Website Search

Mariam interviews Terry L. Birdwhistell and Donald A. Ritchie about their January 2022 book, “Washington’s Iron Butterfly: Bess Clements Abell, an Oral History.”

Mariam tells a brief history of Lexington's first steam powered street roller, named the Willipus Wallipus.

Jonathan Coleman guest hosts this episode, and tells his favorite ghost stories from his popular Lexington History Walks. Dr. Coleman conducts Lexington History Walks year-round, which can be booked on his website: www.drcolemanwalks.com

Mariam interviews Cindy Heine and Dee Pregliasco from the Kentucky Chapter of The League of Women Voters about the organization’s 100 year history and its current initiatives.

Mariam interviews Dr. Randolph Hollingsworth, Barbara Grygutis and Rob Bolson about their involvement in Lexington’s “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” monument initiative.

Mariam talks with Kentucky author Jayne Moore Waldrop about her first fiction work, Drowned Town.

Mariam interviews Peter Brackney, author of the 2014 book Lost Lexington, and creator of the blog The Kaintuckeean.

Brenna guests to share her research on three of Lexington’s Black enclaves, founded by formerly enslaved persons after the Civil War. She highlights the history we know, and points out that much of the history of these hamlets and their residents are lost

J.P. Johnson guest hosts to celebrate the life of Dolly Johnson Dandridge (1852-1918), a Kentucky native who was the White House Chef for President Benjamin Harrison, and later a much sought-after chef after her return to Lexington, Kentucky in 1894.

Mariam and Wayne share the story of David Rice Atchison, the only person in history who was possibly president for a day.

Mariam discusses the life of Margaret Garner, the real life Kentucky Woman who inspired Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved. This episode may be difficult for some listeners to hear, listener’s discretion is advised.

Denise guest hosts and give sketches of the lives of three Lexington Civil War era women: Elizabeth Harbeson Hummons, Francis Dallam Peter, and Ella Bishop Ransom.

Mariam and Wayne discuss the history of Lexington & Fayette County’s merged governments, one of only fifteen merged city-county governments in the United States.

Mariam and Wayne discuss the 1970 shooting on Kent State’s campus, and how protests against the shooting, including the ROTC building fire, on UK’s campus led to curfews and lockdowns by Kentucky’s Governor.

Wayne tells the story of Pamela Brown and the ill-fated hot air balloon voyage across the Atlantic in 1970, in time for the 50th anniversary of the crash.

Mariam and Wayne discuss the construction of New Circle Road, and other major transportation projects in Lexington.