ARCHAEOLOGY OF KENTUCKY BOURBON:

ENGAGING THE ENDANGERED BLUEGRASS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF KENTUCKY

By Nicolas R. Laracuente
University of Kentucky, Department of Anthropology

In 2006, the World Monuments Fund named The Archaeology of Kentucky

the Bluegrass Cultural Landscape of Kentucky Bourbon is an effective way to
on its 100 Endangered Sites List. grab the attention of multiple Research Questions
Bluegrass Communities while
making major contributions to • How do the layouts of distilleries change
overtime? How is this related to local
Kentucky Archaeology.
economic, environmental and other
cultural factors?
The Bluegrass Region
• What is the relationship between the
distillery industry and the development of
Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure?
Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives

• How does the rise in quality control

Several communities make up the change the use and location of
Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives
Bluegrass. Issues that are important to
one community may be irrelevant to agricultural land associated with each
Poor Planning WHY? Apathy another. distillery?
Achieving a balance between
Conceptualization of • Is distillery size and location related to
Landscape development and preservation requires
social stratification and the ethnic
using a variety of methods to share the
composition of a community or region
importance of history present in every
Static Landscapes Versus Landscape Becoming
historic structure and underneath every
• Constructed Entity • Discourse Materialized
street, sidewalk, and empty lot in the Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives

• Inert • Constantly Created Bluegrass Cultural Landscape.

reproduced from maps copyrighted by Environmental Data Resources Inc. and housed
in the University of Kentucky Libraries Map Collection.

• Development requires • Development allows Tim Ingold’s ‘dwelling perspective’ 1791 and 1813 Excise Taxes:
conceptualizes landscapes as stories distillers that cannot pay In the late 1800’s there are thousands of May 4, 1964: Congress
overwriting an older integration of historic
landscape resources constructed through the material shut down or become distilleries across Kentucky. Many were recognizes Bourbon as a
remains of lived experience. moonshiners. the largest business in their community. distinctive product of the
United States.
A desire to appear progressive for the World Equestrian Games
Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives
resulted in the demolition of a city block of historic buildings to
construct a high rise in Lexington. 1831 “Old Bourbon”: As In 1999, The Kentucky Distillers
Kentucky shifts from a barter Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives
Association created the Kentucky
Courtesy of University of Kentucky
Archives economy to a consumer Bourbon Trail that features 6 of
economy, distillers raise quality 1918-1933: Distillers who legally the remaining distilleries. In the
1775-1783: Evan Williams
and Elijah Craig were the control. Brands, such as “Old operate during prohibition market last five years these distilleries
first distillers in Kentucky Crow”, let people know what whiskey as medicine. had over 1.7 million visitors.
they are buying. Courtesy of University of Kentucky Archives

Adapted from Google Earth

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