A few years ago at a homeschool end of semester history fair, one of the high school boys had a display about Viking explorer Leif Erikson. The student and I discussed the thing to remember about Erik the Red (and any and all other supposed “first” discoverers of the Americas), is that we remember Christopher Columbus because he ushered in the permanent settlement of the New World.
“The West” (never forget Kentucky was the original “West”) had explorers before Daniel Boone (Dr. Thomas Walker, James Harrod, etc.); but it was Boone who ushered in the permanent settlement of the American West. My own family (and if you’re one of the old Jackson County families) has a connection to Boone through the first white men to settle in what is now Jackson County: fellow Boone Longhunters, John and Elisha Harrison.
Today, the replica fort above the Kentucky River near the Madison/Clark County line off State Highway 388 is a place where you can get your children a taste of the Kentucky Frontier, year ‘round. A few years ago on a trip to the fort with our girls to see “Hands on History for Kids,” I learned the Fort Boonesborough Foundation put on the following activities throughout the year: Fireside Chats Series (February); Women on the Frontier (April); Fiber to Fabric on the Frontier (May); Spring Trade Days (late May); Our Daily Bread (June); A Gathering of Descendants (mid-June); Cool History on Hot Days (Saturdays, July and August); Hands on History for Kids (September); Touched by the Fire (October); Winter Trade Days (November); and 18th Century at the Fort (December).
As you can see, there are opportunities for you to get your kids in touch with our “original” Western past all throughout the year. As well, the gift shop in the old blockhouse has toys for kids you can’t find anywhere else (I bought a dandy slingshot for my oldest girl not made in Mitch’s Communist China that I used to put a coon in my black oak to going one evening). Finally, the Fort Boonesborough Foundation (like so many other Legacy Americans’ organizations) is dependent upon our financial support if they are to carry on. Without groups like them, what would our kids have to attend? Gatherings of the Prouds and hip-hop lectures? God help us.
Next Week: Gymnastics
Happy Birthday in the coming week to my little gymnast!
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