Explore the University of Kentucky
The history of the University of Kentucky (UK) is intimately connected to the commonwealth's past, present, and future. To commemorate that history, in 1994, UK and the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) created the UK Senior Challenge Historical Marker Project.
This program, which allows each graduating senior class to leave a memorial to the university, creates a special historical marker that notes important people and places affiliated with the history of the university. Each year a UK historical marker committee picks a topic, raises funds for the marker, researches and writes the text, and works with KHS to produce the marker.
"Explore UK History" is a tour of the nineteen special historical markers on the UK campus.
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Adolph F. Rupp (1901-1977)
Historical Marker #1826 , which was erected in front of Memorial Coliseum in 1988, before the Senior Challenge Historical Marker Project began, honors Adolph Frederick Rupp. He was born to Mennonite…
Aristides
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2011, Historical Marker #2381 honors Aristides, the winner of the first Kentucky Derby. In May 1875, an estimated 10,000 racing fans watched the…
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2010, Historical Marker #2342 honors Thomas Hunt Morgan. Born in Lexington on September 25, 1866, he was the eldest child of Charlton Hunt Morgan…
Margaret I. King Library
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2009, Historical Marker #2315 commemorates the Margaret I. King Library. Margaret Isadora King was born in Lexington on September 1, 1879. She…
What's In a Name?
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2008, historical marker #2289 commemorates how the University of Kentucky got its name. In 1865, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky…
Stoll Field
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2007, Historical Marker #2262 commemorates Stoll Field. The field was the site of the first intercollegiate game ever played south of the…
Thomas D. Clark, 1903-2005
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2006, Historical Marker #2232 honors historian Thomas D. Clark. Born on July 14, 1903, in Louisville, Mississippi, he graduated from the University…
Kentucky Kernel
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2005, historical marker #2169 commemorates the "Kentucky Kernel." Preceded by several earlier student newspapers, the first Kentucky Kernel was…
Main Building
Given to the university by the class of 2004, Historical Marker #2138 commemorates the Main Building. It opened in 1882 and was known as the Main or College Building. It is the only surviving building…
Patterson Hall
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2003, Historical Marker #2106 commemorates Patterson Hall. When women finally obtained campus housing in 1904, twenty-four years after the first…
Memorial Hall
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2002, Historical Marker #2089 commemorates Memorial Hall. Completed in 1929 as a memorial to Kentuckians who died in World War I, the building was…
Barker Hall and Buell Armory
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2001, Historical Marker #2070 commemorates Barker Hall and Buell Armory. Originally known as Alumni Hall, it was dedicated in 1901. The original…
Maxwell Place
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 2000, Historical Marker #2069 commemorates Maxwell Place. It was built in 1870-72 for Judge James H. Mulligan as a wedding gift from his father,…
Desegregation of UK
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1999, Historical Marker #2022 commemorates the desegregation of UK. In 1948, Lyman T. Johnson filed suit for admission to the university. In March…
Scovell Hall
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1998, Historical Marker #2009 commemorates Scovell Hall. The building was opened in 1905, with major additions in 1913 and 1937. Utilizing colonial…
Sarah Blanding
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1997, Historical Marker #2011 honors Sarah Blanding (1898-1985). She was born on a farm in Kentucky in 1898. After graduating from the New Haven…
Gillis Building 1889
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1996, Historical Marker #2012 commemorates the Gillis Building. This building was erected in 1889 as UK's first Agricultural Experiment Station but…
WBKY-WUKY
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1995, Historical Marker #1966 commemorates radio stations WBKY and WUKY. UK began radio broadcasting in 1929 in cooperation with WHAS in…
Miller Hall 1898
Given to the University of Kentucky by the class of 1994, Historical Marker #1953 commemorates Miller Hall. Built in 1898 and originally named Science Hall, it was one of the first classroom buildings…
Class Competitions/ Tug of War
Given to the University of Kentucky by the Class of 2012, Historical Marker #2392 commemorates the Class Competitions and Tug of War that were held annually on UK's campus. In the 1900s, these…
Myrtle Weldon (1890-1971) and Family and Consumer Sciences Extension in Kentucky
Historical Marker #2444 honors the University of Kentucky's Family and Consumer Sciences Extension program and Myrtle Weldon (1890-1971), an influential Family and Consumer Sciences extension…Tour curated by: Kentucky Historical Society