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If you’re looking for a trip with family-friendly fun and a dose of Americana, look no further than these three places below. Each of these destinations put a special focus on American culture and the people that positively impacted local (and national) history.
Quilts, Cars & Guitars in Western Kentucky
National Corvette Museum – courtesy of the KY Americana Triangle
As America is gearing up to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, the tourism offices from Bowling Green, Henderson, Owensboro, Paducah and Edmonson County have creatively combined forces to encourage visitation to Western Kentucky, under the banner of the “Kentucky Americana Triangle.” With a symbolic focus on the cultural icons Western Kentucky is famous for–quilts, cars, and guitars–the region will tap into distinctive locations and events that showcase the Bluegrass State at its finest, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in an authentic American experience as the nation sets out on the path to celebrate 250 years of unity.
“There are so many wonderful things that make up the fabric of Western Kentucky – Paducah’s quilting traditions, Bowling Green’s Corvette plant, and Owensboro’s bluegrass music, just to name a few — that we joined together to promote our region as a slice of Americana as travelers plan their road trips,” said Marissa Butler, Hospitality Services Director, Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“We expect Americans will be in a nostalgic mood as the nation prepares for its 250th birthday celebration, and will be looking for destinations that represent the hope and optimism of the American dream. What is more fitting than the comfort of a quilt, the roar of a Corvette and the laid-back feeling of bluegrass music? And with Kentucky’s deserved reputation as the home of some of America’s best barbecue and world-renowned bourbon, we promise no one will leave hungry or thirsty.”
The Kentucky Americana Triangle is brought vividly to life through an engaging visitors guide and rack card available from the tourism offices in each of the participating counties which highlights multiple attractions in each city.
Visitors to the Bowling Green area can enjoy: the National Corvette Museum, Aviation Heritage Park and Museum, Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Beech Bend Raceway Park, and Downtown Fountain Square Park.
In Owensboro, there is the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Green River Distilling Company, Smothers Park/Downtown Owensboro, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, and Preservation Station.
There’s the National Quilt Museum, Wall-to-Wall Murals, Hotel Metropolitan, River Discovery Center, and Whitehaven in Paducah.

Attractions in Henderson includes the John James Audubon State Park, and Edmonton County includes the Mammoth Cave National Park, Green and Nolan Rivers Blueway Trail, Nolin Lake State Park, and Green River Canoeing and Kayaking.

— For more information on each participating destination visit www.kentuckyamericanatriangle.com.
African-American History Weaves through Clarksville, Tennessee
The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center showcases Clarksville’s native Olympian Wilma Rudolph – courtesy of Visit Clarksville TN / Lisa Kemmer
Clarksville proudly showcases the rich and enduring legacy of African American culture, a vital thread in the city’s history. Established in 2019 and expanded in 2024, the African American Legacy Trail now features more than 40 stops, honoring the people and places that have shaped medicine, business, government, music, art, culture, education, and more.
The local impact of these individuals is evident in the names that grace the city’s historic markers, highways, schools, event venues, statues, and exhibits. Their achievements are celebrated every day of the year, reminding us of the strength and spirit that have shaped our city.
Trail Founder Shana Thornton’s vision for the project began almost 10 years ago. “I became inspired to create a brochure about Clarksville’s African American history around 2016, but I had been studying that history since collaboratively writing the permanent exhibition ‘Becoming Clarksville: Legacies of Leadership’ at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center,” she explained. “That exhibit opened in 2013, and while researching it, I learned about Dr. Robert T. Burt and his wife, Emma Williams Burt, who opened the first hospital in Clarksville in 1906. The Home Infirmary was intended to be a hospital for African Americans during the Jim Crow era, but white doctors also worked there, and Dr. Burt also treated white patients. I knew there was more to the history and leadership of Dr. Burt. When I discovered that there wasn’t a publication that offered a history of African American leaders in Clarksville and/or who were from Clarksville, I wanted to collaborate with other historians, writers, and graphic designers to create a publication.”
In addition to Dr. Burt, some highlights along the trail include:
Dr. Clarence Cameron White (1880-1960) was one of the most exceptional composers and violinists of the early twentieth century. Born in Clarksville, White attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music and studied in London and Paris. He also helped found the National Association of Negro Musicians in 1919. A Tennessee Historical Commission marker is located at the intersection of Main and Second Streets in downtown Clarksville.Steve Wylie (1911-1993) began his baseball career in the late 1920s. In 1944, he entered the Negro Leagues, playing alongside legends like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson. A local baseball field in North Clarksville in the Heritage Park Sports Complex is dedicated to Wylie, and a Tennessee Historical Marker is located at 751 N. Second St.Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) became the first African American female sprinter to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. In 1960 at the Rome games, she won three gold medals and was deemed “The Tornado, the fastest woman on earth.” Her homecoming parade in October 1960 was Clarksville’s first integrated public event. Tributes in the community include the Wilma Rudolph Event Center and memorial statue, Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, an exhibit at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, and her gravesite. Marvin Posey, Jr. (1964-1999) was a fine arts painter whose works have been displayed in exhibits from New York to San Francisco. His first professional art exhibition was in Korea where he was stationed in the U.S. Army. Influenced by jazz music, he painted in the Cubist style and designed an original tie for President Bill Clinton. Outside of private collections, his work can be seen at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center.Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) began his legendary career in Clarksville. While serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, he created a rhythm ‘n’ blues band, the King Kasuals, playing in and around Clarksville, then moved to Nashville. Hendrix returned to Clarksville as late as 1963 to purchase a guitar. A Tennessee Music Pathways marker is located on North 3rd Street by Downtown Commons across from the former Newt’s Record Shop.
Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center was originally a defensive Confederate fort at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red Rivers. African-American men, ordered into service by the Confederate Army, began constructing the fort in 1861. The Union Army occupied the fort in 1862, and the area became a safe haven for people trying to escape enslavement, as well as those who were newly freed. The United States Colored Troops (USCT) established its headquarters nearby, recruiting more than 20,000 black soldiers. The USCT of Clarksville is now permanently memorialized with a statue at the Center.
Affricanna Town was established near Dunbar Cave as a refuge for self-liberated enslaved African Americans following the US Army’s capture of Clarksville in 1862. By the end of 1864, the camp swelled to more than 4,000 people and remained active until at least 1867.
The Legacy Trail and various people and entities associated with it have won multiple awards.
Kathryn Boyer, student designer of the logo and the first edition brochure, won scholarships to Austin Peay State University (APSU), a Clarksville Montgomery County School System’s (CMCSS) student award, and the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) Ovation Award for Arts.Local Historian Jerome Parchman, an early collaborator on the project, won Black Clarksville’s Black Excellence Award in 2022.Thorncraft Publishing (Thornton’s publishing company) was awarded the Ovation Award – Business Category from CECA in 2020.Thornton was awarded the Violet Award for Service from Delta Sigma Theta in 2019 and the Virginia Martin Hatcher Award for Service from the City of Clarksville in 2023.Terry Morris, Thornton’s husband and Trail Director, won the Best in Black Educational Impact Award in 2024.
African American Legacy Trail Brochures are available at Visit Clarksville, 25 Jefferson Street, and all Tennessee State Welcome Centers. The Visit Clarksville mobile app also includes a trail guide and navigation for most of the trail stops.
History and Modern Charm in Culpeper, Virginia
This spring, Culpeper, Virginia, introduces Culpeper Uncovered, an initiative that goes beyond traditional history to explore the community’s past while honoring the people and businesses shaping its future. By highlighting the contributions of African American, Indigenous and immigrant communities, as well as women–and minority-owned businesses, this initiative brings new perspectives to Culpeper’s history.
Embracing Culpeper’s spirit of History Meets Modern Charm, “Culpeper Uncovered invites visitors to look beyond familiar narratives and explore the people, places and moments that define our town,” said Paige Read, Director of Culpeper Tourism and Town Economic Development. “We are working with the community to uncover under-told histories while celebrating local businesses and individuals shaping Culpeper’s evolving identity.”
Culpeper Uncovered isn’t just about the past—it connects history with the present through storytelling, local engagement and digital experiences. Whether walking through downtown, dining at a family-run restaurant, or stepping inside a business that has been around for generations, visitors will find that every storefront, landmark and conversation holds a deeper story.
Through video storytelling, digital content and in-person experiences, Culpeper Uncovered encourages visitors to explore the community in a way that feels real, meaningful and connected to Culpeper’s roots. To bring this vision to life, a variety of interactive programs and experiences, such as:
Heritage Tourism Experiences – Guided and self-guided tours showcase Culpeper’s diverse history, from its Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities to landmarks like Old House Vineyards, Norman’s Grocery and the downtown district’s vibrant murals and historic storefronts. The Trailblazers Mural honors African American leaders who shaped Culpeper, while pieces like Love is Love reflect its evolving cultural landscape. As part of Culpeper Uncovered, the Culpeper Mural Tour offers an interactive way to explore these stories—blending art, history and community into a dynamic experience.Influencer Collaborations – A diverse group of content creators will share their perspectives on Culpeper through social media during Spring and Summer 2025.Interactive Content & Events – Digital storytelling and special events that bring local history to life.Right the Record – A community-driven initiative focused on amplifying African American history in Culpeper.
—To learn more about Culpeper Uncovered and upcoming events, visit https://visitculpeperva.com/culpeperuncovered/.