The museum was decorated for the 4th of July weekend with bright hanging baskets, yard flags from each branch of the military and yard American flags. The baskets come from Country Garden Greenhouse located in the Primrose area of Lee County. There were many visitors on the highway because of the many yard sales in Lee County along HWY 52.

It is tradition for the museum board to sell concessions at the Happy Top Park shelter on the 4th before the fireworks. On Saturday, July 2nd, John David Sipple, Ray Shuler, Justin Shuler, Kenneth Isaacs, Anita Brandenburg and Dedra Brandenburg loaded up the grill, coolers, pop, and supplies and transported it all from the museum to the Happy Top shelter. The board members meet on July 4th at 3pm and started getting organized for the concessions.

Thank you to these wonderful people for volunteering their time and donate supplies and work concessions for the museum: Linda & Bob Smith, John David Sipple, Ray Shuler, Kenneth Isaacs, Shirley Reese, and Joshua Hagan, Irene Thorpe, Steve & Michelle Estes, Bruce & Cheri Murrey, Jessica Treadway, Sammy Joe, and Dedra Brandenburg. The museum took in around $1,700 in concessions between 6:00-9:30pm that night.

Thanks also to Jack's IGA and the Bobcat Dairy Bar for supporting the museum on this event.
To watch the video of the fireworks display visit the Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Facebook page.

Thank you Just Jessica Photography for setting up and adorable photography station for families to have themed photos taken. Donations were made to the museum as people took advantage of the onsite photographer. Check out her page to view more photos from the 4th.

The museum went through a beautification project in 2019 partnering with Jackson Energy cooperative. Pulling out old flower beds, adding 4x4 post around the beds, decorating around the water wheel in the yard and more. With rose bushes, hostas, day lilies, lilac bush, peony's, and a wildflower area behind the building all blooming, the museum is a beautiful stop in the spring time. Wildflowers that come up behind the museum include: red and yellow trilliums, star of Bethlehem, yellow lady slippers, flox, and more.

Museum board members help trim back the rose bushes to prepare for their full bloom in the summer. "When the yellow Forsythia bush is in full bloom, its time to trim the rose bushes." Said Kenneth Isaacs.

The Three Forks Museum is still recovering from the historical flood that hit Beattyville/Lee County in March 2021. After year of recovery, cleaning, and moving items around, the museum still is not suitable for being open to the public. However the Museum Board continues to keep up with the normal calendar of events that the community loves; including the spring Fish Fry Fundraiser. Scheduled for April 1st, the fish fry will take place at the Lee County Shrine Club building located on Fairground Ridge Road in Beattyville. The Shrine Club building is a great location for community events as they have large round dinner tables and a great kitchen area.

The museum board could barely keep up with the crowd by serving fried fish, hush puppies, french fries, coal slaw, baked beans, desserts, and a drink for $10.00. Accompanying the fry was a silent auction. There was a nice variety of items donated by community members in support of the museum. The museum served around 200 meals and thanks to the wonderful turn-out, was able to raise $2,300 in funds.

The Lee County Republican Women's Club hosted their annual Veterans Day Luncheon at the museum. On Thursday, November 11th there was the first ever Veterans Day Parade with Bob Smith being chosen as the first Grand Marshall of the parade. Smith is not only a veteran but also the president of the Three Forks Museum Board and owner of the Three Forks Tradition Newspaper. He also oversees the veteran memorial wall, the 4th of July fireworks and is on the Woolly Worm Festival Committee. 

The parade traveled by police escort from the rail yards at the red light in Beattyville up to the museum. Once inside Bob led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. He also spoke to the group and read a poem he had written. Avis Thompson prayed over the meal and then the ladies of the club served Veterans and families soup, sandwiches, desserts and drinks. 

It was a great afternoon of fellowship. Also it was the first organized event to take place inside the museum after the flood in March. The museum volunteers had worked hard to arrange items and displays in the Veterans Wing for the event. 

Bob Smith reading the poem he wrote for Veterans Day 2021. 

National Endowment for the Humanities pass-through Kentucky Humanities: Flood Relief Emergency Funds $10,000 to the Three Forks Historical Center, Beattyville, KY. 

With the pass-through emergency flood relief grant funding from The National Endowment for the Humanities and Kentucky Humanities, the Three Forks Historical Center in Beattyville, KY successfully replaced the heating and air conditioning unites that were destroyed in the horrific flood on March 1st, 2021. The museum, in order to help protect the new system from future flooding, also ordered custom built 36 inch stands fabricated by a local welding company. Funds went toward the stands and the downpayment on the newer more efficient heating and air units. 

With an itemized bid, the museum board searched for months trying to find a company who would respond. Finally we found Commonwealth Controls. They were the same company who came to our aid in March of 2021 and did a free inspection of our units. 

Thank you Kentucky Endowment of the Humanities and Kentucky Humanities for your support. We would not have been able to complete this Heating and Air project without your support. Temperature control of the 4,000 soft building is vital to the preservation of the artifacts, documents, and photographs inside the museum. 
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Financial Review of the project:
Grant Funds Spent = $10,000
Museum Funds Spent = $5,947.40
Total project Cost = $15,9470.40

We at the Three Forks Historical Center were sad to hear that the West Liberty Military Museum located in the jail next to the Courthouse downtown was closing. Our President Bob Smith's sister Alane called and arranged a few pick up days for volunteers to take trailers and trucks to West Liberty to load up on display cases, artifacts, and more. We can not thank you enough Tony and Alane for thinking of us. We are sad that you had to close down, but feel honored that we can help display the artifacts you loaned and donated to the Three Forks Historical Center. 

Thank you Jon Allen, Lee County EMA, Chuck Caudill, Lee County Judge Executive, Josh Caudill, Lee County Schools, and museum board members Kenneth Isaacs and Dedra Brandenburg who traveled and loaded artifacts several Fridays in a row. 

This year will be the 16th Annual Three Forks Old Engine, Tractor Show & Fish Fry. It will be hosted at the Three Forks Historical Center on HWY 11 North, Beattyville, KY. 

All day Saturday, September 11th, 2021 there will be a display of old tractors and engines. Registration starts at 9am. The first 25 engines to register will receive a dash plaque. The show will go on throughout the day with participants parading their antique tractors down Main Street at 3 p.m.
The fish fry will follow directly after the tractor parade. The meal will consists of fried fish, hushpuppies, cole slaw, french fries, baked beans, desert and drink. The cost will be $8.00. Children 6 and under eat free. 
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Accepting donations to place into a silent auction fundraiser. If you have items to donate please call 606-464-2888 or 606-464-5038. Silent auction will close on the event day at 5pm. 

Farmers, Arts and Crafts vendors are welcome to set up. If you would like to set up, give us a call at (606) 464-2888 or (606) 464-5038
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Come out and support the museum!