CANCELLED: The War of 1812 Bicentennial

The Lexington History Museum will open an exhibit to mark the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 with a reception from 5-8 p.m., Friday, May 18. Special guests at the opening will be members of the Henry Clay High School History Club who will be recognized with a proclamation issued by Mayor Jim Gray.
The exhibit opens one month to the date when, 200 years ago, the United States declared war against Great Britain, then the most powerful nation on earth. Reasons stated for the war included impressment… Show more (forced recruitment) of U.S. sailors, attacks on American ships, and trade restrictions imposed by Britain, all of which had been settled before or shortly after the declaration.
An ulterior motive for the war was the ambition of the “war hawks” led by Lexington’s Henry Clay, then Speaker of the House, to annex portions of Canada. As such, Kentuckians rose to the challenge of President James Madison to man the western militias that would carry the fight to Canada that would result in the disastrous massacre at the River Raisin in January 1813 and the overwhelming victory at the Battle of the Thames in October 1813.
Most of the gunpowder used by the Americans, as well as much used by the British and Canadians, was manufactured at the Trotter Powder Mill in today’s McConnell Springs Park.
The War of 1812 had such an impact on Kentucky, that 20 of the Commonwealth’s 120 counties are named for men who played a role in the conflict.
The exhibit will be on display through January 2015, bicentennial of the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans, two weeks after the U.S. and Britain had agreed to peace terms.
Open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m. (open early Saturdays at 10 a.m.), the Lexington History Museum is located at 215 W. Main St. Admission is $5 for ages 13 and up, $3 ages 6-12, free under 6.

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