Lexington, KY - Named after James Turner Morehead, the first Kentucky-born native to become governor of the commonwealth, Morehead, Ky., was founded in 1856. The county seat of Rowan County, Morehead is surrounded by the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest and hosts Morehead State University. MSU was founded in 1887 as a church-supported teacher training school. I have enjoyed traveling to Cave Run Lake and Morehead since the 1990s, and have accrued a few favorite haunts in town and just west along U.S. Route 60.
Since I have been a woodworker for a long time, I was thrilled when The Kentucky Folk Art Center (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. -
Sat. 102 W. First St. (606) 783-2204 www.kyfolkart.org) opened in the historic Union Grocery building in 1997. The center is a two-story collection of galleries, the Jimmie Ruth Auditorium, a library and museum store.
From the humorous to fanciful to religious, folk art figures of all kinds are on display. The center has well over a thousand pieces in its permanent collection. There are brightly painted roosters and snakes, notable Bible figures, African American scenes by Lavon Williams, and wonderful traveling exhibitions and special events. Future events this year include "The Strange Horses Came" opening July 8 and "Quilts from Gee's Bend" which opens on Oct. 21.
Not far from The Kentucky Folk Art Center, The Claypool-Young Art Gallery (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. -
Fri. 150 University Blvd. (606) 783-5446) on the MSU campus offers the Morehead community, both students and locals, the chance to see a wide range of visual art exhibits. The largest exhibiting space in Kentucky east of Lexington, the exhibitions, which rotate approximately once a month, feature contemporary art of American and international artists.
Coffeetree Books (9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon. -
Sat. 240 Morehead Plaza. (606) 784-8364 www.coffeetreebooks.com) is found off Main Street near Slone's Market and Battson Drugs. As Eastern Kentucky's largest locally owned, independently operated bookstore, Coffeetree Books opened over 30 years ago (originally called Book Haven). It is a general interest bookstore with strong regional and children's sections. Along with books, the store has other knickknacks, like hand-crafted items. Their coffee shop, The Fuzzy Duck, serves soups, sandwiches and other daily specials, as well as a wide array of teas and coffees.
The Old School House Antique & Craft Mall (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. -
Sat. 82 Old U.S. Highway 60. (606) 783-1800), situated in a historic WPA-era stone school building, is stocked with a large assortment of antiques, and every room has merchandise. From the janitor's closet to gym stage, it is filled with local crafts and all sorts of antiques -
from kitchen to kitsch.
For a down-home BBQ meal, check out Pop's Southern Style Barbeque (11435 E. U.S. Highway 60, Salt Lick, Ky. (606) 683-2221). Along with BBQ platters, steak and fish, the restaurant has an ample menu selection of fried goodness. Pop's is friendly, spacious and you can wrap up your dinner with a root beer float for dessert.
To get to Morehead from Lexington, take Interstate 64 east for 58 miles to Exit 137. Take KY State Route 32 south for nearly three miles to turn left on West Main Street. The drive takes about one hour and 15 minutes.