Frazier Launches Podcast Kentucky Wide, Obergefell Turns Ten, Hill Sisters Program, and More
Kentucky Wide podcast graphic.
Happy birthday, Kentucky!
We’re excited to share our gift with the Commonwealth and beyond: a podcast called Kentucky Wide!
Over the years, we’ve learned so many great stories about people and places from every county in the state. Last year, these stories led to our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit—and now some of our favorite people and places will find their way to your ears with music and deep storytelling.
Episodes of Kentucky Wide will be released every two weeks through the summer. They feature stories from Jessamine County to Jefferson County, Daviess County, and beyond, showcasing some of the ways Kentucky has reached the world. The first episode—available now!—features the stories of four Black photographers from Kentucky: the Smith brothers, Moneta Sleet, and Bud Dorsey.
It’s truly a team effort with fellow staffers Jason Berkowitz, Megan Schanie, Simon Meiners, Amanda Briede, Nick Cook, and Kent Klarer lending hands with writing, art, and sound design. We’re all excited to share it with the world!
You can find Kentucky Wide wherever you find your podcasts: Apple, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, and iHeart. And remember: Kentucky Wide is a podcast production of the Frazier History Museum, where the world meets Kentucky!
From our free Kentucky Wide podcast and our Frazier Weekly newsletter to our camps, field trips, programs, exhibitions, guided tours, and Stories in Mind engagements—we hope you value the great work we’re doing here at the Frazier. It’s a labor of love! But we ask you to support us by donating or becoming a member. You can also buy tickets for our July 26 Frazier Summer Beer Fest. Celebrate Kentucky’s 233rd birthday by supporting the Frazier!
In today’s Frazier Weekly, Amanda spotlights a white wedding suit in Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage and attorney Elizabeth McConahy Jenkins reflects on the marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges. Rachel announces a program on the Hill sisters, who wrote the most recognized song in the English language (“Happy Birthday to You”). Jason plugs three Kentucky festivals this June and Abby takes us south to a distillery in Cumberland County.
Thanks for reading—and listening!
Sarah Jemerson and Mick Sullivan
Co-hosts, Kentucky Wide
Frazier History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Curator’s Corner: Lauren Coen’s Wedding Suit, 2010s
Lauren Coen’s 2018 wedding suit as featured in the timeline of wedding dresses in the Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition, May 29, 2025.
From almost the first moment we started discussing Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage as an exhibition, I had dreamed about having a timeline of wedding dresses—one dress from each decade, 1870s to 2020s, showcasing 150 years of evolving bridal style. However, it was my hope that this timeline of dresses could showcase more than just fashion.
For the dress to represent the 2010s, it was important to me that it come from a same-sex couple, since this was the first decade that same-sex marriages were legal in Kentucky. It was also important to me that the outfit came from someone who considered themselves a bride, since all the other pieces in the timeline were from brides. What I thought was going to be a relatively simple thing to find turned out to be much more difficult than I imagined. Though it was legal for same-sex couples to get married after 2015, there were still considerable barriers for couples to do so, and some that were able to get married may not have had a special outfit for the occasion.
By pure happenstance, I noticed an anniversary post on Facebook for a high school friend, Nicole Kersting, and her wife, Lauren Coen. Though we hadn’t spoken since the early days of college, which was quite a long time ago now, I reached out to Nicole, and she was happy to loan her wife’s wedding suit for the exhibition. Nicole and Lauren were married on October 20, 2018, at the Gillespie in Louisville, Kentucky. I am happy that this exhibition about love was able to help me reconnect with an old friend, and so happy to be able to share their love story and Lauren’s suit in Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage.
Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions
Attorney Elizabeth McConahy Jenkins on Obergefell v. Hodges a Decade Later
10 Years of Marriage Equality flyer.
Names of Obergefell v. Hodges plaintiffs displayed in the Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition, May 2025.
We hope you’ll join us on June 24 here at the Frazier for our program 10 Years of Marriage Equality during Pride Month. We are approaching the ten-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that extended the right to marry to same-sex couples nationwide. There were several Kentucky plaintiffs who played a pivotal role in the case and are represented in our Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition. Several of the plaintiffs and some of the attorneys will be part of our audience on June 24. Click here to reserve your spot for the free program. Also joining us will be family law attorney Elizabeth McConahy Jenkins, whose law firm helped sponsor our exhibition. Keep reading as she discusses the landmark decision and where it stands today.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marry. The ruling required all fifty states to license marriages between same-sex couples and to recognize such marriages performed in other jurisdictions. It was a moment of profound legal and emotional significance, particularly here in Kentucky, where multiple plaintiffs courageously challenged their home state's refusal to treat their marriages as valid.
Obergefell consolidated cases from four states, but its roots trace back to earlier decisions. In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Court affirmed the right to private, consensual intimacy. United States v. Windsor (2013) followed, invalidating the federal Defense of Marriage Act's denial of benefits to same-sex couples. By the time Obergefell was argued, the constitutional principles of due process and equal protection were firmly on a collision course with state-level marriage bans.
Writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy emphasized that the right to marry is a fundamental liberty, and that excluding same-sex couples violated both the dignity and equality the Constitution guarantees. The decision recognized that marriage is not only a matter of personal fulfillment but also legal protection: same-sex couples deserved the same rights when it came to hospital visitation, inheritance, adoption, taxation, and much more.
Ten years on, the legal foundation of Obergefell still stands, but not without tremors. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), the Court overturned Roe v. Wade, with Justice Thomas openly calling for reconsideration of substantive due process precedents, potentially including Obergefell. While the current political makeup of the Court makes that a chilling possibility, it is worth noting that marriage equality enjoys broad and growing public support. Congress also acted in 2022 by passing the Respect for Marriage Act, providing federal-level assurance by requiring states to recognize existing same-sex marriages even if Obergefell were reversed.
Still, constitutional rights shouldn’t hinge on shifting political winds. That’s why remembering the path to Obergefell – and the Kentuckians who walked it – is essential. They stood not only for themselves, but for a principle as old as the Constitution and as modern as love itself: equal justice under law.
Join us on June 24 as we reflect on their stories, the legal journey, and the road ahead.
Elizabeth McConahy Jenkins
Attorney, Jenkins & Wheatley Family Law
Guest Contributor
Join Us July 6 to Celebrate the Pioneering Hill Sisters of Louisville
The Pioneering Hill Sisters of Louisville: The Happy Birthday Song and So Much More graphic.
It’s a story we tell often at the Frazier History Museum since the Hill sisters are represented in our Cool Kentucky exhibition.
Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill co-wrote the song “Good Morning to All” in 1893, which became the foundation for what is widely considered the most famous song in the world, “Happy Birthday to You.”
But their lives and contributions were so much more. Patty originally tested the “Good Morning to All” song on her kindergarten students in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a pioneer in early childhood education.
How the lyrics of the song became “Happy Birthday to You” is the stuff programs are made of, which is why we decided it’s time to feature the Hill sisters in a Cool Kentucky program at the Frazier on July 6 at 2 p.m.
Jessica Dawkins, the new President and CEO of Historic Locust Grove, and a local historian, will lead our program. She’s also a board member for Happy Birthday Park.
Learn how the city of Louisville was an inspiration for the song, and for Mildred and Patty.
Storytelling is a key part of what we do, and these sisters do not disappoint. We hope to see you here on July 6. The cost of admission will get you into this program for free, so please click here to reserve your spot. And plan on singing the world’s most famous song if you attend as we remember the pioneering Hill sisters.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Museum Shop: Birthday Cake Earrings
Heidi Janes model birthday cake earrings sold in the Frazier’s Museum Shop, May 30, 2025.
What did the teddy bear say when offered birthday cake? “No thanks—I’m stuffed!” Luckily, our birthday cake earrings won’t leave you feeling full, just fun and glam! Treat yourself (and a friend!) to some sweet jewelry. They’re available in the Frazier’s Museum Shop and online.
120: Cool KY Counties exhibit.
June is finally here—and with it, weddings, school break, and a slew of festivals across the Commonwealth. So load up the car with family and friends, stock up on road snacks, and get ready for festival season in Kentucky. Believe me when I say: there is truly a festival for everyone!
(And don’t forget: you can learn more about Kentucky’s local traditions in the Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit.)
2025 Poke Sallet Festival graphic.
A crowd gathers at the Beer Cheese Festival in Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky.
Children march at the inaugural Menifee Mountain Memories Festival in Frenchburg, Kentucky, 1988.
Poke Sallet Festival (June 5–7, 2025)
Located in the heart of scenic Appalachia, the city of Harlan is home to numerous traditions enjoyed all over the world. Music, folklore, and culinary practices are plentiful in the region—offering a million reasons to journey to Harlan, Harlan County, festival or no. That said, I highly recommend paying a visit to this year’s seventieth annual Poke Sallet Festival, celebrating a rather unique, albeit undeniably tasty, local dish. Made from wild pokeweed (and often prepared with bacon, salt, pepper, and other ingredients), the dish, according to Director of Harlan Tourism Brandon Pennington, is a testament to the “resourcefulness, grit, and culture of mountain folks who made use of what the land provided.” The festival itself was proposed in the spring of 1955 at a poke sallet dinner held by Drew Smith and has been a local highlight ever since.
Never dull and always entertaining, the Poke Sallet Festival is guaranteed to be a worthwhile experience. Gospel singer and two-time Grammy winner Jason Crabb will perform, as will country music star and winner of The Voice Bryce Leatherwood. This year’s schedule also includes: a free Taylor Swift Tribute Show, the Miss Harlan County Pageant, the Sue Ford Memorial Car Show, a golf tournament, Poke Sallet Idol, the Run for the Hill 5K race, arts and crafts, food and vendors, and, best of all, the good people of Harlan County. Seems like a rather fine (and tasty) weekend to me!
Beer Cheese Festival (June 14, 2025)
Many of us already know that Winchester, Clark County, is home to the sweet and spicy refreshment of Ale-8 soda. However, it is also home to another sometimes spicy, always scrumptious, food item: beer cheese! First made by Chef Joe Allman for his cousin Johnnie’s restaurant, the Driftwood Inn, the dish was an immediate hit, both locally and abroad. Most often made with processed cheese, beer, garlic, and other spices, it is said that none other than Queen Victoria herself fell in love with the cheesy, boozy spread after sampling it during a visit to Lexington. She would eventually return to England with several tubs of beer cheese and, most likely, a full, royal belly.
Unfortunately, Johnnie Allman lost his restaurant in the 1960s, along with the original recipe invented by his cousin Joe. Nevertheless, the cheese spread’s popularity skyrocketed over the years, inspiring the residents of Clark County and Winchester to eventually launch the Beer Cheese Festival in 2009. Since then, the festival has brought in thousands of annual visitors, with the star of the show, of course, being beer cheese (and plenty of it). Whatever your tastes, there is undoubtedly a recipe to make you sing. You have my word! But more than just beer cheese, come enjoy the Miss Beer Cheese Pageant, the Beer Cheese 5K, arts and crafts, amateur and professional beer cheese competitions, live music, and plenty of food vendors selling deliciousness up and down Beer Cheese Boulevard. Sure, gouda is good-ah, but cheddar is better—so come have a cheesy, good time in Winchester on June 14!
Menifee Mountain Memories Festival (June 6–7)
Founded in 1988 in Frenchburg, Kentucky, the Menifee Mountain Memories Festival is a two-day celebration of history and heritage. For centuries, local residents have passed down stories and traditions shared with them as children, creating a strong sense of local identity. Traditional arts and crafts, music, and, of course, local food are celebrated alongside local traditions, such as the winding of the May Pole and making moonshine in the Courthouse yard!
And there is so much more! Over the years, the festival has featured car shows, hay rides up to Donathan Rock, helicopter rides up to the sky, parades, pageants, petting zoos, duck races, and 5K races. Of course, when speaking of Appalachian traditions, music is often the star of the show, and this year’s festival is no different. On Friday evening, country band Hannah Wheeler and the Heartaches and songwriter Candi Jenkins will both perform. And on Saturday, you can enjoy the artful pickings of not one, but TWO, bluegrass groups: the String Roots and West Liberty Mountain Boys. As Cynthia Luallen with the Menifee County Chamber of Commerce says: “Whether you are a lifelong resident of Menifee County or visiting for the first time, the Menifee Mountain Memories Festival is an unforgettable celebration of history, storytelling, and hometown pride.”
Jason Berkowitz
Stories in Mind Facilitator
Discover the Magic of Storytelling with Looking for Lilith Theatre Company’s THE BOOK WOMEN
Promotional still for Looking for Lilith Theatre Company’s THE BOOK WOMEN, 2025. Credit: Holly Stone.
It’s summer, and you know what that means: Cultural Pass is back! The city’s Cultural Pass program offers young people ages 0–21 and their families in the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana area access to cultural sites and programs at no cost from May 31 to August 10, 2025. At the Frazier Museum, it provides free admission for the registered child and guardian—or the Senior Cultural Pass holder—on Sundays and Mondays throughout the designated dates. We’ve also got guided tours, touch stations, multimedia performances, and scavenger hunts! Outside of the Frazier, our friends at Looking for Lilith Theatre Company are staging a free touring show as part of Cultural Pass: THE BOOK WOMEN, a nod to the famous Packhorse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky. LFLTC’s Jill Marie Guelda shares the details below.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist
This summer, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company (LFL) invites audiences of all ages to experience the magic of live performance with THE BOOK WOMEN by Rachel Bubliz, a free touring show presented in partnership with the 2025 Cultural Pass. Celebrating the power of books, storytelling, and the resilience of Appalachian women during the Great Depression, THE BOOK WOMEN will be performed at libraries throughout Louisville during June and July with a culminating performance at the Main Branch on August 10.
Inspired by the true stories of the Packhorse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky, Bublitz’s original play follows the journeys of the brave women who delivered books to remote mountain communities on horseback. With heart, humor, and historical insight, THE BOOK WOMEN brings to life the impact of literacy and the enduring strength of community in times of hardship.
Audiences will meet an ensemble of characters whose lives are transformed by the arrival of these intrepid librarians. Told through LFL’s signature style—combining oral history, movement, and rich storytelling—THE BOOK WOMEN offers a captivating theatrical experience that is both educational and deeply moving.
As part of the Cultural Pass initiative, performances are free and open to the public, making this a perfect family outing or educational field trip. The tour will stop at multiple Louisville Free Public Library branches across the city, offering ample opportunities to catch this inspiring production. A culminating community event will be held at the Main Branch on August 10, bringing together all three touring routes for a special final performance.
Looking for Lilith continues its mission to amplify women’s voices and untold histories with this beloved play. Don’t miss your chance to witness THE BOOK WOMEN this summer—where history rides in on horseback and leaves us with hearts full of stories.
For tour dates and locations, visit lookingforlilith.org/bookwomen or check the 2025 Cultural Pass app.
Jill Marie Guelda
Director of Audience Engagement, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company
Guest Contributor
On the Trail with Abby: Southern Kentucky Distillery in Cumberland County
On the Trail with Abby graphic.
Bourbon tourism is booming—and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is growing faster than ever! Each week, the Frazier’s Abby Flanders takes readers on a digital stop-by-stop tour of this expanding adventure, spotlighting the distilleries, stories, and expressions behind America’s native spirit. Ready to hit the trail in real life? Start your journey at the Frazier History Museum, the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
Bourbon barrels at Southern Kentucky Distillery in Burkesville.
As the name suggests, this week we head to the opposite border, down to Southern Kentucky Distillery (SKD). Located in Burkesville (the “Fishing Capital of Kentucky”!) in Cumberland County, SKD is situated in the southern Kentucky foothills between Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake, and the Cumberland River.
Following the end of Prohibition, Cumberland County stayed “dry” until 2016, when its residents voted it wet. It’s believed that SKD produced the first truly legal Bourbon in Cumberland County since Prohibition. Today, SKD offers a variety of products, including six flavors of Slate Fork Moonshine, Ancient Sun Vodka, Turby’s Cherrywood Bourbon, Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey, and Groovy Voodoo Peanut Butter Whiskey. Their next Bourbon product, called Broadhead Bourbon, is still aging but will be ready to drink in 2027.
The distillery is a newbie, having opened its doors in 2023, but they are putting southern Kentucky on the Bourbon map one barrel at a time. Country music lovers may note that Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery was named SKD’s Brand Ambassador just last month!
What sets this distillery apart is its sense of place and celebration of the land and legacy that make Kentucky Bourbon so special. Southern Kentucky Distillery is proof that great things are happening beyond the usual stops, and sometimes the best surprises are found a little farther south.
So whether you’re trail-hopping or fishing and hiking your way through southern Kentucky, make a pitstop at SKD!
Abby Flanders
Administrative Chief of Engagement
