Kentucky History
Celebrate Kentucky’s history with these and other programs on-air and online.
Kentucky Origins
Kentucky’s identity was forged through moments of bold ambition, lasting consequence and unexpected change. Learn the stories behind the people, places and ideas that shaped our Commonwealth.
Kentucky Origins is a digital-first series that shares short, engaging stories revealing key turning points and unique chapters in Kentucky’s 250-year history. Check back here for new stories throughout the year.
The Kentucky Origins online video series is funded in part by the Kentucky Historical Society and the America250KY Commission. For more information, see history.ky.gov.
Kentucky Life
Kentucky Life features our state’s great diversity with stories of its people, places and ideas. Since 1995, Kentucky Life’s focus has been to help Kentuckians celebrate unique and regional people and cultures and to present stories that capture the history and heritage of Kentucky.
Check the schedule to see where we’ve been and where we’ll go next.
Lexington: 250 Years
Beginning on the banks of Town Branch Creek, this film takes viewers on a journey that includes the Civil War, the Great Depression and World Wars, the establishment of Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, and the lives of Henry Clay, Mary Todd Lincoln and others. Narrated by Lexington native and actor Josh Hopkins.
Angels on Horseback: Midwives in the Mountains
Explore the life of Mary Breckinridge and her efforts in founding the Frontier Nursing Service, whose nurse-midwives traveled by horseback to provide healthcare to those living in a remote, mountainous region of Kentucky.
Between the Rock and the Commonwealth
Learn the history of Indian Head Rock, a boulder in the Ohio River near Kentucky that lay hidden below the surface for years. In 2007, historians from Portsmouth, Ohio, found and removed it, hoping to celebrate the region’s past. Instead, many Kentuckians believed the rock belonged to them, sparking a dispute between the two states.
Beyond Stained Glass – Architectural Glass by Kenneth von Roenn
A profile of Louisville architectural glass artist Kenn von Roenn, who started his career at the Louisville Art Glass Company. von Roenn moved beyond stained glass conventions and developed new techniques to create large-scale architectural glass works of power and imagination.
Learn about a project that showcases the contributions of the Black communities of the Mountain South through research, local narratives, public engagement and an exhibition.
On the day of Muhammad Ali’s funeral procession, more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, to celebrate his life, and an estimated one billion people worldwide tuned in to events including Ali’s memorial.
Dreamers & Doers: Voices of Kentucky Women
This film was inspired by women in the Commonwealth who boldly opened doors in politics, science, education, entertainment, literature, athletics, religion and the military.
This live concert film, recorded in 2023 at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, celebrates the 60th anniversary of one of the longest-running American bands. It features the band’s biggest hits, including “Kiss You All Over,” “She’s a Miracle” and more.
Explore the history of Exile, from their rock ‘n’ roll roots in Richmond, Kentucky, to their 1978 hit “Kiss You All Over” that topped the Billboard charts, to their reinvention as a hit-making country band. This documentary chronicles their story.
The Harrodsburg Legacy: 250 Years in the Making
Discover Harrodsburg, Kentucky, officially founded on June 16, 1774, with a rich history that predates its founding. Explore the stunning landscapes, exquisite architecture, vibrant singing and dancing and much more in this remarkable Kentucky community.
A History of Kentucky in 25 Objects
The history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is revealed through various objects, including a stone axe, a Civil War surgeon’s saw, a coal miner’s cap, Colonel Harland Sanders’ first pressure cooker and other items.
Kentucky Life: “Lincoln: I, too, Am a Kentuckian”
In a special edition of Kentucky Life, explore the life and career of Kentucky’s most famous native son. Learn about the many Kentucky people and places that profoundly influenced Lincoln with stops at his birthplace and boyhood home, the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, the Louisville home of close friend Joshua Speed, and other sites.
Kentucky Seasons explores the scenic beauty of the Commonwealth, showcasing its iconic natural wonders as well as seldom-seen locations. The journey through the seasons is filled with captivating visuals and the sounds of nature on picturesque lakes, in forests, at waterfalls and more. Utilizing slow-motion video and drone photography, this video essay presents a look at our magnificent state.
Visit private gardens around the state, including the garden of the late mystery writer Sue Grafton and Steven Humphrey; an art-filled backyard at the home of orchid expert Tim Brooks and bonsai enthusiast Joe Dietz; a Berea backyard that has been transformed into a collection of garden rooms and more.
Explore KET’s beginnings and 50 years of service as Kentucky’s only statewide educational broadcasting network. Learn about KET’s history and its commitment to education and Kentucky programming throughout its five decades of public service.
This KET documentary highlights the often-untold story of Black jockeys, trainers, grooms and exercisers in the 1800s whose contributions helped lay the foundation for the Thoroughbred industry.
Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story
Chronicles the 50-year career of singer/songwriter Jean Ritchie, from Viper, Kentucky to the New York stage. Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, and her family and friends in Eastern Kentucky are among those interviewed.
The Pack Horse Librarians of Appalachia
Learn the story of pack horse librarians – women hired by Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression to travel on horseback to deliver library books and magazines to people in Eastern Kentucky, braving creeks, mountains and inclement weather along the way.
Settlement Schools of Appalachia
In the late 19th century, college-educated young women of the Bluegrass, influenced by the progressive movement, established several community schools in isolated areas of Eastern Kentucky. This KET production looks at the early history, growth and contemporary roles of these Appalachian community institutions.
Follow a year in the life of a storied horse, showcasing the beauty of the breed, revealing the people whose lives revolve around the racing industry, and exploring the history and traditions of the Thoroughbred world.
Walter Tevis: A Writer’s Gambit
Explore the life and career of a Kentucky writer in this award-winning documentary. Tevis’ novels, The Hustler, The Man Who Fell to Earth and The Color of Money were adapted into motion pictures, and The Queen’s Gambit has become one of the most popular and acclaimed television series of the past decade.
Kentucky Muse
Kentucky Muse: “Coal Black Voices”
The Affrilachian Poets, an ensemble of African-American and minority writers from Appalachia and the South, challenge the notions of an all-white region and culture and celebrate their African heritage and rural roots. Their work gives voice to the pleasures and power of family, land, good food, artistic community and transformation.
Kentucky Muse: “Kentucky by Design”
The program explores Kentucky’s contributions to The Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project work relief program established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to document what was uniquely American about utilitarian art in this country.
Kentucky Muse: “Kentucky Chautauqua”
Follow actors as they go through the audition and extensive preparation process to join the Kentucky Humanities Council’s Kentucky Chautauqua program. The program includes portrayals of Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, Col. Harland Sanders, Lucy Bakewell Audubon, Mary Settles and other characters from Kentucky history.
Kentucky Muse: “Merle Travis: Guitar Man”
This program looks back at the extraordinary career of Merle Travis, the Kentucky guitarist and songwriter best known for his songs “Sixteen Tons,” “Dark as a Dungeon,” and his unique finger-picking style.
Kentucky Muse: “Of Hands and Hearts: The Kentucky Guild of Artists”
A variety of artisans from across Kentucky discuss their work, the value of their membership in the guild, and the history and goals of Kentucky’s oldest art and craft organization.