The Frazier History Museum, located in downtown Louisville, shares exhibitions, stories and programs that highlight Kentucky. In the words of museum president Andy Treinen, the museum strives to “mean more, to more people, every day.” Part of that work entails efforts by the Frazier education team to develop materials that teachers and students from around the state will find meaningful and useful in the classroom.
We are excited to announce a new and ongoing initiative to create inquiry materials for educators built around the artifacts and stories highlighted at the Frazier History Museum. The inquiries will expand our reach and be accessible to all Kentucky students, not just those who are able to come in for a visit. One of those stories centers around Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, a young couple who fled their enslavers in Louisville on Fourth of July weekend in 1831, then went on to have an international impact over the course of their lives. You can learn more about their incredible story through “The Journey,” which is available as a walkable or drivable audio tour or as virtual video tour with added sources and imagery.
Collaborating with a local educator trained in the inquiry design process, we are happy to share that “The Journey” is now embedded into a free 8th-grade inquiry lesson designed around the compelling question, “How should we remember the Underground Railroad?” Although created for 8th grade, the inquiry may be adapted as needed for other grade levels.
Additional inquiries are in the works, including one that considers the questions, “How does where you live affect how you live?” in connection with the Frazier History Museum’s past exhibition “West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning, and Reconciliation” and another focused on the question, “What stories do Kentucky artifacts tell?”
A few other terrific Frazier resources that are accessible from anywhere around the state include the Frazier Museum’s YouTube Channel, the Frazier Collection Highlights web page, and “Frazier Weekly.” And if you know a Kentucky college student, be sure to let them know about the Frazier Museum’s free college membership offer.
From wherever you are reading this, please know that the Frazier education team is committed to supporting students and educators however we can. Please direct any thoughts or questions to the Frazier education team’s email.
Megan Schanie is manager of school & teacher programs at the Frazier History Museum.
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