Treat yourself to a special road trip this Memorial Day Weekend and learn more about your roots on the way to Louisville for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2025 Family History Conference, Tales & Trails.
Like those on the northern end of I-65, those traveling from the south to the conference in Louisville have an easy drive. From Birmingham, Alabama, it's a straight shot on I-65N and can be done in less than six hours.
As a bonus, you may be able to slip in some family history along the way. In the 1800s, as Tennessee and Kentucky farm soils became depleted, some wealthy planters opted to move to more fertile lands in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, so those of you with roots in these areas may well find a few missing ancestors in research opportunities as you travel to Louisville.1
First Stop: Nashville, Tennessee
If you are looking for an ancestor who lived or passed through Tennessee, you will want to research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) in Nashville.
The TSLA is home to more than 10,000 family histories and over 100,000 microfilm reels of censuses, country records, land grants, newspapers, military records, etc. It also houses extensive genealogical collections of the Tennessee Historical Society and the state and national Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) societies.
The Nashville Public Library also has a substantial collection of genealogical records.
Second Stop: Bowling Green, Kentucky
In the nineteenth century, steamboats and later railways contributed to Bowling Green's growth as an urban and commercial center.
Western Kentucky University offers repositories of thousands of historical and vital records of interest to family historians. The university is home to the Kentucky Library and Museum, the Manuscripts and Folklife Archives, and the University Archives.
Before embarking on your road trip, you may want to purchase and download a PDF of Research in Kentucky and Research in Tennessee in the NGS Store for reference.
Louisville!
Once you arrive in Louisville, enjoy meeting and networking with genealogists from around the country who share your love for family history. Join us at the historic Galt House from 23-26 May for an amazing program and get access to audio recordings and slides from every session through 15 July 2025!
Plus, there are plenty of research opportunities in Louisville. At the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, you’ll have access to its vast collections documenting not just Louisville but the entire Ohio River Valley, the Upper South, and beyond. Here you can access manuscripts, maps, diaries, correspondence, business and organizational records, newspapers, and more. Its microform collection also includes the Lyman Draper Manuscripts, which focuses on the history of the "Trans-Allegheny West," including regions like the Ohio River Valley, Virginia, the western Carolinas, and parts of the Mississippi Valley, primarily between the 1740s and 1830s.
And let’s not forget about the treasures at our host society, the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), whose library and museum is in Louisville. Their volunteers will be welcoming us to Louisville and they can help you connect with your Revolutionary War past just in time for America’s 250th celebration.
Don't Miss the Conference and Related Events
Go to the Registration and Pricing page for details, fees, and to sign up for the conference, luncheons, and special events. There are conference registration offers for Youth and NGS Organization Members.
If you’ve already signed up, download a social media badge to share that you're going and invite people to join you for a road trip to remember.
See you in Louisville!
