On this day in 1837, a young Victoria awoke to the announcement that her uncle, King William IV had died and that she was Queen.
Her coronation was in June 28, 1838, and she became the first sovereign to reside at Buckingham Palace. By the time of her rule, the UK was in a constitutional monarchy, so she had few direct political powers, and instead became a national icon identified with strict standards of personal morality. Victoria ruled until her death in 1901 - 63 years and 7 months, the longest of any other British monarch, and the longest of any female monarch in history (though Elizabeth II may unseat her). Her reign was known as the Victorian era, a period of industrial, cultural, scientific, and military change, and a time of great British expansion. More recently, she was portrayed as a delightful villain in the animated family comedy The Pirates! Band of Misfits. However, if she had seen this film she might very well say, "We are not amused."
It’s Wednesday, June 20
There’s a Get Fit 5K and Youth Run in Calvert City this Saturday at the Calvert City Civic Center. Registration is $25 for adults or $10 for youth. Check-in starts at 6:30, with the race starting at 8 and the youth run beginning at 9. There’s more information at active.com.
Fort Donelson hosts a Civil War Roundtable tomorrow night at 7 at the Cumberland Room of the Stewart County Visitor Center. Ross Hudgins will present a program on the Civil War journals of Margaret Nichol Vaulx. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Land Between the Lakes offers a Hundreds of Herons Canoe Trip on Saturday evening at 6:30. Meet at Kuttawa Landing for a trip to the heron rookery on Lake Barkley packed full of nesting birds. The cost is $25 per canoe. Reservations and full deposits are required by calling (270) 924-2020.
To learn more about these and other community events, visit wkms.org. Thanks for listening.
