Frazier Kentucky History Museum Receives $1 Million to take 120: Cool KY Counties on the Road
LOUISVILLE, KY—Wednesday, May 6, 2026— The Frazier Kentucky History Museum is “ready to roll” after being awarded $1 million from the Kentucky General Assembly to mean more to more people by sharing the incredible history of our Commonwealth in a new way. This award secures a traveling exhibit to share the stories of Kentucky’s 120 counties and their rich and diverse history.
We plan to replicate the experience of our permanently installed 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit in 120 on the Road full time throughout the state. Each county is represented through a unique story and song that stakeholders have helped curate. Our mobile exhibit will include touchscreens, speakers, artifacts, and facilitators who will help visitors explore the interactive and connect with their personal history.
Some of the places we’ll visit will be in partnership with the Louisville Orchestra’s In Harmony tour to jointly celebrate the arts and Kentucky’s cultural heritage. Other visits will be aligned with popular festivals in communities and other spots where Kentuckians gather. There are places in our state that don’t have resources to bring museum-quality experiences to their community, so we will bring this experience to the people. After all, history belongs to everyone and we want to foster conversation and connection to help bridge the urban-rural divide. Our mission is to ignite the human spirit, and we intend to do just that.
“Investing in the Frazier Kentucky History Museum means investing in the story of our Commonwealth and the people who have shaped it. The 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit is a powerful example of how local voices, histories, legends, and oral traditions can be brought together to tell a richer, more complete story of Kentucky. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this traveling extension will help expand that work by celebrating Kentucky’s deep connection to the founding era.”—House Speaker David Osborne
“Projects like this offer a simple but meaningful way to expand hands-on learning opportunities. I’m proud to support an effort that helps more Kentuckians engage with our history in a way that feels real and accessible. I appreciate the work of everyone involved in bringing this project to life.”—Senator Julie Raque Adams
“We thank the General Assembly for their generous support of 120 on the Road. It gives us the tools to expand and share the unique and diverse people, geography, and stories that make us Kentucky. Not only do we have a shared past, but we have a shared future, and this traveling exhibit is all about connection.”—Frazier President and CEO Andy Treinen
Our next steps include purchasing and fabricating a van to take 120 on the road. In the interim, our troupe of traveling storytellers will continue to join the Louisville Orchestra’s In Harmony tour for three outdoor concerts in Glasgow, Elizabethtown, and Shelby County in June.
Upcoming performances include:
· Glasgow Town Square. Glasgow, Kentucky. Thursday, June 25, 2026. Frazier activation, 6:30–7:30 p.m. (Central). Orchestra performance, 7:30 p.m. (Central).
· Freeman Lake Park Bandstand. Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Friday, June 26, 2026. Frazier activation, 7:30–8:30 p.m. (Eastern). Orchestra performance, 8:30 p.m. (Eastern).
· Shelby County Fairgrounds. Shelbyville, Kentucky. Saturday, June 27, 2026. Frazier activation, 6–8:30 p.m. (Eastern). Orchestra performance, 8:30 p.m. (Eastern).
We have tremendous respect for the work the Louisville Orchestra has been doing to bring the arts to Kentuckians and appreciate the partnership. The Frazier Kentucky History Museum is thrilled to be part of the expanding footprint of making arts, history, and cultural heritage accessible to all.
ABOUT THE FRAZIER
The Frazier Kentucky History Museum is where the world meets Kentucky. Opened in 2004 and located on West Main Street in Downtown Louisville, the Frazier presents and preserves Kentucky history through artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, Bourbon tastings, and guided tours offered daily. Subjects of exhibitions include Kentucky history, Kentucky counties, Kentucky pop culture, Kentucky Bourbon, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the Stewart Historic Miniatures Collection, the Founder’s Gallery, and KentuckyShow!. In 2018, the Frazier opened the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center.
The Frazier Museum serves tens of thousands of students, educators, and families each year, offering camps, field trips, youth and family programs, and projects such as The Journey: Unsung Stories of the Underground Railroad. Our Stories in Mind team brings the Frazier into long-term care facilities for senior citizens. Our annual fundraisers include Night at the Frazier, Michter’s Speakeasy at the Frazier, Frazier Summer Beer Fest, the Owsley Brown Frazier Classic Sporting Clay Tournament, and Lights on Main.
Learn more at fraziermuseum.org.
For photos of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, visit this Dropbox folder.
