Festival of the Bluegrass Committee; A Perfromance at the Festival of the Bluegrass; Lexington, KY, USA
- The Lexington Livery Carriage Company; A Tour with the Lexington Livery Carriage Company; Lexington, KY, USA
