Pioneer Museum Renovation Highlights History of Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park in Kentucky

MOUNT OLIVET, Ky., Monday, July 30, 2007 – Visitors to the Pioneer Museum at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park will soon get a better idea of what the area was like when mastodon, bison, Native Americans and pioneers lived in the area.

The museum, built during the Depression, has undergone a $150,000 renovation with improved exhibits and a detailed interpretation of the 1782 Battle of Blue Licks, the last Revolutionary War battle fought in Kentucky.

Work on the museum is nearly complete and will be ready for the 225th anniversary of the battle on Aug. 18-19 at the park in Robertson and Nicholas counties.

While the park is named after the famous battle, the museum features exhibits that cover thousands of years of history at Blue Licks, the site of a natural spring that attracted animals and people. The spring dried up in the late 19th century.

The museum includes exhibits and artifacts about pre-historic animals and fossils, native Americans who lived in the area and pioneers who moved there in the 18th century. Another major focus is the battle with a three-dimensional diorama that provides minute-by-minute descriptions of what happened on Aug. 19, 1782, when British soldiers and their Native American allies ambushed and defeated pioneer settlers.

Some of the new items that will be on display include a button from the uniform of an officer of Butler’s Rangers, the British loyalist militia unit that fought at Blue Licks, replicas of the clothing worn by battle participants, several 18th century weapons including a British Brown Bess rifle and a large mural and diorama that depicts Blue Licks’ historic landscape.

There is normally an admission charged for the museum, but during the weekend of Aug. 18-19, admission to the museum will be included in the $5 per person fee for the event. (Children 12 and under are free.)

The anniversary weekend will be highlighted with two reenactments of the battle at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Special music, 18th century traders, food and other educational opportunities will be offered during this weekend. Visitors will also be able to stroll through the pioneer encampment and see how pioneers lived. Special monument ceremonies will be held on both days.

Admission covers parking, viewing the battle reenactment, access to all areas of the park including the miniature golf course, swimming area and the Pioneer Museum. A shuttle will be provided to transport guests from the parking area to the park grounds.

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park is one of the few Revolutionary War battlefields left in the country. The park features a lodge, Hidden Waters Restaurant, cottages, mini-golf, gift shop, picnic area, hiking trails, swimming pool and a campground. The park is located 48 miles northeast of Lexington on U.S. 68.

For more information, visit www.parks.ky.gov or call the park at 1-800-443-7008. You can also visit www.battleofbluelicks.org for more information.

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov

Source: Commonwealth of Kentucky

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