Building Kentucky History Together—
Kentucky Highlands Museum Partners with Kentucky Humanities
for Chautauqua Series
Pamela Hall
Ashland Beacon
The Highland Museum and Discovery Center has long been a jewel of heritage, history, and culture in Ashland. It has provided wonderful exhibits, events, and educational experiences through the years that have enriched the lives of area residents.
Something new that Highlands Museum has been doing for since November is the 1st Annual Kentucky Chautauqua Series presented by Kentucky Humanities. The series continues this month on Thursday, February 9 at 6 p.m.
Kentucky Chautauqua is an organization that provides speakers who portray various Kentuckians who have made an important impact or valuable contribution to the history and development of our state. The Kentuckian being portrayed might be someone who everyone is familiar with, such as Daniel Boone or Adolph Rupp, who was presented at Highlands Museum in November. It could also be someone most people have never heard of, but who has done something unique that has contributed to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The performers travel to various schools and community organizations throughout the state giving historically accurate dramatic performances of the Kentuckians they represent.
Kentucky Chautauqua began in 1992. Since that time, they have “brought to life” more than 70 Kentuckians who have had an historical impact. The current catalog has 25 portrayals including: Pee Wee Reece, Dr. Ephraim McDowell, Grandpa Jones, Alice Lloyd, Henry Clay, and Col. Harlan Sanders. Sanders was portrayed just last month at the museum last month.
In conjunction with Black History Month, Thursday night’s Chautauqua performer will portray William Wells Brown (1814/1815 – 1884), who was the first published African-American novelist and playwright. He will be portrayed by Virgil Covington, Jr. in a presentation entitled “How I Got My Name”.
William Wells Brown was born into slavery in the central Kentucky area, possibly Mt. Sterling or Lexington. After several failed attempts resulting in beatings and jail sentences, he successfully escaped slavery to freedom in 1834. He became an advocate for the temperance and abolitionist movement.
Kim Jenkins, who became the Executive Director of the Highlands Museum last July, was familiar with Kentucky Chautauqua and wanted to make the performances a part of what the museum had to offer. Together with Kentucky Humanities, it has come to fruition and been a success.
“It has been a pleasure having our 1st Annual Kentucky Chautauqua Series here sponsored by Kentucky Humanities,” said Karen Pierzala, Education and Social Media Coordinator of the museum. “The entertainment value that they bring has exceeded our expectations and every performance has drawn in more and more guests in to be a part of it.”
The series resumes Thursday night at 6:00 at the museum. Admission is $25 per person or $15 for members.
“It’s been really great to see it grow each time,” Pierzala remarked. “I think we’re going to have a very good turn out this month.”
The series concludes on March 16 with the portrayal of Jean Ritchie in conjunction with Women’s History Month.
For more information about the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center go to their website, www.highlandsmuseum.com.