The 2008 Enrichment Excursions (formerly the Fabulous Field Trips)
Extend your conference experience into the field and take advantage of these exciting opportunities for hands-on history learning! Opportunities are available on both Thursday, April 3 and Saturday, April 5.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Half-day:
SOLD OUT Abraham Lincoln’s Kentucky- Celebrate the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial with a visit to his Birthplace Memorial, the Lincoln Museum in downtown Hodgenville, and the Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek. The Birthplace Memorial is located on 116 acres of Thomas Lincoln’s original Sinking Spring Farm. You will have the opportunity to view the Sinking Spring and Boundary Oak, the Memorial with its symbolic log cabin, and several interactive exhibits about life in Kentucky during the early 19th century. Next, stop at the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville. Here you can explore Lincoln’s life, as well as rare newspaper articles, campaign posters, and other Lincoln memorabilia. The Lincoln statue on the square in front of the museum is a definite must-see. Your visit to Abraham Lincoln’s Kentucky concludes with a stop at Knob Creek Farm. The farm is the place Lincoln remembers most clearly from his time in Kentucky and he mentions how incidents from Knob Creek influence him as an adult. Free materials and resources will be provided to all participants. Bus departs hotel at 8:00 am; returns 2:00 pm. Cost $35.
All Around Downtown- Join Louisville expert, historian, archivist, and councilman Tom Owen for a walk into the past of this historic Ohio River City. Did you know that Louisville has a jail on Liberty Street? Or, that the Wilderness Road ended on Main Street? Explore these facts and more as Tom Owen shares his knowledge of the buildings, events, residents, and visitors who shaped Louisville’s downtown. Wear comfortable shoes. Group departs hotel at 10:00 am; returns 11:30 am. Cost $8.
For Liberty and Country- Founded on April 30,1889, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution represents the documented descendents of Patriots who rendered loyal service in support of independence. Our 27,000 members include 16 United States presidents. The SAR mission seeks to inspire the community at large to revere the principles of the government founded by our forefathers. As part of the SAR mission, members conduct patriotic programs, historic celebrations, and educational initiatives across the nation. The SAR has Societies in all 50 states as well as in Mexico, Canada, and Europe. Tour the SAR National Headquarters Museum and Genealogy Library to discover the excitement of the Revolutionary War era. Visitors will explore the rich history related to artifacts that include an original 13-star star American flag, George Washington’s seal ring, Von Steuben’s Valley Forge drill manual, and Parson Weem’s biography on Washington, the source of many “stories” about the father of our country. Learn about programs and activities that will travel back to your classroom. The SAR invites you for light refreshments and a cup of tea from the Davidson Tea Company, who has recovered from its loss at the Boston Tea Party. Bus departs hotel at 12:45 pm; returns 4:15 pm. Cost $14.
The Gladiator, the Giant, and the Colonel- A walking tour of Cave Hill Cemetery led by expert Clyde Crews from Bellarmine University. Come visit this rural, or garden, cemetery and learn about famous and not-so-famous Americans and Kentuckians buried here, including Harland David Sanders (otherwise known as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame). A portion of the tour cost is the standard donation to the Cave Hill Cemetery Heritage Foundation that supports school group visits to the cemetery. Bus departs hotel at 2:30 pm; returns 4:30 pm. Cost $20.
Historic Farmington- Explore the grounds and outbuildings, admire the Federal-style architecture and furnishings, and delve into the lives of the inhabitants at the 19th century hemp plantation owned by the Speed family. Joshua Speed, one of the Speed’s 11 children, was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Another Speed family member, James, become Attorney General in Lincoln’s last Cabinet. Lincoln spent 3 formative and restorative weeks at Farmington in August of 1841 and scholars believe these weeks impacted his later policies. During your visit, you will be treated to a guided narration of the house and grounds, provided a special glimpse into the history of the Speed family, and offered an in-depth interpretation of the plantation’s enslaved African American community. Time to visit the special exhibit, Back to Kentucky: Lincoln and Farmington, will complete the afternoon. Bus departs hotel at 1:45 pm; returns 4:45 pm. Cost $12.
Masterworks & Your History Classroom- Travel to the renowned Speed Art Museum to learn about using art to teach history. Meet with the Associate Curator of Education for a specialized seminar detailing and modeling strategies for using a museum as a teaching tool in History classes. After the workshop, be transported back in time with an exclusive exhibit Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum. This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition will present 35 rare masterpieces including a Leonardo da Vinci notebook. Time will also be available to visit the museum’s permanent collection. Bus departs hotel at 9:15 am; returns at 1:15 pm. Cost: $25.
Full-day:
SOLD OUT A Bourbon Country Tour- Join your friends from NCHE as you explore the history of “America’s only native spirit.” Your day begins at the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. View authentic moonshine stills, novelty whiskey containers, and other rare artifacts relating to American whiskey. From the museum, you will enjoy lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern- the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. Tavern lore holds that the likes of General George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, and a young Abraham Lincoln stayed there and that bullet holes in some of the wall paintings are the work of Jesse James. From the Tavern, hop on board the Heaven Hill Distilleries Trolley for a tour of Historic Bardstown (Kentucky’s 2nd oldest city). Your day finishes with a tour of Heaven Hill Distilleries and the Bourbon Heritage Center. A Bourbon tasting is included with the distillery tour. Bus departs hotel at 9:00 am; returns 4:30 pm. Cost $42.
SOLD OUT The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center- Learn about the struggle for freedom from the Underground Railroad to contemporary times with NCHE past-chairman and NURFC President, Spencer Crew. Travel to Cincinnati, the Queen City, and home to the Freedom Center. Start your day with a presentation by the Education Division staff and receive resources for sharing the Freedom Center with your students and friends. Then, explore the museum’s powerful and insightful exhibits & programs: view the multi-media presentation Suite for Freedom; take the audio tour narrated by Angela Basset and Vanessa Williams; walk through a preserved slave holding pen; experience life in the Ohio River Borderlands in the time leading up to the Civil War; and much more. Time will also be available to visit the museum store. Lunch will not be provided, but the North Star Cafe will be available for food and beverage purchases throughout the day. Bus departs hotel at 9:00 am; returns at 4:30 pm. Cost: $45.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
SOLD OUT Backstretch Breakfast Tour- Join your fellow horse-racing fans for a special behind-the-scenes breakfast tour of Churchill Downs. Begin with a short walk past some of the barns that are along the way to the track kitchen. You might catch a glimpse of a Thoroughbred being bathed and the hot steam rolling off his back. Upon arriving at the track kitchen you will enjoy a hearty, southern-style breakfast as you watch the early morning training workouts for some of the world’s finest Thoroughbreds. After breakfast wander outside to the patio for a discussion about the business of Thoroughbred racing. Be sure to step a little closer to the rail. Hear the hoofs hitting the track as a horse breezes past during its morning workout. Be sure to bring you camera! This is an experience you will never forget. Bus departs hotel at 6:45 am; returns 8:45 am. Cost $30.
SOLD OUT All Around Downtown- Join Louisville expert, historian, archivist, and councilman Tom Owen for a walk into the past of this historic Ohio River City. Did you know that Louisville has a jail on Liberty Street? Or, that the Wilderness Road ended on Main Street? Explore these facts and more as Tom Owen shares his knowledge of the buildings, events, residents, and visitors who shaped Louisville’s downtown. Wear comfortable shoes. This is a repeat of the tour offered on Thursday morning. Group departs hotel at 5:00 pm; returns 6:30 pm. Cost $8.
Remember, these events fill-up quickly. Register for the conference and enrichment excursions.