Kentucky is famous for their bourbon, barbeque and fried chicken. It is one of a few places that claims to have invented the cheeseburger. Both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were born in Kentucky. There is no official nickname for Kentucky, the residents keep rejecting every one they try, however Kentucky Kicks Ass has been making some traction, but it is known nationwide as the Bluegrass State.
Kentucky Bend
The south-westernmost point of Kentucky is known as the Kentucky Bend, or sometimes Bubbleland since it looks like a small bubble on maps. It is a 17-square mile patch of Kentucky that is not actually attached to Kentucky. It is located in an oxbow bend of the Mississippi River and connects to Tennessee to the south. There are now less than 20 residents who all have Tennessee addresses but they must vote in Kentucky. It is believed that the reason for this is because of the New Madrid earthquakes in 1811 and 1812 that created a new meander of the Mississippi River. As a result, surveyors were later confused.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the world. But did you also know that it is the oldest continuously held horse race in the world as well? The Kentucky Derby was first held in 1875. Race takes place the first Saturday in May in Louisville, capping off two weeks of festivities. It is known as the “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” due the duration and “The Run for the Roses” because of blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The others are the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Civil War Memorial
There is only one monument to Union soldiers south of the Mason-Dixie line and it is in Vanceburg, Kentucky. Lewis County was a Union stronghold during the Civil War. 107 men and boys from Lewis County died as Union soldiers during the Civil War. The monument was built in 1884 in Vanceburg by the citizens of Lewis County to honor those who gave their lives for the Union.
Corvette
Did you know that every Corvette in the world, well since 1981, is made in Kentucky? That’s because the world’s only Corvette factory is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Chevrolet Corvette is a 2 door American sports car that debuted in 1953. It was named after the small warship. The Corvette was manufactured first in Flint, Michigan then moved to St. Louis Missouri in 1954 before making the move to a one-million-square-foot compound in Kentucky. Bowling Green is also home to the Corvette Museum. In 2014, a sinkhole opened up in the museum and swallowed up 9 cars.
Mammoth Cave
Southern Kentucky is home to the world’s longest cave system, Mammoth Cave. Over a few decades of exploring nearby caves and Mammoth Cave, most were found to connect. So far 400 miles have been explored with the possibility of many more yet unexplored. The next longest cave is only around half that. It was made a National Park in 1926. Exploring caves and geology isn’t the only thing of note in the Mammoth Cave. There are many ancient artifacts and human remains found there. Some as old as 5,000 years. Any area undergoing archaeology research is blocked off from explorers and they ask explorers not to touch anything they might find either.