A visit to Kentucky may conjure thoughts of Thoroughbreds, bourbon and basketball, but the state’s rich cultural heritage extends beyond those well-known pillars. The Bluegrass State is also home to the Corvette, aka “America’s Sports Car.” It’s the proud birthplace of one of the greatest boxers of all time. And, fittingly, it’s a hotbed of talent for the genre of music that shares its nickname.

And that’s just the start. Kentucky’s cultural throughlines include a tapestry of influences, from coal mining to crafting, songwriting to storytelling. At museums across the state, these traditions are preserved and celebrated so tomorrow’s generations can carry them on.

National Quilt Museum

Paducah

Established in 1991, the National Quilt Museum in Paducah is home to one of the foremost collections of contemporary quilts in the world. Featuring displays of handmade quilts from both American and international makers, the museum’s colorful and elaborate pieces — all made since 1980 — exemplify what’s possible when skilled fiber artists take quilting to new and exciting heights.

Exhibits at the museum rotate frequently, giving its galleries an opportunity to spotlight an array of styles and approaches. Visitors, whether quilters or not, can enjoy wandering the displays to find inspiration in the varied ways that creators have blended color and technique.

The museum frequently offers classes on various quilt-making methods. Groups can also book interactive experiences that include a guided tour of the museum plus a hands-on opportunity to make a quilt block or even enjoy a “white glove” experience to see behind-the-scenes collections. While in the area, visitors can enjoy other aspects of the rich arts scene in Paducah — a designated UNESCO Creative City — including its public murals and Lower Town Arts District.

quiltmuseum.org

Kentucky Coal Museum

Benham

For generations, coal mining helped drive the economy of Eastern Kentucky. Fathers and sons headed underground to carve out the coal that powered the nation’s steam engines, steel mills and electricity plants.

Their heroism and hard work — and the heritage that shaped their way of life — are on display at the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham. Home to coal mining artifacts, machinery, tools and memorabilia, the museum also includes an experience that simulates “going underground” into a mock mine.

Housed in a former coal company store, displays celebrate aspects of mining life experienced by residents of Benham and nearby Lynch, a Harlan County coal camp that was, at one time, the largest of its kind in the world. A replica 1930s-era kitchen, barbershop, commissary, classroom and more re-create the lived experiences of the region’s miners during coal’s heyday.

On the second floor, dedicated photo exhibits highlight the contributions of Black miners and the railroad’s role in the coal industry. On the third floor, the museum’s Loretta Lynn exhibit spotlights her role as a “coal miner’s daughter” with collections of several of Lynn’s stage dresses and a replica of the porch at her Butcher Hollow homestead.

kycoalmuseum.southeast.kctcs.edu

Muhammad Ali Center

Louisville

Located in the boxing great’s hometown, the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville features three levels of interactive displays highlighting the sports icon’s life and humanitarian legacy.

Visitors can begin at the orientation theater for an immersive film overview before diving into footage of some of Ali’s most historic fights at the “All Ali, All the Time” ringside arena display.

The museum’s interactive Greatest Timeline gallery includes artifacts that chart Ali’s impact on boxing, the Civil Rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War effort and more across the bulk of his public-facing career, from 1960 through 1981. In another gallery, the “Lighting the Way” exhibit spotlights Ali’s unforgettable role lighting the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Guests can test their own skills by shadowboxing at the “Train with Ali” exhibit before exploring various galleries devoted to the six core principles that guided his life: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality.

Outdoors, the (Float Like a) Butterfly Garden offers a quiet, reflective space where visitors can contemplate Ali’s legacy while enjoying the beauty of the monarch butterflies on display there.

alicenter.org

National Corvette Museum

Bowling Green

Since 1981, every new Chevrolet Corvette has been manufactured from a single spot on the globe: Bowling Green. Plant tours to watch the assembly line in action are available on limited dates each year, but groups are always welcome at the nearby National Corvette Museum.

A fun stop for die-hard car aficionados and newbies alike, the museum features interactive exhibits showcasing advances in Corvette engineering and design over the decades. At the same time, galleries of memorabilia and classic models — including one from the original 1953 run and a 1974 Stingray owned by Zora Arkus-Duntov, an engineer known as the “Father of the Corvette” — give context to the car’s enduring cultural appeal.

Visitors can also view the effects of the notorious 2014 sinkhole that opened under the museum, which caused damage to several cars on display. Frequent rotating exhibits showcasing key models or car highlights — for example, iconic cars featured in movies or TV shows — ensure no two visits to the museum are alike. Groups of 15 or more can create a customized experience with guided tours, and the on-site Stingray Grill makes it easy to refuel between exhibits.

corvettemuseum.org

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Owensboro

As home to the official International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro includes dozens of plaques commemorating the genre’s greats, from the “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe to iconic performers like Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers and J.D. Crowe.

But the museum — located just 45 minutes from Rosine, Monroe’s homeplace — celebrates bluegrass not as a relic of the past, but rather as a living, evolving genre. Groups can tour the property’s three-story collection, which features displays of archival photographs, vintage performance posters, rare costumes and historic instruments that chart bluegrass’s roots from Scots-Irish music into the uniquely American standard it is today.

Visitors can enjoy frequent live-music performances by the genre’s hottest modern talents at its 450-seat Woodward Theatre or even show off their own playing skills during jam sessions hosted most weekends. At the museum’s interactive Picking Parlor, even non-musicians can try their hand at strumming a tune on a banjo, mandolin, fiddle and more.

bluegrasshall.org