1841
The first state fair in the United States occurred in New York.

1853
Two years after the first world’s fair in London, Americans staged their own world’s fair in New York. The first major, permanent fairgrounds in Louisville opened in Crescent Hill.

1893
The first full “Midway” was created for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and some of the first “fair foods” gained popularity there.

1901
Abram Renick, legislator from Winchester, sponsored the bill to create the Kentucky State Fair.

1902
The newly formed Kentucky Livestock Breeders Association organized the first Kentucky State Fair at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

1903
Owensboro won the bid to host the second Kentucky State Fair.

1904
Due to a pending court case testing the constitutionality of state appropriations for the fair, the Kentucky State Fair was cancelled this year.

1905
The third Kentucky State Fair was held in Lexington where organizers lobbied to host the Fair permanently.

1906
The Kentucky State Fair returned to Churchill Downs in Louisville for two consecutive years. In 1908, Louisville was named the permanent site of the Kentucky State Fair.

1908
The first permanent state fairgrounds was constructed in the Parkland neighborhood of western Louisville, opening for the September event.

1914
A saddle horse stake at the Kentucky State Fair Horse Show became the richest purse in the nation; three years later, the horse show awarded its first world’s championship.

1916-1919
For the next four years, Kentucky State Fair exhibits, attractions, and entries reflected wartime and the U.S. involvement in World War I.

1924
Daily radio broadcasts originated from the fair for the first time. The medium of radio would influence fair programming for decades.

1930-1933
During the Depression, Kentucky State Fair attendance declined, but the Fair Board implemented reduced admission fees and added an overnight campground for fairgoers.

1937
Floodwaters covered the fairgrounds in January and led to extensive repairs.

1942-1943
Buildings at the state fairgrounds were converted to defense industry uses, and the Kentucky State Fair was cancelled.

1944-1945
As World War II continued, the Kentucky State Fair was temporarily moved to Churchill Downs where patriotic programs boosted the spirits of fairgoers.

1948
Before Kentucky had its first commercial television station, TV broadcasting was demonstrated at the fair. Television programming would influence fair attractions for years to come.

1950
Ground was broken for a new fairgrounds and multi-purpose sports and entertainment center near new airport and highway facilities.

1956
Following years of plan changes and construction delays due to the Korean War, the Kentucky Exposition Center was opened for the 1956 Kentucky State Fair.

1974
An April tornado caused widespread damage to the Kentucky Exposition Center.

1986
Preview attractions in Kentucky Kingdom, the new permanent amusement park at the Kentucky Exposition Center, were opened in time for the fair.

2004
The 100th Kentucky State Fair was commemorated with nostalgic programs and a Kentucky State Fair history exhibition.