Kentucky Historical Society

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), originally established in 1836 as a private organization, is an agency of the Kentucky state government that "collects, preserves, conserves, interprets and shares information, memories and materials from Kentucky's past to assist those interested in exploring and preserving that heritage". The KHS history campus, located in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky, includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal.

The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History is the headquarters of KHS. A multimillion-dollar museum and research facility, the center features permanent and temporary exhibitions, a research library and a gift shop.

The center contains an exhibition called "A Kentucky Journey" that covers the period from prehistoric times to the present. At the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library, which is a genealogical and history research library, researchers can access books, manuscripts, graphic collections and oral histories documenting the people and places of Kentucky's rich past. Family historians can trace their genealogy and consult with professional staff. The center also contains the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery for various temporary exhibitions – some examples of which include "Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky's Abraham Lincoln" and "Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky Luthiers." The gift shop is called the Steward Home School 1792 Store.

A National Historic Landmark, the Old State Capitol served as Kentucky's capitol from 1830 to 1910. Exhibits at the building feature the politics and daily life of the 19th-century. In the galleries of the Old State Capitol, exhibits show the evolution of decorative styles in an exhibition entitled "Great Revivals: Kentucky Decorative Arts Treasures".

Built in 1850, the State Arsenal contains the Kentucky Military History Museum, which illustrates military history using personal stories and artifacts. A fortress-like building that overlooks downtown Frankfort, the State Arsenal was recently renovated. The museum is a member of the Army Museum System.

Members of the public can purchase KHS memberships, which support the efforts of the KHS and gain members the benefit of free admission to the KHS history campus and reduced admission to KHS events and programs.

The KHS produces the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society which has published continuously since 1903 and continues to provide fresh perspectives on the history and people of Kentucky. The Register includes the work of leading scholars on the commonwealth but is widely accessible to general readers interested in Kentucky history.

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