25 Weird And Wonderful Facts About Lexington (2023)

Lexington is a weird and wonderful place with a rich culture and colorful past. Expand your knowledge of this unique part of the country with these fun little facts.

Famous faces, interesting places and everything in between – here are 25 fun facts that add to Lexington's uniqueness and charm.

1.Where was the Queen of England on vacation? Lexington, Kentucky, my friend. It's not exactly a time-sharing situation, but Her Majesty has always been involved in the thoroughbred racing world, riding horses at Lane's End Farm.

2.You can also meet some other celebrities here. University of Kentucky graduate student Ashley Judd is a fixture at Kentucky Wildcat basketball games. Broadway musical stars Laura Bell Bundy, George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Sturgill Simpson were also born in or around Lexington.You can also find Food Network chef Bobby Flay here several times a year, check out the thoroughbreds he owns at Ashford Stud, or buy horses at Keeneland Sales.

3.Transylvania is here. No, not that. Our Transylvania University, the first university west of the Alleghenies, was founded here in 1780. Transy is consistently ranked as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

4.Every Halloween, two thousand zombies riot at the historic Kentucky Theater and dance on Main Street. Lexington was the first city to host a re-enactment of the Michael Jackson thriller and now it's a colossal event not to be missed.

5.Our city achieved another great musical success in 1817. Bohemian emigrant Anthony Philip Heinrich conducted the first performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 ever heard in the United States, right here at the Bluegrass. The place? a tavern

6.In fact, we had a "town dog" in the 1950s. Smiley Pete's daily routine included a hamburger and waffles at Brandy's Kitchen, a bowl of draft beer at the Turf Bar, and popcorn at the Opera House. He died in 1957, perhaps due to a poor diet. A plaque on Limestone and Main honors the beloved dog.

7.The notorious Madame Belle Brezing, who ran a luxurious Victorian-era brothel in Mary Todd Lincoln's Lexington home, inspired Margaret Mitchell's portrayal of Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind and was published in Time magazine after her death. Visit Belle's Cocktail House, the namesake pub.

8.Lexington has always accepted "wild Kentucky women" of all types. The African-American gay transvestite "Sweet Evening Breeze" openly lived here in the early 20th century. The Talon Winery in the area produces a Sweet Evening Breeze wine and is supposedly haunted by the friendly ghost of Miss Sweets.

9.When the great Thoroughbred Man o' War died in 1947 at age 30, more than 2,000 people attended his funeral, which was broadcast live on the radio (if ESPN had existed, we would have insisted on all-day coverage). ). See his memorial at Kentucky Horse Park.

10More champion Thoroughbred horses are discovered at Keeneland's famous auctions than anywhere else in the world. Come and get a pair for yourself or to gift to friends. Prices range from a few thousand to a few million.

11Some international notables who own thoroughbred bluegrass farms include Will Farish, former Ambassador to the UK (Lane's End); Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (Darley in Jonabell); and Barbara Banke, owner of Kendall-Jackson Winery in Sonoma County (Stonestreet).

12Burgoo, a delicious local stew, was once made from blackbirds and squirrels. Fortunately, today it is prepared with beef and is considered the most famous of our local dishes along with the sinful Hot Brown. Both and more can be found at many of Lexington's excellent restaurants. See the full list belowBeyondGrits.com.

13Still hungry? Try the spicy local delicacy, Beer Cheese, which hosts its own annual festival in nearby Clark County. If you like cheesy grits, celebrated food writer Jonathon Gold (featured on shows like Top Chef Masters) said you could make a living from grits, made in our own Weisenberger factory.

14The Bluegrass Tavern in the Cheapside Pavilion is consistently acclaimed by publications such as Garden & Gun as one of the best bourbon bars in the South, with a selection of over 450 bourbons. And Draft Magazine claims The Beer Trappe, in the Chevy Chase area, is one of America's Top 100 Beer Bars.

15.95% of the world's bourbon is aged in Kentucky, and there are 15 distilleries within 45 minutes of Lexington, including two downtown. Take a tour of the distillery and sample the un-aged bourbon known as moonshine or "white dog."Fun fact: Kentucky matures more barrels of bourbon than people!

sixteen.In the 9th century, Shakers got their name because they "trembled" during service. Today we remember her for her dedicated and meticulous style in furniture making and architecture. The largest restored Shaker community, Pleasant Hill's Shaker Village, is a 30-minute drive from Lexington along the Kentucky River Palisades.

17Born in nearby Paris, Kentucky, Garrett Morgan was a noted African-American inventor in the early 20th century. His inventions included the road sign we use today and a fan that made headlines around the world when it was used to rescue men trapped in a tunnel under Lake Erie in 1916.

18We have over 30 street murals (and counting!) across the city, many commissioned by the organization PRHTBN. One of our favorites is the world's largest mural by Abe Lincoln, a colorful work by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra.

19Lexington is home to the Jockey Club, a national organization dedicated to the integrity of thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. They are also responsible for checking and approving the names of all registered racehorses, and you can't just name your horse whatever you want!

20One horse that cemented Lexington's title as the "Horse Capital of the World" was a racehorse aptly named "Lexington" who went blind after his retirement, but until his death topped America's Dad list for 14 straight years. (and twice as much posthumously)!

21We even have our own castle! Castle Post, also known as Martin Castle, was originally built in the 1960s by Rex and Caroline Martin, who were divorced prior to completion. It has since changed hands and become something of a roadside photo spot for tourists, as well as functioning as an inn and special event venue.

22The Buffalo Trace Distillery, with the help of Colonel Albert B. Blanton, was one of four distilleries that were given a special license by the government to produce "medicinal whiskey" during Prohibition. You can see an original recipe on Buffalo Trace. Blanton is honored today at the distillery with Blanton's only barrel of bourbon.

23A small, hidden room in the African Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Paul preserves a historic Underground Railroad "station" where slaves waited for safety before crossing the river to Cincinnati in search of freedom. The church is considered to be the oldest continuously existing place of worship in the city.

24The Lexington Public Library is home to the world's largest ceiling clock, a five-story Eddy pendulum and frieze. The pendulum depicts the history of the bluegrass horse and was designed by Lexington artist Adalin Wichman.

25Statesman Henry Clay's cousin, Cassius Marcellus Clay, was a living "then" character. He took the abolition of slavery so seriously that he outfitted his anti-slavery print shop in Lexington with what was considered state-of-the-art security: a cannon pointed at the front door. It worked. Henry's home, Ashland, and Cassius' home, White Hall, are available for guided tours.