Just off the waters edge in Newport is a grand old place called the ‘Thompson House’. It currently serves as a hip live music venue, with weekly comedy nights, but also has a pretty cool history as well. It was the birthplace and former home of Brigadier General John T. Thompson, who invented the sub-machine gun; later known as the Tommy Gun. Prior to this, his forefathers entertained many distinguished guests in the home, including the future President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, the home was used as part of the underground railroad, leveraging a closet with hidden passageways to the Cincinnati River, where slaves would cross to their freedom. – side note: The underground railroad museum is just across the water in Cincinnati.

Just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati sits Newport, Kentucky. I’ve been to Newport many times, mostly to grab a bite to eat, or wander through the shops along the riverbank. But occasionally to meander along the small side streets, where there are a few surprising finds…