Simon Meiners is a man on a mission. As the Communications and Research Specialist at Louisville’s Frazier Museum, he is tasked with sifting through the history of Kentucky and sharing it with the public. After the first five minutes speaking with him, it is clear that this mission is more than just a profession for him; it is true passion. He is a walking and talking advertisement for his home state, sharing tidbits and fun facts with me and with random other museum-goers. And his excitement is infectious.

We meet in an exhibit of the Frazier Museum dedicated to the state’s most interesting industry: bourbon. Here, Simon distills (pun very much intended) the history of what makes Kentucky bourbon great. We walk through the geological makeup of the state, talk about limestone filtering of the water, and grain cultivation. He shows me his favorite pre-prohibition bourbon bottles, points to a hidden speakeasy that the museum has (there is a group inside doing a tasting so we don’t go in), and shares stories of pioneers in the trade like Isaac W. Bernheim, the first known Jewish bourbon distiller. Bernheim used an alias to combat anti-Semitism when he launched his company in 1879, choosing the more American I.W. Harper. (Click here to read more about Louisville and bourbon.)

As we walk through the exhibits at the museum, Simon lights up, putting his coffee cup down to be able to gesture more effectively (and even routinely forgetting it in his excitement) at things he finds the most fascinating. The oldest known Civil War monument, in German shockingly? Yeah, that’s here. The arrest warrant for Mary Todd Lincoln? Yep, that’s here too. Daniel Boone’s bible also has a home here at the Frazier.

And I lap it up. The Frazier Museum is Kentucky’s largest history museum, and exhibitions share some of the interesting aspects of local history. Some of it dates back to before Kentucky became a state. Some is quite modern. All of it – literally all – is interesting, made even more so with Simon as a guide.

And since it is Friday, he gives a tour of his favorite exhibit, entitled Cool Kentucky, that goes through some of the more fascinating aspects of the state. Did you know that the song “Happy Birthday to You” was written by the Hill Sisters only a few miles from here in Louisville? Or that the tricolored traffic signal was invented in Kentucky? Yeah, cool Kentucky indeed.

The Frazier Museum was founded in 2004 by Owsley Brown Frazier as a means of displaying his vast collection of arms and armor, as well as miniature soldiers. In the decades since, it has obviously expanded its collection, filling a need for Kentucky history to be celebrated in the state’s largest city. And while those original collections still have homes here, this new focus has routinely earned the institution the title of best museum in Kentucky.

In 2018, the museum partnered with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to be its visitors center (on the outside of the paid admission portion) and official launch point, solidifying its place as the centerpiece of an exploration of the state.

I’m here for the history, and while it’s not quite as Louisville-focused (there is nothing wrong with a statewide approach), I’m able to garner some of the basics through the exhibits. The town was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark on a now-submerged island in the middle of the Ohio River. The location is important, as this is the only spot on that river that is not navigable. The Falls of the Ohio necessitated boats being transported by land around the rapids until a canal was constructed in 1830. Named for Louis XVI, whose navy was assisting in the ongoing American Revolution, the city would be an important trading and transportation hub on the Ohio River and launch point for western expansion.

Kentucky became a state in 1792, the second after the original thirteen colonies, and within a couple of decades, Louisville was its largest city, a title it has never relinquished. When the Civil War broke out, the city was home to a large Union force, thus keeping Kentucky in the Union despite frequent raids by the Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying “I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky,” showing just how important keeping the Ohio River open was to the North.

After much of the downtown riverfront was destroyed in 1890 by what is thought to be one of the strongest tornado systems in the region’s history (frequent floods also devastated Louisville’s center repeatedly), the core was rebuilt, and it is that period that much of today’s Main Street hearkens back to, including the building hosting the Frazier Museum, an 1897 commercial space that was once a garment factory.

The museum is a great starting point for an exploration of Main Street, as it sits on the very westernmost point of the historic stretch. The 1890s architecture is the focal point of a walk, although there is a ton to do and see other than just the beautiful buildings.

For one thing, this is Whiskey Row, and distilleries (both historic and more modern) line the street, as do countless bars and restaurants featuring all that makes Louisville “Bourbon City.” I honestly don’t think visitors can go wrong at any.

Or check out the Kentucky Science Center, housed partially in the 1880 Alexander Building, one of the most stunning anywhere on Main Street.

Visitors will be intrigued at frequent sidewalk monuments to baseball players and the measurements of their bats. The reason for these is simple: Hillerich and Bradsby has been manufacturing the bats known as Louisville Slugger since 1855 right here on Main Street, although the name comes from the star player of the Louisville Eclipse, Pete “Louisville Slugger” Browning, the first player to have the company make a custom bat in 1884.

The factory and museum are still here, although a tour will have to wait for my next visit, as will an exploration of the nearby Muhammad Ali Center, dedicated to the city’s arguably most famous resident.

In more modern times, Louisville has diversified a bit, although being a trading and transportation hub is still seen in its being the focal point of UPS’ operations. The city is also a healthcare center, with Humana being headquartered here. Along with bourbon, education, and tourism, these anchor a reasonably strong economy for America’s 24th largest city.

I challenge anyone to spend an hour with Simon at the Frazier Museum and not come away excited at local history. I further challenge them to come to Louisville and not leave impressed at the beauty and the charm of this vibrant historic city. I know I was – and still am – and that this will only be the beginning of a more in-depth exploration of the Bluegrass State and its largest city.

Thank you so much to the Frazier Museum for hosting my visit, and to Simon Meiners for spending a portion of your morning sharing your excitement with me.

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