Cerulean Springs and the Springs of Western Kentucky

Book excerpt: In the 1800s, the healing virtues of mineral springs lured settlers and travelers to Western Kentucky. In addition to curing the sick, the springs provided a forum for antebellum America to socialize, as the elegant surroundings became popular destinations for parties and dances. In this volume, more than 200 photographs and postcards share the unique story of Western Kentucky's mineral spring resorts, spanning nine counties from Elizabethtown westward to Kentucky Lake. Highlighted is the town that grew up around the spring at Cerulean, drawing the nation's first poet laureate, a Kentucky governor, politicians, ex-slaves, and ordinary people. The traditions revealed by these photographs and postcards constitute a thread in the fabric of American culture and history.