In August of 2005, then-Governor Ernie Fletcher and I led a group of Kentuckians to Los Angeles to meet with several movie and television studio executives. We were promoting Kentucky as a destination for shooting feature films and TV shows. At one particular meeting with the head of a major movie studio, he told us about a large-budget production they planned on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Upon hearing that, I was thrilled.
"That's great!" I said. "That means you'll be filming part of the production in Kentucky." †
His one-word reaction stunned me: "Why?"†
The Governor and I looked at one another in disbelief before answering, "Because Lincoln was born in Kentucky."†
It was then I knew, from a tourism perspective, we had our work cut out for us, if we were going to take full advantage of being the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.†
From then on, every time I had a speaking engagement outside Kentucky, I would ask people where they thought Lincoln was born. In almost every case, the majority believed Lincoln was born in Illinois. After all, their darned license plates have said, for as long as I can remember, "Land of Lincoln." We became determined to reclaim Lincoln for Kentucky. †
Thanks to the Transportation Cabinet, we were able to get "Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln" signs added to the "Welcome to Kentucky" highway signs at every entrance into the state. That was the first small step in a larger effort to showcase Abraham Lincoln - and his family - and their many important links to Kentucky. †
Over the last couple of years, in preparation for the recently launched two-year bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Kentucky birth,†there has been a great deal of work done by several organizations, including the Bicentennial Commission, the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky History Center, the Kentucky Department of Tourism and many cities, counties and attractions. Thanks to strong bipartisan support, the state legislature also has been involved in the Lincoln efforts. †
Lincoln was proud of his Kentucky roots. In a draft of a speech intended for Kentuckians to be given on February 12, 1861, Lincoln wrote the words that headline our Bicentennial celebration: "I, too, am a Kentuckian." These words were written in the context of Lincoln relating his commitment to personal honor and keeping his word to the people.†
In that same speech, Lincoln goes on to lay some pretty remarkable words to his audience about his beliefs on honesty and keeping your campaign promises once elected to office. He states, "No man can be elected president without some opponents, as well as supporters, and if when elected, he cannot be installed, till he first appeases his enemies by breaking his pledges and betraying his friends, this government is already at an end." †
Wouldn't we all love to see every candidate for public office adopt those words and actually live by them?†
February 12, 2008, began the two-year celebration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial, and the next two years will present amazing opportunities for† Kentucky-and for Lexington. Not only can we take advantage of our history as Lincoln's birthplace, but also we can learn more about the man as he relates to our lives today. In my research for this article, I quickly realized there was so much important and relevant information that will warrant a few more articles over the duration of the Bicentennial.† †
Lexington is very closely tied to Lincoln. Two sites are listed and promoted as a part of the official Lincoln Bicentennial website, www.kylincoln.org. Those sites are Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate, and the Mary Todd Lincoln House.†
Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate was the home of Senator Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln's political mentor and hero. Clay's influence on Lincoln is well documented. The publication, "The Influence of Henry Clay Upon Abraham Lincoln," by Edgar DeWitt Jones, (reprinted by and available at Ashland), is a terrific reflection on how one of our greatest presidents was influenced by one of history's greatest statesmen. †
While we don't know for sure that Lincoln and Clay ever actually met, we do know that Lincoln was in the audience that heard Clay speak at the Lower Market House in Lexington on November 13, 1847. The Lincolns were here on a three-week visit with Mary Todd Lincoln's family before heading to Washington, D.C., where Lincoln would take his seat in the 30th Congress. †
During that trip to Lexington, and whenever they visited, the Lincolns stayed at what is now known as the Mary Todd Lincoln House. Located on West Main Street, the girlhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, was the first house museum in America to honor a First Lady. Much is known about the young Mary Todd and her life in Lexington, including her family's close friendship with Henry Clay, one of the city's most prominent residents.†
While there is a lot of Lincoln history all over the state to enjoy, start with the Lincoln connections right here in Lexington. The economic impact over the next two years will be huge, not only in direct dollars, but in future business we'll attract from the awareness built during the Bicentennial.†
So get familiar with Lincoln's influence on Kentucky, and Kentucky's influence on Lincoln. The travel and tourism industry in our community and in the state will be the beneficiary from that influence as well.†
For a complete list of Lincoln-related destinations, visit www.kylincoln.org.†
Randy Fiveash†is a 31-year veteran of the travel and tourism industry throughout the United States.†Most recently, he served as commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism. He can be reached at: randyfiveash@insightbb.com.