US: Kentucky Travel Facts & Trivia
Churchill Downs, Lexington, Hogdenville, Mammoth Caves & Bardstown
United States: Information on the Bourbon Festival & the birthplaces of Mohammad Ali, KFC, Jim Beam whiskey, mint Julep, Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln.
The state of Kentucky in south-east USA has given the world many famous things, from Abraham Lincoln and Mohammad Ali to Jim Beam and the Kentucky Derby. Here are some facts, trivia and information for visitors travelling to the state.
- Kentucky is arguably the horse capital of the world. The area around Churchill Downs has a higher concentration of thoroughbred breeding farms than anywhere else on the planet, whilst it is also home to the legendary Kentucky Derby. The iconic horse race is arguably more famous for the atmosphere in the crowd – as famously conveyed by Hunter S Thompson – than the racing, but that’s not really the point. The truly horsey are advised to head to Lexington, where they will find the Museum of the Horse.
- Car-loving petrolheads should head to the town of Bowling Green. This is where Corvettes are made, and you can visit the National Corvette Museum whilst there.
- The otherwise entirely non-descript town of Hogdenville has a massive claim to fame – it was the birthplace of assassinated US president Abraham Lincoln. The bearded wonder is honoured at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site.
- During the civil war, both the Union (Lincoln) and the Confederate President were Kentucky-born. Jefferson Davis was also from the state, as you’ll find out at the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site.
- And if that’s not greedy enough, then Kentucky can also claim yet another American legend – Mohammad Ali, the self-styled greatest boxer of all time, was born there too.
- Less impressively, it is also the home of Kentucky Fried Chicken (or KFC as it is now known). The original grease in a box shop can be found in Corbin. Treat it as a pilgrimage site if you absolutely must.
- Those who like caves will be in dreamland – the Mammoth Cave system is the biggest cave system in the world. They run for miles and miles and miles, and it is thought that there is plenty more that has not yet been discovered.
- Kentucky is also the state to head to if you’re into your whiskey. Bardstown hosts both the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September. Meanwhile, lovers of Jim Beam should go to the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont. However, despite the fine whiskey, the traditional Kentuckian drink is the mint julep.
- Music lovers should visit Owensboro – it is home to the International Museum of Bluegrass Music.
MORE TRAVEL FACTS AND TRIVIA
MORE TRAVEL FACTS AND TRIVIA
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