Day Trips
Bluegrass and Barbecue
It’s all about gathering ‘round the good stuff in Owensboro, Kentucky. Whether the primitive fire pit or the old, wrap around front porch, barbecue and bluegrass music share a heritage of people gathering together and enjoying good food and great music.
Owensboro has the International Bluegrass Music Museum, and is home to the world famous Moonlite Bar-B-Q restaurant, as well as several other barbecue eateries.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum is located in the RiverPark Center. In the late 1930s, Bill Monroe, a mandolin player and singer from nearby Rosine, Kentucky, took the stage with what became known as his signature high lonesome sound. He and his band “The Bluegrass Boys” used rural string playing, folk ballads, blues, and gospel to introduce a whole new style of music, which became known as bluegrass in the 1950s. While popular since the 1940s, this genre enjoyed renewed interest with the release of the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou” in the year 2000.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum is the world’s only facility dedicated to the history and preservation of this popular style of music. Step back in time as you listen to original recordings of bluegrass artists, watch as bluegrass legends talk and perform on video. Peruse interactive displays featuring photographs, music, and memorabilia from the founding fathers of this unique, enduring genre of music.
When you walk into Moonlite Bar-B-Q you will know you’re in a unique place. Antique farm equipment is on display in the front of the restaurant. The buffet is in a room of its own and features barbecue so tasty people call from all over to have it shipped overnight. Gourmet Magazine notes, “Most of America’s serious barbecue scenes specialize in just one kind of meat, but in Owensboro, at Moonlight, they’ve got it all and it’s all good.” Choose from mutton, what the L.A. Times calls “the older, wiser, tastier lamb;” or go for the traditional pork, beef, or chicken. Order off the menu or choose the buffet. After pushing yourself back from the table, take a stroll along the greenbelt, and then plan to stay the night at any of Owensboro’s lodging options.
|
 |
 |
