The Mason Everyday Tote

Our Mason Everyday Tote gets its name from Mason County, which is named for George Mason, the father of the Bill of Rights … Rights for a nation and “everyday people” … it’s OK, sing along.

Mason County was officially formed in 1789 from portions of Bourbon County, while still part of Virginia and is eighth in order of formation. (Remember … Kentucky did not officially become a state until 1792).

Its importance to the founding of Kentucky lies in its proximity to the Ohio River. Early hunters and river spies began traversing the wilderness in the mid-1700s. Later, Daniel Boone would bring the first settlers down the Ohio and up through the Cumberland Gap to establish fortress settlements.

George Mason (1725-1792) was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and influential participant at the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia. Ironically, the signature of George Mason does not appear on the United States Constitution. He left the proceedings in protest over the absence of a declaration of rights. His demonstration was largely responsible for the establishment of the most important feature of our United States Constitution, its Bill of Rights.

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The Kentucky Gateway Museum - Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky on March 1, 1878, it is said to be the oldest state historical organization in continuous existence.

The Old Pogue Distillery - Several generations of the Pogues were involved in distilling from 1876 until Prohibition in the 1920's. Now the Pogues have opened a small-batch distillery producing bourbon and rye whiskeys in the family’s historic home on West Second Street.

The Baker-Bird Winery - One of 22 wineries on the National Historic Registry out of about 6000 wineries in the U.S.A. The Winery is the oldest commercial estate winery in America with its original land.

Blue Licks Battlefield - Blue Lick State Park marks the site of the last Revolutionary War battle fought in Kentucky.

Mason Everyday Tote at The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia.