LOUISVILLE — Gov. Andy Beshear joined state tourism officials, historians and the CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville Monday to unveil a new statewide tourism trail showcasing Kentucky’s Black history and heritage.
The Kentucky African American Heritage Trail highlights 57 sites, ranging from Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah to the National Underground Railroad Museum in Maysville to the Lynch Colored School in Harlan County.
DeVone Holt, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, praised state tourism officials for leaning into important aspects of Kentucky’s past while others “attempt to disconnect us from our history.”
Speaking to an audience gathered at the Ali Center, Holt said, “There are messages in our own backyard that resonate deeply and widely with people from all walks of life, and so now we get a real opportunity to be intentional about helping people plug into these stories, helping people understand the significance of many stories and histories that have gone untold and uncelebrated until now.”
While few enjoy the fame and notoriety of Ali, an acclaimed boxer and activist from Louisville, Holt said the people celebrated on the heritage trail “made incredible contributions to the life that many of us now take for granted.”
Speakers at the Ali Center credited Kimberly Clay, the Kentucky Department of Tourism’s director of cultural heritage, for putting together the trail.
Yvonne Giles, a historian from Lexington known for preserving African American history in Kentucky’s second largest city, said the trail is an “education” available to all Kentuckians.
“It’s not easy researching. It’s not easy putting together information. It’s not easy to promote what you know is important,” Giles said. “Because of Kimberly Clay, we have a platform that everybody will have access to.”
Beshear, who introduced speakers connected to Black history sites around the state, said the trail is a commitment to “preserving these important stories.”
The Democratic governor also noted Thursday’s Juneteenth federal holiday, mentioning the executive order he signed last year to make the day a state executive branch holiday. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Beshear criticized the GOP-controlled state legislature for “repeatedly refusing to recognize it as a state holiday.” A bill filed last year by a Democratic state senator to make Juneteenth a state holiday did not get a hearing.
“This initiative is a chance for us to celebrate and educate ourselves about local history that for far too long has been overlooked,” Beshear told the audience. “As visitors experience the new trail, let’s remember why it matters. It’s not just about recognizing the past, it’s about ensuring we don’t repeat it and creating a better future.”
Information about the tourism trail can be found online.
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Liam Niemeyer covers government and policy in Kentucky and its impacts throughout the Commonwealth for the Kentucky Lantern. He most recently spent four years reporting award-winning stories for WKMS Public Radio in Murray.
