Frankfort, Kentucky

• 1. The Buffalo Trail And The Fatal Crossing

  ›

  In 1780, a group of settlers from Bryan Station walked toward Mann's Lick to make salt. They followed an ancient buffalo trail that crossed the Kentucky River at a shallow point. Native Americans attacked this party during their journey. Pioneer Stephen Frank died in the skirmish that followed. Survivors named the crossing Frank's Ford to honor him. This name eventually shortened to Frankfort over time. English explorers had visited the area decades earlier in the 1750s. The site remained a quiet ford until the violence changed its identity forever.

  7

• 2. Political Deals For A New Capital

  ›

  Kentucky became the fifteenth state on the 20th of June 1792. Five commissioners arrived to select a permanent capital location. John Allen and John Edwards represented Bourbon County. Henry Lee came from Mason while Thomas Kennedy spoke for Madison. Robert Todd represented Fayette County. Several communities competed fiercely for the title. James Wilkinson owned land on the north side of the river. He promoted Frankfort as a future transportation hub. Andrew Holmes offered his log house for seven years. Donations included £50 worth of locks and hinges. Ten boxes of glass and $3,000 in gold sealed the deal. These financial incentives helped Frankfort win the vote against other towns.

  1456

• 3. The Confederate Occupation Of 1862

  ›

  Union forces built fortifications on Fort Hill overlooking the city. On the 3rd of September 1862, Confederate troops marched into Frankfort. They held control of this Union state capital for only a short period. This event stands alone as the sole time Confederate forces occupied a Northern capital during the Civil War. The army withdrew after their brief presence. Local residents watched the unusual military maneuver unfold along the Kentucky River. No major battles occurred within the city limits that year.

• 4. The Assassination And The Trial

  ›

  Governor William Goebel walked toward the capitol building on the 3rd of February 1900. He was on his way to address the Kentucky Legislature when he was shot. Caleb Powers served as former Secretary of State at the time. A conspiracy trial followed the shooting incident. Several individuals were found guilty of plotting the murder. All defendants received pardons later in the legal process. The event remains one of the most dramatic political scandals in state history. The governor died shortly after being wounded by gunfire.

  56

• 5. Floodwalls And Rising Waters

  ›

  Major floods struck the city in 1937 and again in 1978. These events caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. Engineers constructed the North Frankfort levee which finished construction in 1969. The South Frankfort floodwall rose from the ground during the 1990s. Five bridges now cross the river through downtown areas. The St. Clair Street bridge connects districts on opposite banks. Capitol Avenue bridge serves another vital route for commuters. Flood control measures protect homes and businesses along the river valley today.

  930

• 6. Demolition And Modern Rebuilding

  ›

  The Capital Plaza Office Tower opened its doors in 1972. It stood as the tallest building in the city for decades. By the early 2000s, concrete structures showed signs of severe neglect. Sections closed to pedestrians due to safety concerns. State officials recommended demolition in August 2008. The tower came down on Sunday, the 11th of March 2018. Television crews broadcast the event live via WKYT-TV. A new structure named the Mayo-Underwood Building replaced the old tower in 2019. This project honored a former school that once occupied the land before the plaza was built.

  1823242520

• 7. Bourbon And Public Service

  ›

  Public administration employs twenty-eight percent of the workforce today. Manufacturing accounts for over twelve percent of local jobs. Three distilleries operate within city limits including Buffalo Trace Distillery. Castle & Key Distillery produces spirits alongside bourbon operations. Three Boys Farm Distillery makes whiskey and bourbon products. Kentucky State University sits inside the city boundaries. This public historically black university serves students from across the region. Teachers protested Senate Bill 151 in August 2018. The bill passed on the 29th of March 2018 but faced immediate opposition. The Supreme Court overturned the legislation on the 13th of December 2018.

  112728