Downtown Lexington rich in African-American history
January 19, 2016
With the passing of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, UK students interested in Lexington’s African-American history can find it with the African-American Heritage Trail, provided by VisitLex.
The walking tour covers ten downtown locations, ranging from well-known locations like “Cheapside” to lesser known churches and monuments.
“If you’re interested in history, our downtown has a lot to offer,” said Niki Heichelbech, communications director at VisitLex.
Doris Wilkinson, a retired professor of sociology at UK, partnered with the Lexington Tourism Office to create the walking tour, as well as a corresponding brochure that explains the locations and includes a map.
According to the brochure, the tour “symbolizes a historic passageway from the site of a 19th century slave auction block at ‘Cheapside’ to freedom represented by the Urban League headquarters at 148 Deweese Street.”
“Doris pulled together what would be a good cross-section of locations for a walking tour,” Heichelbech said.
Most tourism inquiries are focused on bourbon and horses, and that “specialized” topics like African-American heritage aren’t requested often, according to Heichelbech.
“We would love to have people do more,” she said.
Heichelbech said St. Paul’s African-American Methodist Church is one location that is on both the African-American Heritage Trail and the Walking and Driving Tour of Lexington. The church was prominent in both pre-and post American Civil War societies, serving as a meeting place for slaves and masters in times of slavery, and as a way to build community and support during World War II.
Wilkinson’s original brochure can be found on the VisitLex website and those interested can download it off the site for free. Many other sites important to African-American Heritage can be found throughout the state, but Wilkinson’s tour is unique because it can be walked.
“We have some really interesting African-American history,” Heichelbech said. “Hopefully we can get some UK students out, walking around downtown and learning some history.”
