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Capt. Charles de Longueuil discovers Big Bone Lick.
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Thomas Walker explores Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap.
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Daniel Boone and John Finley first saw the far distant Bluegrass atop Pilot Knob, now in Powell County. The recorded date is June 7, 1769.
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James Harrod constructed the first permanent settlement in Kentucky at Fort Harrod. 1774. James Harrod starts building Harrodstown (Harrodsburg); Indians force settlers to withdraw; settlers return in 1775.
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Daniel Boone builds the Wilderness Trail and establishes Fort Boonesborough.
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Harrodsburg settlers, jealous of Boonesborough, send George Rogers Clark and John Jones to ask for Virginia's aid; Virginia declares Transylvania Land Company illegal; creates Kentucky County.
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First of ten conventions held to prepare way for separation of Kentucky from Virginia.
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Kentucky becomes the 15th state on June 1, 1792.
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Isaac Shelby Becomes the first governor.
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Wilderness Road opened to wagons.
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Westernmost region of the state was annexed, following its purchase from the Chicasaw Indians.
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Zachary Taylor, Kentucky hero of Mexican War, becomes 12th president of United States.
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Kentucky was the 8th most populated state in the nation in the 1850 census. There were 982,405 citizens listed.
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University of Kentucky founded at Lexington.
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First Kentucky Derby run at Churchill Downs.
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Present state constitution adopted.
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Present State Capitol completed.
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The song "Happy Birthday to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893.
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Kentucky experienced four different governors in less than three months time, between early December of 1899 and early February of 1900.
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Kentucky experienced four different governors in less than three months time, between early December of 1899 and early February of 1900.
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The Black Patch War ends a tobacco-buying monopoly
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The Black Patch War ends a tobacco-buying monopoly
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Teacher Mary S. Wilson held the first observance of Mother's Day in Henderson in 1887. It was made a national holiday in 1916.
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The cardinal was adopted as Kentucky's state bird and the goldenrod as the state flower in 1926
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The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant owned and operated by Colonel Sanders is located in Corbin. The chicken was first served in 1930 at a gas station operated by Colonel Sanders.
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Cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaelin's in Louisville.
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United States gold depository built at Fort Knox.
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Kentucky Dam on Tennessee River completed by Tennessee Valley Authority.
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Kentucky is first state given control of certain nuclear energy materials by federal government.
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Voters approve the establishment of a state lottery.
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The Kentucky Education Reform Act is passed.
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The first Miss America from Kentucky is Heather Renee French. She was crowned September 18, 1999.
