Nestled in the foothills of where the Bluegrass and the Cumberland Plateau meet is the town of Berea, KY. A town that is known for history, scenery, and art festivals. Today we are going to highlight its rich history.
LOCATION:
Berea, has a humid-subtropical climate that has a warm to hot and humid summer, warm springs, nice to warm falls, and variable winters. Berea is located in the southern end of Madison County and is about a 40-45 minute drive from Lexington and is only a few hours away from Cumberland Falls in the Southeastern part of the state.
History:
https://www.visitberea.com/history/history-of-berea-ky
^^ For More Information of Berea’s History ^^
Prior to the 1850s. the area of Southern Madison County was known as the Glades. It was then in the year 1854 when Cassius Clay (a well known abolitionist) was able to persuade his friend John G. Fee to move to the Glades. Eventually Fee and his supporters were driven from the area for a short period before the Civil War. They came back after the Civil War and formed the Berea Literary Institute which became the Berea College.
The Berea College was significant in that it focused on Interracial Education in a time when segregation laws were become more prevalent especially across the Midwest and Southern USA. Unfortunately in 1904, the Kentucky Legislature passed the Day Law which forbidden blacks from obtaining a higher education. Berea College focused instead on poor whites from the nearby mountains.
As the years went on the city of Berea became an artist mecca for people across the Bluegrass and especially the Appalachian Mountains. These communities were isolated from the rest of the state and nation and a lot of the artists in the area were heavily influenced by their Northern Europe Highland heritage as well.
Things to Do:
There are several things to do in the area. There is an abundance of hiking trails, historical homes, and places to eat. Here are some of the highlights.
Figures 2 and 3: Anglin Falls (Bottom) and Berea Pinnacles (Top).
https://www.visitberea.com/dining/taste-of-berea
^^ A list of dining options in Berea ^^
Berea, is a nice town and a bit of a hidden gem. It makes a nice day trip if you live in Lexington especially in the fall when the leaves change. I am a bit behind on the highlighted community as things have been busy.
Upland-South Science 