UK Monuments Workshop supports new historical marker in Bath County honoring saddle-making legacy
OWINGSVILLE, Ky. (June 2, 2025) — A new state historical marker honoring the legacy of 19th-century saddle maker Eugene Minihan was unveiled May 9, in downtown Owingsville. The marker is the result of a multi-year effort led by members of the community in partnership with the Monuments Workshop at the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Historical Society.
The Monuments Workshop, a public engagement initiative housed in UK’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, works with communities across Kentucky to elevate untold local histories and bring visibility to underrepresented narratives. The Minihan Saddle project reflects that mission by shining a light on Bath County’s contributions to Kentucky’s equine culture and craft heritage.
“Community leaders in Owingsville were among the very first people to contact us when we launched the workshop,” said Zack Bray, co-director of the Monuments Workshop. “Working with them has helped deepen our understanding of how crucial local stories and rural experiences are to Kentucky’s broader history.”
Remembering a master craftsman
Born in 1856 in Nicholas County and trained in Cincinnati, Eugene Minihan established a saddle shop in Owingsville by the 1880s. He invented the Kentucky Spring Seat Saddle, celebrated for its comfort, durability and quilted leather craftsmanship. The saddle was well-suited for long rides through Kentucky’s mountain terrain and became especially valued for use with the mountain horse, a breed central to Appalachian life.
Minihan’s saddles influenced generations of saddle makers and are now considered prized collectors’ items. In 2019, following advocacy from Bath County residents and university partners, the Kentucky General Assembly passed and Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 212, officially naming the Spring Seat Saddle as the State Saddle of Kentucky.
The campaign to secure the historical marker built on that recognition. Faculty and staff from the Monuments Workshop helped guide the application process, prepare materials and submit recommendations to the Kentucky Historical Society.
Collaboration across community and campus
The Bath County group, led by Owingsville mayor Gary Hunt and horse enthusiast Langley Franklin, developed the proposal with support from the Workshop. Their application was selected as one of only twelve to receive public funding through the state’s highly competitive historical marker program.
“It's incredible that this marker will be read thousands of times over the coming years,” said Mayor Hunt at the dedication. “Anytime we can recognize Owingsville for the great city it is, that’s good. This is part of our legacy as a community.”
The Monuments Workshop helped connect local energy to statewide recognition. As Jim Seaver of the Kentucky Historical Society explained, “So often people think history happened elsewhere. But when they see a marker tied to their own community, it helps them understand that Kentucky is truly remarkable.”
Seaver added that the process of applying can feel daunting.
“It’s not easy to think like a historian, especially if your last history class was decades ago,” Seaver said. “The Monuments Workshop plays a vital role in helping people gather evidence, understand government procedures and show that their story is truly significant.”
A living memory of Appalachian Kentucky
The marker project highlights a broader truth about Kentucky’s heritage. Although the Thoroughbred industry often dominates public imagery, the Minihan Saddle project reveals how local craftsmanship, rural innovation and the mountain horse have also shaped the state’s story.
“This isn’t just a story about saddles,” said Bray. “It’s about how people, place and memory shape each other. This project reminds us that public memory is something we build together, and it does not stop at the city limits of Lexington or Louisville.”
With the marker now installed, the Bath County group is turning its attention to new goals, including fundraising for a larger monument and revitalization efforts in downtown Owingsville. The Monuments Workshop continues to support communities across Kentucky in bringing meaningful local stories to public light.
For more information, visit https://monumentworkshop.uky.edu or contact the team at monuments@uky.edu or 859-218-1578.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.