As the country marks America’s 250th birthday, one Kentucky community is reflecting on its deep roots in the nation’s history. The Shelby County Historical Society is working to preserve the area’s rich history, which dates back to the American Revolution.

A Critical Role in the American Revolution

Before the nation was founded, Shelby County played a critical role in the American Revolution. British forces aligned with Native Americans and launched attacks across the county. Defensive locations included Painted Stone Station, a fort founded by Squire Boone, Daniel Boone’s brother, just outside of modern-day Shelbyville.

Today, 30 Revolutionary War veterans are buried in the county. The Shelby County Historical Society is also working to locate the graves of 22 Union soldiers who were killed by Confederate guerrilla fighters in the final months of the Civil War.

Preserving History

The historical society is home to the ‘250 Years of Clothing’ exhibit, which takes guests through centuries of American history through famed artifacts and captivating sewn replicas. One artifact on exhibit is a powder horn that belonged to a man named Isaac Collier, who started out on the British side but later became a patriot.

The Executive Director of the Shelby County Historical Society, Helen McKinney, hopes visitors take away the importance of the area to the nation’s 250-year history. ‘We’ve done a lot in 250 years. We’ve accomplished a lot and we’re looking forward to the next 250 years and what we’ll do,’ McKinney said.

Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.