Article contributor and photographer: Jake Pope
KCPS Student Correspondent
On August 29th Scott New from Kentucky Chautauqua spoke to Ms. Mayla McKeehan’s eighth grade class at Knox County Middle School about Daniel Boone.
Mr. New spoke about how Daniel Boone played a crucial role in exploration and settlement of Kentucky and thus a crucial role in America’s westward expansion. And by the time of his death in 1820, Boone had become a legend, and so he remains. But much of what subsequent generations of Americans thought they knew about Daniel Boone is off the mark such as Daniel Boone never wore a coonskin cap and told his son he could be certain of having killed only one Indian.
Mr. New also brought several replica artifacts from the time period and dressed in late 18th century clothing to achieve a realistic sense when presenting the historical facts.
The program was funded in part by Katie Pickard Faucett and her book club in Washington D.C. and by the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Every year the Kentucky Humanities Council provides funding for more than 400 public humanities programs. Sponsored by local organizations and held in familiar community settings, these programs reach into every corner of the Commonwealth.