The Athens Of The West
“But Lexington will ever be, The Loveliest and the Best; A Paradise thou’rt to me, Sweet Athens of the West.” – Josiah Espy (From “Athens of the West”)
At the turn of the 19th century, our prosperous new town earned the reputation as the “Athens of the West,” a mecca for intellectuals, progressive thinkers, and lawmakers. And when you look close enough, it’s a distinction that continues to define us to this day.
It all started with the first institution of higher learning west of the Alleghenies, Transylvania University. Not long after, the University of Kentucky began its legacy as the state’s first land-grant university. As academic pursuits began to mix with the agrarian community, a unique culture emerged—one of passion, craftsmanship, creativity, pride, and a deep sense of place.
From there, Lexington became a breeding ground for incredible writers, musicians, artists, and makers. And even today, we have an innate appreciation for the well-crafted, the authentic, the things that take time to make. Whether it’s a song, a poem, a mural, a glass of bourbon, or a champion racehorse, everything we do Lexington is a testament to who we are as a city.
The Horse Capital of the World
Something to Write Home About
There’s something about this region of the world that has inspired writers to put pen to paper for centuries. Countless American writers and poets have written vividly of the beauty of the Bluegrass landscape, the vibrancy of its culture, and the deep-seeded authenticity of its people. Josiah Espy, the 19th century poet who penned the “Athens of the West,” poem, wrote at length of Lexington’s rich epicenter and beautiful surroundings that stretched for miles.
Lexington has been a writer’s paradise since its beginning, and it continues to inspire the written word today. Beloved Kentucky writers Wendell Barry and Gurney Norman first met at the University of Kentucky, later returning to teach. And Former Poet Laureate of Kentucky, Frank X Walker, is a current professor at the university. Lexington is a fantastic place for writers to hone their craft, with workshops, poetry readings, and storytelling hours dedicated to connecting writers and readers. The Horse’s Mouth Storytelling Series and the Kentucky Great Writers series are just two ways to get a taste of the some of the city’s best and most promising talent.
Frank X Walker, English professor at the University of Kentucky and former Poet Laureate of Kentucky
We Like to Paint the Town
Lexington has more than thirty street murals painted by artists from all over the world. PRHBTN, an organization that celebrates underappreciated art forms, has been influential in bringing some of these great works of art to our city. Expect to find art ranging from anonymous carefree sketches to gigantic, commissioned murals while you stroll our streets. A can’t-miss: the world’s largest Abraham Lincoln mural, created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra.
“Louis Armstrong” by Portuguese mural artist Sergio Odeith
Galleries Galore
We’re home to dozens of art galleries displaying works from local, regional, and international artists. Celebrated painters like Andre Pater and Keeneland’s house artist Peter Williams have decades-long careers producing art, and there’s no shortage of modern pieces by contemporary artists like Natalie Baxter and Howard Finster.
Cross Gate Gallery, which specializes in equestrian art, holds an annual Sporting Art Auction, which art buyers and admirers come from all over the world to experience. Come check out the some of the most impressive sporting art collections ranging from early 20th century to contemporary paintings and sculptures. The UK Art Museum is home to a collection of more than 4,800 paintings, drawings, photos, prints, and sculptures from all over the world. The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions, which you can tour year-round.
Sporting art at Cross Gate Gallery in Downtown Lexington
Marching to Our Own Tune
This region’s relationship with music has been instrumental, so to speak, in shaping Lexington’s story. For one, we’re home to the oldest bluegrass music festival in the state, the Festival of the Bluegrass, which is held every June at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Popular Southern musician like Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, and Chris Stapleton also have ties to the area. And if live music is your thing, you can find it in town just about any day of the week, anywhere from restaurants and bars to popular music halls like Manchester Hall and The Burl. Lexington hosted the launch of the 2017 Oxford American's Southern Music Issue at The Burl, which featured a lineup of Kentucky artists. And if jazz is your jam, you can check out Tee Dee’s Lounge for some legendary blues, or the Lyric Theater, which celebrates diverse cultures through music.
Jazz music at Tee Dee’s Lounge
The Lexingtonian Way
Today, Lexington’s culture keeps evolving, with creatives and intellectuals putting down roots here and continuing to shape and enrich our community. Through this, a unique breed of individual has emerged—the Lexingtonian. Friendly, welcoming, a little quirky, with an unhinged obsession with horses, bourbon, art, and music. Lexington locals have a passion for their city and the vibrant culture that has emerged around it.
Through history, “Athens of the West” has proved to be more than a nickname—it’s a reputation that has shaped our identity as a city. The same cultural musings that Thomas Espy wrote about in the late 19th century have been carried through the centuries. It’s clear in our art, in our music, in our education. But most of all, in the makers, dreamers, and doers of the city that continue to keep the spirit of the Athens of the West alive.
Lexingtonians at the Night Market
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