“History at HOme” Resources

Worksheets & Activities for families & STudents

Family “Quest” walking Tour:

Explore downtown Lexington through the eyes of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln! This playful walk uses rhyming clues to direct you to ten locations in downtown Lexington. The quest is geared to children ages 7-12 and their families.

“Lincolns’ Lexington” WALKING TOUR (Adult & Teens):

"Discover the city of Lexington as Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln would have known it. The walking tour includes locations from Mrs. Lincoln's childhood and Abraham Lincoln's visits to Lexington. 

Selected BibliographY of SuggesteD REading (Adults & Teens)

Other Local History Resources

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Walking Tour:

Walk and discover the history of African-Americans in Lexington. Stories stretch from the antebellum period through the present. A great place to begin is at the Old Courthouse where you will find an orientation sign and a map of sign locations.

African Cemetery No. 2:

The historic cemetery was organized, owned, and managed by African Americans and includes over 5,000 graves and approximately  600 recognizable markers. Resources on their website include online historic profiles and downloadable self-guided walking tours. Gates are always open.

Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate:

Ashland was the home of famous 19th-century statesman Henry Clay. Enjoy Ashland’s 17-acre grounds year-round, search their online collections database, view their short virtual tours on Facebook, or read their blog from the comfort of your home.

“Explore ky history” Smartphone App:

Based on the Kentucky Historical Marker Program, the app connects Kentucky communities by combining historical markers, related items in the Kentucky Historical Society’s collections and user-submitted images and stories into mapped points of interest.

Gratz Park historic district:

Explore Gratz Park, a historic Lexington neighborhood from the early 1800s. The tree-filled park is bordered by 19th-century homes, including Hopemont, the Hunt-Morgan House.

Kentucky Historical Society:

The KHS is offering virtual field trips tailored for different grade levels to meet the Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies. The KHS also offers a variety of online resources to explore Kentucky history via their collections and archives from the comfort of your home.

Lexington cemetery:

The historic cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent Lexingtonians and known for its park-like setting. To find the Todd family plot, follow the yellow line half a mile and look for the sign on the left. The yellow line is the main road, so find and follow it if you lose your way!

Lexington Public Library:

The Library offers a variety of podcasts, tours, ebooks and digital archives. Their “Tales from the Kentucky Room” podcast includes episodes about Lexington history. You can also download six thematic walking tours that take you to some of Lexington’s historic landmarks and public art. The library’s Digital Archives allows researchers and students to learn more about the history of Fayette County.

McConnell Springs:

Originally a campsite for the first settlers in the Bluegrass, this 26-acre nature sanctuary features trails past natural springs, restored limestone fences constructed in the early 1800s, the remains of an historic grist mill and farm, and a quarry from which most of the stone for the buildings on the site was taken. Pioneers camped here named their site 'Lexington' after hearing of the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

Waveland:

An antebellum plantation also known as the Joseph Bryan House, Waveland features a preserved Greek Revival mansion and several historic outbuildings. Garden and grounds are open for exploration.

Other “History at home” links

LINCOLN SITES Across the Nation:

Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail
Tri-State Lincoln Trail (KY, IL, & IN)
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace & Lincoln Boyhood Home (Kentucky)
Lincoln Museum (Kentucky)
Lincoln Homestead State Park (Kentucky)
Hildene, The Home of Robert Todd Lincoln (Vermont)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Illinois)
Lincoln Home National Historic Site (Illinois)
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site (Illinois)
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (Indiana)

RESEARCH:

Papers of Abraham Lincoln Online
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Kentucky Genelogical Society
Lexington Public Library Genealogy & Local History Resources
Kentucky Virtual Library
Kentuckiana Digital Library
Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives
Library of Congress American Memory Collection
Mary Todd Lincoln Research Site