LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 4, 2018) – Plots of hemp are growing again at two Kentucky State Park historic sites where the plant was once the leading crop.
The 10 foot by 10 foot plots are located at White Hall State Historic Site near Richmond and Waveland State Historic Site in Lexington. They are part of a pilot program being featured during Hemp History Week June 5-10. The two estates grew hemp before the Civil War when it was used to make rope, fabrics and other products.
The two parks are planning special kick-off events related to the hemp plots.
White Hall State Historic Site will host “Hemp History Day” on Saturday, June 9, starting at 11 a.m. with talks on early hemp, information on the Hemp Heritage Trail, free demonstrations showing how hemp was processed and spun to make cloth and samples of modern hemp products. The park, the historic home of emancipationist Cassius M. Clay, will offer its regular tours of the mansion from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can buy one ticket and get a second ticket free on June 9.
For more information, call the park at 859-623-9178.
Waveland State Historic Site will host its “Hemp Returns to Waveland” on Sunday, June 10, from 2-4 p.m. The program will include a talk on the history of hemp, hemp products, snacks and a dedication of new interpretive signs and displays about hemp history and the slaves who worked at Waveland. The signs are based on research carried out by students at the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University.
Tickets for the Waveland program are $20 and include a tour of the mansion. Reservations are required. Call 859-272-3611.
The hemp plots at the two parks were planted by United Hemp Industries. For information about Hemp History Week and the Heritage Hemp Trail, visit heritagehemptrail.com.
For more information about these and other Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov
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Contact:
Gil Lawson
502-892-3349
gil.lawson@ky.gov