Historic Rock Ford, consisting of the circa 1794 General Edward Hand Mansion and the John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts, will host Mel Stewart Hankla of Carter County, Ky., on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. Hankla will present "The American Long Rifle: Backbone of Frontier Culture."

Hankla will showcase examples of early material culture, showing detailed images and sharing stories of early American frontiersmen. Hankla believes that the emergence of art, fine silverwork, and elaborate furniture and the dramatic architecture of early America were made possible by a culture that had, as its backbone, the iconic long rifle.

This program will be held on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn and includes admission to the special exhibit "Long Rifles of the American Revolution: How Lancaster County Craftsmen Helped Win the War" in the Snyder Gallery, located on the second floor of the barn.

The founder of American Historic Services, Hankla is a collector, researcher, lecturer, and writer focused on Kentucky's heritage. He has been an active member of the Kentucky Rifle Association since 1990, is past president and co-founder of the Contemporary Longrifle Association, and is editor-in-chief of American Tradition Magazine. He builds traditional Kentucky long rifles and in 1984 was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts Folk Art Apprenticeship grant to study with legendary riflesmith Hershel House. He worked as a historical actor and educator for 23 years with the Kentucky Humanities Council, and in 2012, he was cast in the leading role in the PBS documentary "An Audacious American," the story of abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay. Hankla has served as a member or board member of various history-focused organizations.

Reservations may be made at http://rockford.yapsody.com. The ticket fee will be discounted for members of the Rock Ford Foundation, the 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates Historic Rock Ford.