Kentucky’s Lincoln Bicentennial
February 4, 2008
Kentucky will kick off the national Lincoln Bicentennial in February. Below is a partial list of events. The exact dates for some haven’t been released.
For details on each event as well as a full calendar, visit http://www.kylincoln.org/events.
Feb. 10: Lexington’s Abraham Lincoln Gala, Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky campus
Feb. 11: National Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration, Kentucky Center, Louisville
Feb. 12: National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Kickoff, Hodgenville
Feb. 12: Unveiling of the Lincoln Heritage Trail, Hodgenville
Feb. 12: Debut of the Historical Society HistoryMobile, outfitted with a Lincoln exhibit, Hodgenville
Source: Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
A Genuine Surprise on the Great Retirement Spots List
October 6, 2007
When I signed in to check my AIM e-mail this morning, I noticed a link that caught my eye: ”Great Retirement Spots.” I’m not anywhere near the point of looking for a retirement spot yet (for one thing, I’m not old enough yet, and for another, there’s nothing to retire from!), but I thought, “I want to see if Murray made the top 15.” It’s generally a darling of Retirement lists.
To my surprise, Kentucky (of course) was represented on the list - but it wasn’t Murray. At #10 was Danville, Kentucky! Go, Danville!
Below is the information they gave for a town that now has another feather in its cap:
Historic Danville hosts an annual hot-air balloon race at the Great American Brass Band Festival, and its Constitution Square boasts the original post office, a replica jail, and Grayson’s Tavern, built in 1785.
Total Pop.: 15,409
Med. Home Price: N/A
Med. Income: $31,816
Avg. Jan./July Temp: 31.9° / 75.9°
By the way, when I say that Danville was a surprise, I don’t mean any disrespect to Danville AT ALL. Like all Kentucky towns, it’s full of charm, beauty, and wonderfully friendly, big-hearted people. It’s just that I had no idea anyone outside of our Commonwealth knew about it! The biggest surprise, I guess, was that a town around the lakes didn’t make the list. Usually that area is a mainstay on retirement lists of any kind.
Other cities on the list were:
Fayetteville, Ark.
San Francisco
Prescott, Az.
State College, Pa.
Lawrence, Kan.
Austin, Texas
Boulder, Co.
Anacortes, Wash.
Juneau, Alaska (Did you know that average January lows are only 21 degrees in Alaska’s state capital? I thought the list had entirely lost its mind until I read that.)
Kailua, Hawaii
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Another surprise was the absence of Florida. Having lived there before, I know firsthand that it’s Heaven on earth. The weather not only feels amazing, it cuts way back on colds and other miseries typical winters bring. I wonder if the cost of living kept Florida from making the list - it’s not cheap, that’s for sure. That, and maybe the nasty hurricanes that have been making life miserable down that way.
No hurricanes in Danville!
For more information on Danville, Kentucky - check out their website, http://www.danville-ky.com/.
P.S. I was doing a little research on the area and I found something that’s worth checking out: Three Babes and a Monkey. It’s on 127 N. Fourth Street and features Teas, coffees, espressos, smoothies, shakes, sandwiches, quiches, and salads. Some of my favorite things - especially the Teas, coffees, espressos, smoothies, shakes, sandwiches, quiches, and salads.
When you go to TB and a Monkey, though, go early and don’t stay late. During the week they close at 6 and on Saturday the doors close at 4. On Sunday, in true, old-fashioned (and perfectly lovely) hometown - the doors don’t open at all. They’re all about Breakfast and Lunch at Three Babes - I dunno, maybe they have lives or something!
If you’re interested in supper, Danville offers a little bit of everything else: Cracker Barrel, Applebees, Popeyes, Pizza Hut, Pharoah’s Pizza, Lee’s Chicken, KFC, Jumbo (Chinese) Buffett, House of Cheung, Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant (2), Godfather’s, Freddies (Italian), Giovanni’s Pizza, Chinatown Gourmet, and many more fast food staples.
They also have a favorite of mine that’s really hard to find, A & W Rootbeer, in the Danville Shopping Center. You won’t find a better rootbeer float this side of Heaven, and the chili dogs are ridiculously good. Oh, who am I kidding, everything on the menu is amazing.
The 2007 Kentucky State Fair
August 19, 2007
The Kentucky State Fair is in full swing and will keep swinging until the 26th. If you’re anywhere within reach, you’ll want to get in on the fun. Click HERE for more information.
Something I’ve really gotten a kick out on their website is the posters for the fair - past and present. I wish I could find them for sale somewhere - they’d be gorgeous framed, especially the ones from 2004, 2001, and 2002. 2005 - 2007 would be kicky fun in a basement or den.
The one above is one of my favorites - it’s over the top fun and randomness… everything a state fair could ever hope to be. Click HERE to see all of the posters in all of their glory!
The Frankfort Home of George Graham Vest
May 20, 2007
As a Kentuckian (as they say, Born and Raised), I’m always fascinated when I hear of other Kentuckians leaving a mark on the world. From Abraham Lincoln to Johnny Depp, I keep a mental list of famous Kentuckians. Whether they were born here, raised here, or Born and Raised like me, I love to see the impact they make. I’m sure everyone is the same, no matter what state they call home.
I came across an interesting addition recently when I read about George Graham Vest. While you may not know the name, I’m certain you’ll recognize his quote. George Graham Vest was a US Senator who was raised in Kentucky. Apparently he was quite a dog lover. He’s the person who coined the phrase, “Dog is man’s best friend.”
If you find yourself in Frankfort (one of my favorite cities), be sure to tour his house at 401 Wapping Street.
Call (502)564-6980 for more information.
Land Between the Lakes Activity Calendar for June
May 10, 2007
The Land Between the Lakes is THE place to be for lovers of nature and wildlife. This is never more true than in the month of June. In addition to ongoing activities and year-round splendor, the Land Between the Lakes region offers the following special events for the month of June:
June 1-3 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (10 am-5 pm). Drag Boat Races at Pisgah Bay. Blown alcohol, hydros, jets, and flat bottom boats go in excess of 150 miles per hour! Test and tune on Friday, with time trials on Saturday and racing on Sunday. For more information, contact George or Chris Onnybecker. Kentucky Drag Boat Association at 1-800-732-0088 or www.kdba.net. Pre-registration and medical release require for racers.
June 2 Saturday (9 am-4 pm). National Trails Day. All across the country, people 
will celebrate the great outdoors on National Trails Day, America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration. At LBL, celebrating the great outdoors takes on a whole new meaning! Contact Kristy Jobe at 270-924-2007 for more information.
In honor of National Trails Day, The Nature Station will offer a staff-led, 1-mile hike on one of the park’s favorite nature trails. Program free to all LBL visitors. Meet at Nature Station.
June 2 Saturday (10 am-12 pm; 1-4 pm). The Blacksmith visits the Farm at The Homeplace. Invited Artist: Layne Hendrickson - Blacksmith. From the LBL website: At a time when most things were made from iron, blacksmiths were one of the most important tradesmen in the community. In the 1850s, blacksmiths made everything from fireplace tools to plow shares to horseshoes, many specializing in specific products. Although iron is rarely used in modern products, the art of blacksmithing is kept alive by modern blacksmiths like Layne Hendrickson. Visit with Mr. Hendrickson as he demonstrates age-old blacksmithing techniques. Mr. Hendrickson’s handmade iron creations will be available for purchase. Program free with Homeplace admission.
June 9 - 10 Saturday, Sunday (9:30 am -5 pm). Pickin’ Party at The Homeplace! A weekend that all music lovers will want to circle on the calendar, the Pickin’ Party offers workshops, pickin’ sessions, and performances of old-time fiddle, banjo, and bluegrass music. Musicians can even bring their own banjo, guitar, fiddle, or harmonica and join in on the fun during open mic sessions. Everyone will enjoy the weekend performances of Mark Dvorak, specializing in banjo, guitar and timeless folk songs, and The Dixie Volunteers, a traditional string band.
On Saturday, enjoy the bluegrass band Carefree Highway and the always exciting and entertaining Dan Knowles. Sunday’s line up features bluegrass band, The McKendrees and Celtic band, Red River Breeze. The weekend includes demonstrations of handmade hammered and mountain dulcimers and psalteries by Amsden Handcrafted Instruments. These handcrafted instruments will be available for purchase. You can realize a life-long dream by learning to play a traditional instrument during one of the mini workshops: Saturday, Banjo and Sunday, the mountain dulcimer.
Join in the fun and we’ll all make beautiful (mountain) music together!
Of course, during the hours when music isn’t being made, you can stroll through the historic buildings, fields and gardens, and talk with the 1850 farm family as they go about their daily chores. We’ve learned so much about this particular time in history simply by talking to the actors/actresses playing these roles. 1850-themed children’s activities will be provided throughout the weekend, meaning they’ll learn while thinking they’re just having a great time! Amazing Festival food and ice-cold drinks will be available for purchase. $4/$5.50. Includes same day HP admission. For more information, call 931-232-6457.
Pack your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and come make some beautiful memories….all set to music!
June 9 Saturday (7:30 - 9:30 pm). A Night to “Hoot” About at the Nature Station. Get up close and personal with one of the Nature Station’s most mysterious residents, a gorgeous owl. Discover the secret night world of owls and go for a guided night walk to listen for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. Bring a flashlight! $2/$3. Evening program only. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.
June 12 Tuesday (2 pm). Creature Feature: Deer at the Nature Station. Get to know the two types of deer found in Land Between the Lakes. Discover how the exotic fallow deer came to live in LBL and why hardly any whitetails lived here when the fallows first arrived. Program free with NS admission.
June 16 Saturday (1:30 pm). Slithery Snakes at the Nature Station! Even people 
who are scared senseless of snakes can’t help being fascinated with them. Take it from me, I should know!
On June 16th, you can get to know these mysterious creatures much better by meeting a few of LBL’s resident slippery sliders. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 19 Saturday (10:00 - 11:30 am). Shoreline Birding Walk at the Nature Station. How does a morning walk along the water’s edge as you watch for birds sound? It sounds like a Bird Lover’s paradise, right?! Visit a beautiful scenic shoreline area that offers countless opportunities to see an amazing variety of birds. Dress for getting off the beaten path and, by all means, bring your binoculars. $3 per person. Program only. Reservations requested because space is limited. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.
June 23 Saturday (6:00 - 8:00 pm). Hundreds of Herons Canoe Trip at Kuttawa Landing. You’ll never forget the sights and sounds of the night herons and cattle 
egrets. You’ll see these birds as well as other wildlife as you paddle down beautiful Lake Barkley. Bring binoculars, cameras, and drinking water! Needless to say, this activity goes under the heading, Weather permitting. $25 per canoe. Includes same day Nature Station admission. (Fortunately, this day also happens to be Nature Arts Day at the Nature Station. See Below.) Registration limited. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Meet at Kuttawa Landing Lake Access Area.
June 23 Saturday (10:00 am - 4:00 pm). Nature Arts Day at the Nature Station. Come join in the backyard fun at this very popular annual event, Nature Arts Day. You’ll see how local artists and craftspeople use nature as inspiration for their unique creations. Visit with local artists and craftspeople as they display, demonstrate, and discuss their work. Art and crafts will be available for purchase. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 24 Sunday (11:00 am - 2:00 pm). Puttin’ by the Garden at The Homeplace. Visit The Homeplace as we “put-by” summer’s harvest. You’ll see fruits and vegetables you won’t believe! Program free with Homeplace admission.
June 24 Sunday (4:00 pm). Busy as Bees at The Nature Station. Learn all about bees, their life cycle, and how a hive works through activities and games. Also check out an impressive honey bee colony and see if you can find the Queen. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 26 Tuesday (10:30 am). Woodland Walk at The Nature Station. Enjoy a 1-mile guided hike as you take in the breathtaking beauty of this part of Kentucky. Program free to all Land Between the Lake’s visitors. Meet at Nature Station.
June 26 Tuesday (2:00 pm). Creature Feature: Red Wolf at The Nature Station. The beautiful red wolf - an endagered animal that we all hope is on its way to recovery. This viewing opportunity will allow you to get a good look at these elusive animals. Learn how these animals are fighting back from the brink of extinction! Program free with Nature Station admission.
Useful Links:
Land Between the Lakes - http://www.lbl.org
Kentucky Drag Boat Association - www.kdba.net
Layne Hendrickson, Blacksmith - http://oaklevelforge.com/
The Dixie Volunteers - http://turtleservices.com/The%20Dixie%20Volunteers.htm
Carefree Highway Bluegrass Band - http://www.carefreehighwayband.net/
Mark Dvorak - http://www.markdvorak.com/
Dan Knowles - http://www.danknowles.net/
The McKendrees - http://www.themckendrees.com/
Red River Breeze - http://www.redriverbreeze.com/
Trails and Hiking - http://www.trails.com/
Benham School House Bed and Breakfast
May 6, 2007
In 1926, the Wisconsin Steel Corporation built a school house for coal camp children. The last high school class graduated in 1961, but the building was used, until 1992, as an elementary school.
Today, the building is retired from the field of education and can be found living the good life as a charming Bed & Breakfast! Although it’s now elegant and peacefully comfortable, the Benham School House Bed & Breakfast has never forgotten it’s proud historical and educational roots. Some of the rooms have the same wood floors on which children once learned their ABC’s and 123’s.
Across the street from the Benham School House Bed & Breakfast stands the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum. The museum is housed in a Commissary (company store) built in the 1920’s.
Spanning 4 floors, the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum has a diverse collection of artifacts from the early years of industrial coal mining in Kentucky, the history of the towns of Benham and Lynch, and hte families who came to support the mining options. Featured exhibits include the Loretta Lynn Exhibit and the Mock Mine Exhibit.
Benham Shool House Bed and Breakfast
- 30 Guest Rooms
- Banquet hall that seats up to 350 guests. (The hall once served as the school gymnasium!)
- Conference rooms available
- Tour buses welcome! Call ahead for times of operation.
Camping
- 10 sites with electric and sewer hook ups
- Suitable for self contained RVs
- No Bath Houses available
Dining
- The Apple Room Restaurant features fine mountain dining in a warm and intimate setting.
For More Information:
Contact
Benham School House Bed & Breakfast
100 Central Avenue
Benham, KY 40807
Phone: (606) 848-30000
