Kentucky

Only one place in Iowa officially goes by Story City, but the name could fit any town in the state. There’s a reason the RAGBRAI route shifts every year so that cyclists can enjoy the hospitality of different communities, each with a unique tale to tell. Our Iowa books offer a similar sampling of Hawkeye flavor, without the 467 mile bike ride. Solve a murder in Scott County or make some pearl buttons in Muscatine while exploring our Iowa history books from Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes to the flagship Younkers store in Des Moines.
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True Bluegrass Stories:
True Bluegrass Stories:
$21.99
Louisville Diners
Louisville Diners
$21.99
Cover image for Barn Dances & Jamborees Across Kentucky, isbn: 9781626192683
Barn Dances & Jamborees Across Kentucky
$21.99
Bell County, Kentucky
Bell County, Kentucky
$21.99
Wicked Lexington, Kentucky
Wicked Lexington, Kentucky
$21.99
Madison's Heritage Rediscovered:
Madison's Heritage Rediscovered:
$21.99
A History of White Hall: House of Clay
A History of White Hall: House of Clay
$19.99
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
$29.99
Lost River Towns of Boone County
Lost River Towns of Boone County
$21.99
Lost Bluegrass:
Lost Bluegrass:
$21.99
Louisville Remembered
Louisville Remembered
$21.99
Louisville's Southern Exposition, 1883-1887:
Louisville's Southern Exposition, 1883-1887:
$21.99
Louisville Beer
Louisville Beer
$21.99
Louisville and the Civil War
Louisville and the Civil War
$19.99
Louisville Jug Music
Louisville Jug Music
$21.99
Dancer's Image:
Dancer's Image:
$21.99
Only in Old Kentucky:
Only in Old Kentucky:
$21.99
Oldham County
Oldham County
$21.99
Northern Kentucky's First College:
Northern Kentucky's First College:
$19.99
Noor:
Noor:
$21.99
Cañonero II
Cañonero II
$21.99
Nasrullah
Nasrullah
$21.99

True Bluegrass Stories:

9781596295452

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Famed pioneer Daniel Boone, upon seeing the Bluegrass region for the first time in 1769, wrote, "From the top of an eminence, we saw with pleasure the beautiful level of Kentucke." Centuries later, his sentiments still ring true.
In this fast-paced collection of articles from his widely successful "Looking Back" column in Kentucky Monthly magazine, author Tom Stephens delivers a captivating glimpse into Kentucky's renowned Bluegrass region. Hide
away in the stockades and stations of the pioneers, discover Abraham Lincoln's Lexington retreat, face off in a duel as Henry Clay did, consume the potent origins of Kentucky bourbon and sober up with the Shakers. All of this and plenty more lie ahead when you explore True Bluegrass Stories: History from the Heart of Kentucky.
True Bluegrass Stories:

Louisville Diners

9781626198975

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Louisville boasts many award-winning fine dining restaurants, but long before Derby City mastered upscale cuisine, it perfected the diner. Explore Louisville's tasty offerings with local food writer Ashlee Clark Thompson as she surveys the city's impressive variety of greasy spoons from the Highlands to the West End and everywhere in between. Enjoy home cooking done right at Shirley Mae's Café and Bar, breakfast at Barbara Lee's Kitchen, lunch to go at Ollie's Trolley and so much more. Packed with insightful interviews and helpful tips that only a local can provide, Louisville Diners is a delectable look into the best the city has to offer.
Louisville Diners

Barn Dances & Jamborees Across Kentucky

9781626192683

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Kentuckians have been wearing out shoe leather at informal jamborees since the state was settled over two hundred years ago. Tadpole's Dew Drop Inn played host to some fifteen hundred musical shindigs in its time as a mecca of Marshall County music. A Rosine barn dance gave bluegrass founder Bill Monroe his start, and another fosters new musical talent at its weekly get-togethers. Clawhammer banjo players, Appalachian cloggers and square dance callers from Possum Trot to Rabbit Hash celebrate the unique musical culture of Kentucky. Join Grammy-nominated soundtrack artist J.D. Wilkes as he waltzes around the Bluegrass, looking for oprys, socials, porch pickins and barn dances in every holler.
Cover image for Barn Dances & Jamborees Across Kentucky, isbn: 9781626192683

Bell County, Kentucky

9781596298095

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Site of the Gateway to the West, the Cumberland Gap, the history of Kentucky begins right here in Bell County. Early pioneers like Thomas Walker and Daniel Boone endured the untamed wilderness and opened the door to the Bluegrass for civilizations to follow. Those who subsequently made their homes here--who eked a living out of the rocky soil, survived civil war, world war, labor war and the booms and busts of timber and coal--have preserved this pioneering spirit. Lifelong resident Tim Cornett presents the history of his homeland from its first known inhabitants through the twentieth century, drawing on old letters, memoirs and personal interviews from the men and women who explored the land, exploited the land and shaped it into the Bell County we know today.
Bell County, Kentucky

Wicked Lexington, Kentucky

9781609491338

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Filled with tales of infamous duels, cheating congressmen, and much more, Wicked Lexington, Kentucky offers the first collection the city's rowdy and ruckus history .


Despite its illustrious beginnings as the "Athens of the west," Lexington has always had a darker side lurking just beneath its glossy sheen. It didn't take long for the first intellectual hub west of the Alleghenies to quickly morph into a city with the same scandalous inclinations as neighboring Louisville and Cincinnati. From Belle Brezing's infamous brothel of the late 1800s, frequented by some of the city's most prominent businessmen, and once pardoned by the governor, to historic sports scandals of the 1900s, local author Fiona Young-Brown tracks Lexington's penchant for misdeeds from founding to modern times.

Wicked Lexington, Kentucky

Madison's Heritage Rediscovered:

9781609496272

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For over forty years, Dr. Fred A. Engle Jr. and Dr. Robert N. Grise have devoted themselves to researching and preserving Madison County's history and cultural legacy through their weekly newspaper column, "Madison's Heritage," in the Richmond Register. Now, Kathryn Engle has sifted through the breadth of their impressive body of work, compiling a fascinating collection of historical tales from this remarkable Kentucky county. Beginning with stories of the hardscrabble pioneers who first settled the area and continuing with tales of Madison County's local legends, important places and pivotal events, these diverse stories embody the essence of this historically rich area. Few know the heritage of this region as well as Engle and Grise. Journey back with them through the annals of Madison County's history.
Madison's Heritage Rediscovered:

A History of White Hall: House of Clay

9781609493134

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In 1799, Revolutionary War veteran General Green Clay finished construction on a stately Georgian mansion he named Clermont. The home became a statewide symbol of prosperity, housing the farm of one of the largest landowners in the Commonwealth. Renamed White Hall by Cassius Marcellus Clay and renovated by his wife, Mary Jane Warfield Clay, it remained in the family for generations. Here Cassius Clay became known as the "Lion of White Hall," penning his fiery speeches against slavery and launching his tumultuous career as an outspoken statesman. After years of restoration, White Hall became a state historic site in 1971. Now, A History of White Hall offers a detailed look inside this expertly preserved structure and the people who helped shape its fascinating history.
A History of White Hall: House of Clay

Lost River Towns of Boone County

9781596294721

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When Boone County was officially founded in 1799, a local population was already growing by the day. The Ohio River offered settlers access to this new frontier west of the Alleghenies, and soon many vibrant communities were established along the banks of the Ohio. Today, once thriving towns like North Bend, Belleview and Touseytown, built to last through generations, have all but vanished. The unforgiving current of the Ohio River washed many away, while modern transportation construction dispatched the remaining towns. Fortunately, through the efforts of editor Bridget Striker and a skilled team of local historians and archivists at the Boone County Public Library, these sunken homesteads have been unearthed. Peer into a bygone way of life through this comprehensive collection of vintage photographs and engaging historical accounts.
Lost River Towns of Boone County

Lost Bluegrass:

9781609492717

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The Bluegrass region has come to define what makes Kentucky a place unlike any other. What began as the homeland of native tribes developed into ideal farmland for early settlers. Development continued as the region evolved into the premier breeding grounds for world-famous thoroughbreds, helping to bring the Bluegrass international recognition as the epicenter of American horseracing and equestrian culture. Yet development of the region has never stopped. The rolling hills, limestone fences and legendary horse farms that once defined the landscape continue to vanish as suburban sprawl stretches into the far reaches of the Bluegrass. Join author Ronnie Dreistadt as he tracks the history of the Bluegrass, what's been lost and the ongoing efforts to save what remains.
Lost Bluegrass:

Louisville Remembered

9781596296282

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Explore the people, places and events that shaped the city of Louisville over the centuries and molded it into a place truly worth remembering. Peer into Louisville's history and see a city brimming with homespun industry, thriving theatre and one-cent chocolate bars. From "top-secret" World War II aircrafts to pipe organs, from ice cream to "thunderous" fireworks, author Gary Falk of the Louisville Historical League provides a fascinating look at the city's past through a collection of articles and more than one hundred stunning historic images.
Louisville Remembered

Louisville's Southern Exposition, 1883-1887:

9781609491437

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Throughout much of the 1880s, the Southern Exposition showcased the largest-ever single display of agricultural machinery and technical innovation in the United States. With over 1,500 commercial and mercantile attractions--the likes of which the world had never seen--history was made and innovation discovered in Louisville's Central Park. Some of the most influential figures of the time participated, including Henry Watterson, Merriwether Lewis Clark Jr., A. Bidermann DuPont and President Chester A. Arthur. Former Louisville resident Thomas Edison personally oversaw the installation of his newly invented incandescent light bulb that lit a record-breaking 4,600 lamps. Author and Louisville historian Bryan S. Bush offers an unprecedented perspective on this fascinating historic event.
Louisville's Southern Exposition, 1883-1887:

Louisville Beer

9781626194625

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It's no secret that Louisville is one of America's bourbon capitals, but the Derby City once thrived as a brewing mecca as well, rivaling even St. Louis and Milwaukee with its crisp lagers and Kentucky Common Ale. German settlers arrived with centuries-old brewing traditions and beer gardens, cementing beer and barrooms in Louisville's culture. Following Prohibition, the "big three"--Falls City, Fehr's and Oertel's--kept traditions alive while ingraining iconic brands into the city's fabric and heritage. More recently, craft brewers like BBC, Apocalypse Brew Works and New Albanian Brewing Company have drawn on this rich history. Kick back with Louisville food and beverage journalist Kevin Gibson as he traces Louisville's beer history with stories from the past, interviews and plenty of photos that bring this intoxicating story to life.
Louisville Beer

Louisville and the Civil War

9781596295544

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Learn how a thriving antebellum city became a crucial outpost for the Union army while its citizens were besieged with constant fear of guerilla warfare and swift Rebel vengeance. Trace the steps of soldiers, commanders and civic leaders on the enclosed map, which includes over thirty Union forts that once peppered Louisville's landscape, as well as long-forgotten hideaways and hotbeds of insurgence. Explore Union casinos and brothels along Jefferson and Fourth Street; the infamous Louisville Military Prison; Jefferson General Hospital, the third largest during the war; and the original Galt House, site of Union General Bull Nelson's assassination. Join renowned Civil War expert and Louisville native Bryan S. Bush as he traverses Louisville, a city bristling with Civil War history.
Louisville and the Civil War

Louisville Jug Music

9781626194960

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Forged on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers during the nineteenth century, jug band music was the early soundtrack for a new nation. Louisville was at the heart of it all. German and Irish immigrants, former slaves en route to Chicago and homesteaders moving into the city created a fertile ground for this new sound. Artists like Earl McDonald and his Original Louisville Jug Band made the city legendary. Some stayed in this so-called money town, passing on licks and melodies that still influence bands like the Juggernaut Jug Band. Tune in to Louisville's jug band music history with local writer Michael Jones and discover a tradition that has left a long-lasting impression on America's musical culture.
Louisville Jug Music

Dancer's Image:

9781609490959

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On May 4, 1968, Dancer's Image crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs to win the 94th Kentucky Derby. Over forty years later, questions still linger over the origins of the substance and the turmoil it created.


Yet the jubilation ended three days later for the owner, the jockey and the trainers who propelled the celebrated thoroughbred to victory. Amid a firestorm of controversy, Dancer's Image was disqualified after blood tests revealed the presence of a widely used anti-inflammatory drug with a dubious legal status. Veteran turf writer and noted equine law expert Milt Toby gives the first in-depth look at the only disqualification in Derby history and how the Run for the Roses was changed forever.

Dancer's Image:

Only in Old Kentucky:

9781626194182

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Tracing Kentucky's unusual history through its early days as the rough-and-tumble frontier and its settling down and growing up in dozens of directions, Only in Old Kentucky" offers a series of novel and fascinating stories of bygone days from Cadiz to Versailles. Kentucky's saltpeter reserves take a backseat to coal mining today but played a critical role in the military engagements of yesteryear. Devil John Wright morphed from a Civil War soldier to a circus performer to a legend. Dueling so shaped the early commonwealth that to this day, officials must take an oath promising to refrain from doing so. Join historian and professor Marshall Myers as he tracks down Kentucky's hidden oddities and curiosities, reviving and celebrating the most bizarre and captivating stories Kentucky history has to offer."
Only in Old Kentucky:

Oldham County

9781596298620

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Like many counties along the Mason-Dixon line, Oldham County was an area of divided loyalties: an important corridor for slave trafficking as well as part of the Underground Railroad for slaves who chose to run away. It was also a gateway for pioneers as they moved westward to a new frontier. Through the efforts of the Oldham County Historical Society, the stories and tales of this rich history have been preserved through court documents, old newspapers and other artifacts. Join local historian and columnist Dr. Nancy Stearns Theiss as she describes the muddy waters of the county's beginnings, through turbulent times and along the currents of progress.
Oldham County

Northern Kentucky's First College:

9781596298163

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This book tells the story of Villa Madonna-Thomas More, from its inception in 1921 as a diocesan college in downtown Covington, where most classes were held in renovated private
residences, to its relocation to an attractive campus and contemporary facilities in urban Crestview Hills. Founded as a college for women and as a training ground for teaching orders of nuns, Villa Madonna officially became coeducational in 1946. Enrollment immediately doubled to 224, with many of the 99 men being returning veterans. On September 28, 1968, President Lyndon Baines Johnson dedicated the new campus with the name of Thomas More, after the great Catholic scholar and martyr. Decades later, the school is home to a growing student body of 1,600.
Northern Kentucky's First College:

Noor:

9781609495619

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While Seabiscuit is perhaps the best-known Thoroughbred in history, Charles S. Howard owned another remarkable racehorse that should never be forgotten. Irish-bred Noor dominated the 1950 racing season, setting world records in victories over Citation and winning the Hollywood Gold Cup by defeating a Triple Crown winner, the Horse of the Year and the previous year's Kentucky Derby winner. Sadly, that fame faded as he failed to sire champions, and Noor was buried in an unmarked grave in Northern California decades later. Veteran turf writer Milt Toby recounts Noor's colorful career and the inspiring story of racing enthusiast Charlotte Farmer's personal mission to exhume the Thoroughbred's remains for reburial in central Kentucky years after the horse was inducted into the hall of fame.
Noor:

Cañonero II

9781626190474

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In the months leading up to the 1971 Kentucky Derby, Canonero II was an unknown horse with a Venezuelan trainer who spoke only Spanish.

The Derby ""experts"" laughed when an exercise boy rode the horse out on the track with no saddle or stirrups. But the laughter promptly ended when Canonero II charged to the front from twenty lengths back to win the Derby, followed by a victory at the Preakness Stakes in track record time. In recounting Canonero II's quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Citation, award-winning turf historian Milt Toby tells the compelling story of how one man's wildly improbable dream became the dream of a nation and how a bargain-basement yearling born with a crooked front leg became the ""people's horse.""

Cañonero II

Nasrullah

9781626190146

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Nasrullah arrived in Kentucky in 1950 and forever changed the modern American thoroughbred.


Bred in royalty by the Aga Kahn, Nasrullah's journey from Europe to America was one of glorious victories and grand potential. He was the first horse to lead both the American and English sire lists, which led to a legendary line of descendants that includes nine U.S. champions, three Hall of Famers and ninety-eight stake winners like Bold Ruler, Noor and Nashua. Nasrullah is even grandsire of the famed Secretariat. Ride along with author Melanie Greene as she recounts the compelling history of a truly remarkable horse that is sure to take any equestrian fan beyond the bluegrass.

Nasrullah