Mapping Kentucky History

Geographic and Cartographical services at Morehead State University’s program of distinction Institute of Regional Analysis and Public Policies would like to introduce Mapping Kentucky History.  A collaborative educational outreach project introduced in 2008 by the Commonwealth Height Modernization project under the National Geodetic Survey System, the Geographical Names Information System Kentucky Phase II project and the Kentucky Historical Society.

Mapping Kentucky History’s mission is to integrate the exploration of Kentucky’s rich heritage and geospatial technologies education into k-12 schools. The project supports collaboration between students and community members around the state in mapping and gathering information about Kentucky’s Historical markers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the educational benefits for students involved?
Students involved are learning ways combine a wide variety of practical hands-on and analytical skills. Also students will be learning about the science and math components involved with GPS devices. Computer literacy and technical skills is also applied by inputting coordinates from their GPS units, and text information from marker, into a web interface that has been set up specifically for the project.

What are the hopes for this project?
Hopes for this project are that students, teachers and schools will become inspired to learn more about the stories behind the brief outline they read on the markers they are mapping. For example, inviting individuals and groups from their local historical societies to come and talk about some of the events and people, that the students are literally helping put on the map.

How does the GPS receive its geographical coordinates?
The signals will be coming from the satellite receiving base stations that are a part of the Commonwealth Height Modernization project, so they will be accessing information from a system that is part of the National Geodetic Survey system.

Where does the data end up?
All the information obtained shared with the United States Geological Survey and become part of their Geographic Names Information System database. Elevation data will be passed down to the Commonwealth Height Modernization project. Once project is complete we intend to share this information with the Kentucky Historical Society for preservation and enhancing the online Kentucky Roadside Marker Database.

Why a Map?
Currently, many of Kentucky’s historical roadside markers are not mapped. This project is building a public map and database of the locations and other information about all historical markers in Kentucky.  Preservation is the key.

This project offers an opportunity to bring together so many critical need areas for the students of the Commonwealth: a direct and real math and science application, history, teamwork lessons, and even community building. This project offers a chance for students to get a better understanding of where they live, and a positive sense of place. That in return makes students feel more involved and take a greater pride and interest in their area. This process of mapping will hopefully lead the way in finding the next “overlooked story” in the students community and help get the next historical marker for their county.

For more information contact: Cecelia Armstrong @ c.armstrong@moreheadstate.edu