Kadie Engstrom says her community is filled with people who have given their time, expertise and personal resources to preserve their history. “They believe it’s important to protect the past for the betterment of the community’s future, “says the Germantown-Paristown resident. “I believe that too.”
Engstrom’s commitment to local history led her to write “Pathway Through the Past: A Timeline Tour of Historic Sites in the Louisville, Kentucky, Metropolitan Area.” The book is a handy resource for locals or visitors to the area who are up for an afternoon of sightseeing. “It’s a small book, intended to be light to carry and inexpensive to buy,” says the author.
“Pathway Through the Past,” published by Butler Books, is a brief, highly readable description of the history of Louisville and southern Indiana. It’s laid out in chronological order, and includes brief descriptions of more than two dozen local historic sites, and plenty of historical and contemporary photos.
Engstrom has been a local resident for more than 40 years and she clearly loves the area. “How can you not be touched by the impact of these lives and events?” she asks. “For just a few examples, we have Locust Grove, the oldest restored home and a continuing picture of what life was like here in the 18th century; Thomas Edison’s home and the inventions he left in his legacy; Abraham Lincoln’s association with Farmington and the difference that made to American history; the Falls of the Ohio and river history in general; and the importance of the steamboat to our nation.”
Engstrom’s sister, Sue Lion, did the design work on the book. “She’s a very successful freelance designer and illustrator,” says Engstrom. “I fed her text and images, and she made them look incredible in the book.”
The result of the sisters’ collaboration is a colorful book filled with photographs depicting sites such as Cathedral of the Assumption, Churchill Downs, the Louisville Water Company, the Belle of Louisville and other attractions. Historic homes such as Riverside, Whitehall, Farmington, Nunnlea, and the Culbertson and Brennan mansions are also depicted.
Engstrom is chair of the Kentuckiana Heritage Consortium, which supports the work of historic sites in the Louisville metro area. Her book is intended to benefit the consortium and includes a list of consortium members with their contact information.
Engstrom is also education coordinator for our historic steamboat, the Belle of Louisville, and has spent many years working with the local Girl Scout council, primarily in programs and education. “Both jobs put me in contact with a wealth of cultural and historic sites in the area, and that experience has enriched me,” she says. “There’s something very rewarding about connecting to Louisville’s past and finding ways to make that connection possible for others.”
In addition, Engstrom has written three small books that are sold in the Belle of Louisville gift shop, outlined several chapters for a book on steamboat history and written two children’s books. She also writes educational resources and articles for publication, conducts professional development and public presentations, and has served as project director for public television productions about the Belle.
Engstrom is both surprised and pleased at the popularity of “Pathway Through the Past,” and states, “Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected to sell as many books as we have in such a short time.”
“Pathway Through the Past” is available in Louisville at Carmichael’s Bookstore and Barnes and Noble, in New Albany at Destinations Booksellers, and in Lexington at Joseph Beth Booksellers. The book is also available in gift shops at a few of the local historic sites, and online at Amazon.com and www.butlerbooks.com.
Susan E. Lindsey is a freelance writer, a professional book editor and publicist. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .