Berea
From LoveToKnow Travel
Berea is considered to be the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, and many working craftspeople and artisans are found here. It’s a great place to listen to the music of the dulcimer, the weaver’s shuttle, the woodworker’s plane, the jeweller’s saw, and the potter’s wheel while you enjoy shopping for your own unique gifts and treasures.
Kentucky Artisan Center
One facility in the area worth checking out is the Kentucky Artisan Center, which is dedicated to showcasing the work of many of Kentucky’s artisans; it features special exhibitions, demonstrations, a sales gallery, and gift shops with fine arts and crafts that have been made right here in Kentucky.
Old Town Artist Village
You should also tour the Old Town Artist Village, where you’ll find working studios, craft stores, galleries, and specialty shops. You’ll visit such establishments as the Family Tree (home of the famous Old Town Fudge), Candle AcScents (which specializes in soy candles that are environmentally and ecologically friendly), Glass Studio (where Michelle Weston will demonstrate her glass blowing techniques), and Hot Flash Beads (where Jimmy Lou Jackson, known as Berea’s “Bead Woman”, does her work). Jimmy Lou told me that her previous job (for 35 years) had been “to screen pap smears, so it’s so delightful to be working with beads now”.
Berea College
Berea is also the home of the renowned Berea College, a liberal arts college where students receive a tuition-free education in exchange for labor (applicants must show high academic potential and financial need). All of the College's students work at least 10 hours per week for the College, earning a part of their room and board and gaining a little spending money, too. The College considers this Labor Program to be a vital part of the educational process. (There are approximately 130 departments on campus where students are employed.) Student (and campus tour guide) Sara Rhatican told me that she would never have been able to attend college if it hadn’t been for this school’s self-help approach: “This place is a blessing.”
Boone Tavern Hotel
Berea’s Boone Tavern Hotel (which is located right on the campus and features 54 guest rooms) is owned and operated by the college. (Students do most of the work here, and the rooms are even furnished by items made by the Student Craft Industries.) The nearby Berea College’s Log House Craft Gallery (located in College Square) features the students’ own crafts.
Other Area Attractions
College Square is also home to several other prominent galleries and shops, including the Appalachian Arts & Crafts Quilt Shop (offering pottery, regional foods, quilts, and materials for your own quilt projects), ArtsSpace (home of the Berea Arts Council), Warren May, Woodworker (maker of beautiful hand-made furniture and three styles of dulcimers), and Churchill Weavers (where you can witness the ancient art form of hand-weaving on a free tour of the facilities).
Visiting Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky is located just off the I-75, 40 miles south of Lexington (it’s where the Bluegrass meets the mountains). You’ll find the town to be a very pleasant blend of southern hospitality and Appalachian tradition – and you’ll be able to browse in all those inviting, intriguing shops!
For More Information:
Berea Tourist and Convention Commission, 201 N. Broadway, Berea, KY 40403; phone: 859-986-2540 or 1-800-598-5263; web site: www.berea.com.
Southern & Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association SEKTDA), 2292 South Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501; phone: 877-8687-7359; web site: www.tourseky.com.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 596 times. This page was last modified 20:00, 4 April 2006.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
