History To Chew On Series – Sept 8

History of Gratz Park

Speaker: Jeremy Popkin

Over the more than two centuries since it was designated as an open space in the heart of historic Lexington, Gratz Park has filled many roles. Originally intended as the site of Transylvania University, it has been a home to some of the city’s wealthiest residents, a military encampment, a bastion of racial segregation, the longtime home of Lexington’s public library, the inspiration for the city’s first historic preservation movement, and an attraction for both tourists and ghosts. UK professor Jeremy Popkin’s talk will explore the long history of Gratz Park and show how it illuminates larger aspects of our city’s past.