Berea, Kentucky
Berea is another wonderful little historic town that has played a significant role in my life. I have enjoyed a great many pleasurable visits to this interesting location . . . some with my grandmother when I was a child and some on my own as an adult.
Berea is well-known for its excellent college system, which is historic in its own right.
In the early 1850’s, Berea (then called “The Glade”) was an area already well-known for its support of emancipation. Exemplifying his belief in abolition, Reverend John Gregg Fee founded Berea College in 1855 as the only integrated and co-educational college in the South at that time. Today, Berea College still hosts a diverse population of students, including pupils from both nationwide and international locations. Students are required to work on-campus, for which they receive free tuition, but stringent criteria for acceptance must be met.
Locally, Berea is well-known as being an artist’s community, and over the years, its artistic excellence has become famous world-wide. I can personally attest to the fact that there are many spectacular artisan creations, spanning an interesting range of genres, offered in the many gift shops throughout town. Until 2007, Berea was home to world-famous “Churchill Weavers”. I used to love looking at all of those wonderful textiles and I truly regret that they are gone now.
A highly respected art festival is held annually, and if you get the opportunity to go, I believe you will truly enjoy it. It is also a great opportunity to buy unique gifts that you won’t find anywhere else.
Another notable place to visit in Berea is historic Boone Tavern (photo below), where you can enjoy a delightful meal. Originally conceived as a guest house for Berea College, the tavern was built in 1909 and named after one of the Appalachian region’s most famous denizens, Daniel Boone.
Finally, I have to say that Berea does not disappoint in the aesthetic sense . . . the photos below offer some idea of how attractive this thriving little town really is.
