Kentucky.gov

Frankfort, KY - More than 76 individuals from 39 countries became U.S. citizens today in naturalization ceremony held at the Kentucky Historical Society in downtown Frankfort.

The private ceremony, presided over by the Honorable Judge Joseph M. Hood, was held at the Society's headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, at 11:30 a.m. A reception for new citizens and their families followed in the Center's Hilary J. Boone Commonwealth Hall.

The Kentucky Historical Society hosted the occasion in conjunction with its current exhibition, Our New Kentucky Home: Immigrant Experiences which opened in April and will continue through March 2008. Our New Kentucky Home: Immigrant Experiences tells stories of immigrants who come to Kentucky to create a better life for themselves and their families. The exhibition explores immigration throughout Kentucky's history, from the early wave of settlement in the 1770s to today's front pages. New citizens and their families were able to visit the exhibition and the Society's permanent exhibition on Kentucky history before and after the ceremony.

"It is appropriate that this historic moment for these new Americans took place at the Kentucky Historical Society." notes Kentucky Historical Society Executive Director Kent Whitworth. "The Kentucky Historical Society exists to help people understand, cherish and share stories of challenge and opportunity. The stories of today's newest citizens connect us to Kentuckians of the past who also found their way here for a variety of reasons and from a variety of places. These past and present stories are our history. What happened here today certainly gives perspective on present events and can be an inspiration for our future."

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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Since 1999, the thirty-million- dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit our Web site.