The Kentucky Museum joined the rest of the state today to celebrate Kentucky’s 225th birthday.

The museum offered free admission to all guests, served birthday cake, held state related film viewings and birthday themed activities.

Kentucky officially became a state on June 1, 1792. Christy Spurlock, the education curator for the Kentucky Museum, said she decided to have a celebration last week and wanted to create a birthday party atmosphere.

Spurlock said they offered free admission because the museum was shocked to find that when they previously offered free admission, they saw a large increase in visitors. Several families were in attendance for the celebration and Spurlock said the museum had about 200 guests that day.

“Families are looking for economical things to do,” Spurlock said.

Spurlock said it’s exciting to see children interest in history because it can instill a love of history, arts and the humanities. For some of the children in attendance, it was their first time going to the museum while for others such as 9-year-old Harper Ferrell, it was one of several previous visits.

Ferrell said she came to the celebration to have fun and learn. Bowling Green local Cindy Sellers brought Ferrell to the event and said an appreciation for the past helps people enjoy the present and anticipate events in the future.

Cincinnati senior Kristen Ostendorf, a docent at the Kentucky museum, said the museum does a lot to consider the interests of younger guests by including interactive material. Ostendorf said museums are a great way to learn about history because it is more hands on.

“You get to touch, see and smell it,” Ostendorf said. “It’s a lot more interactive and I think that’s a good way to absorb information, especially for kids.”

Ostendorf said the museum usually doesn’t have families in attendance during the weekdays. People Ostendorf had talked to were excited about the event and chance to revisit the museum.

Ostendorf said while she lived in Cincinnati, she had never seen any events celebrating Ohio’s birthday. She attributed the communities response to the museum as a sign of state pride.

“Kentuckians are inordinately proud to be Kentuckians,” Spurlock said. “They love the state, the Commonwealth, Abraham Lincoln, the bluegrass, horse racing and an excuse to celebrate their state.”

Spurlock said throughout other events in the upcoming year, the museum will continue to capitalize on the theme of KY225.

Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected].