Volunteer with the Blue Grass Trust!
Campus Cleanup Volunteer Day!
Join the Blue Grass Trust and our wonderful partners at Town & Country Garden Club as we celebrate Earth Day by sprucing up the campus of historic Hopemont!
We’ll be cleaning the siding and woodwork of the house, gathering leaves, and tidying up our outdoor spaces. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, rakes, scrub brushes, buckets, and other garden tools if you have them—we’ll have a few extras on hand to share!
Please register in advance by emailing josborne@bluegrasstrust.org. And if you’d like to stay in the loop for future opportunities, consider joining our volunteer list using the link below!
Campus Cleanup Day at Hopemont
201 North Mill Street
Wednesday, April 22nd
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
EDUCATION
Mid-Century Modern Bike Tour:
Featuring the Homes of Richard B. Isenhour
Celebrate Preservation Month and Bike Month with a fun, safe, and educational ride through Lexington’s most concentrated collection of Richard B. Isenhour designed homes. Active from the 1950s through the 1980s, Isenhour was a key figure in introducing mid-century modern residential design to Central Kentucky. His work often used natural materials like wood and local limestone alongside expansive windows that brought a strong connection between architecture and the landscape, resulting in homes that were both innovative and harmonious with their sites.
The route follows a safe, low-traffic loop through residential neighborhoods. This one-hour guided ride is open to cyclists of all experience levels. The event is free, but registration is required. For safety, helmets are required. Click here to preview the Bike Tour Route!
Mid-Century Modern Bike Tour
Meeting Point: UK Arboretum Water Tower
Friday, May 8th
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
May 2026 deTour
White Hall in Richmond, KY
Join us as we kick off Preservation Month with a special deTour at historic White Hall—with a special announcement that night!
Tucked into the rolling farmland of northern Madison County, this sprawling 44-room mansion is best known as the home of Cassius Marcellus Clay — one of Kentucky's most outspoken emancipationists, a fiery political figure, and U.S. Minister to Russia. Originally built in 1799 by his father, General Green Clay, as a modest seven-room home, White Hall was transformed over the decades into the grand, 10,000-plus-square-foot Italianate mansion we see today. His wife, Mary Jane Warfield Clay, oversaw its dramatic expansion while he served abroad, and their daughters — including Laura Clay — went on to play leading roles in the women's suffrage movement. Few houses in Kentucky so powerfully reflect one family's impact on the state's political and social history. deTours are free and open to the public!
White Hall
500 White Hall Shrine Road, Richmond, KY
Wednesday, May 6th
6:00 PM
Recap: April 2026 deTour
St. Hubert’s Episcopal Church
Our in-person deTours returned on April 1st with a visit to the remarkable St. Hubert's Episcopal Church! Completed in 1969 and modeled after a traditional English country church, this picturesque stone structure was built of native Kentucky limestone and locally grown timber. Highlights included the massive oak doors carved by Kentucky musician and craftsman John Jacob Niles, featuring the Eighty-fourth Psalm framed by ivy and tobacco leaves, and a freestanding bell tower housing an 1862 antique bell rescued from being melted down during World War I.
A true highlight of the evening was a dulcimer performance by Ron Pen, Professor Emeritus and Director Emeritus of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music at the University of Kentucky, who brought the spirit of Niles to life through his music. Guests also enjoyed exploring the beautiful grounds and historic cemetery of the church. It was wonderful to gather in person again and we look forward to seeing you at our May deTour!
ADVOCACY
The Fight for East Maxwell Continues
Last fall, the Blue Grass Trust successfully opposed the rezoning of E. Maxwell and Rose to B-2A, which would have resulted in the loss of 12 National Register-listed buildings. In their place, private equity firm Core Spaces intended to construct a high-rent, 8-story private dormitory; two similar developments will soon be constructed on the same three-block stretch of E. Maxwell. Although the Council narrowly reversed the rezoning, we have since learned that Core Spaces still intends to purchase the entire block this summer with the likely intention of demolition.
We therefore co-organized a community meeting on April 7 with our partners, Aylesford Action, to develop new strategies and opportunities for collaboration. This brainstorming yielded dividends, and plans are afoot! Stay tuned to our social media channels for forthcoming updates as we continue to oppose the loss of Lexington's historic, affordable housing.
Helping Shape KY’s Conservation Framework!
Staff members Jackson Osborne and Erica Friis traveled to Beattyville earlier this month to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Bluegrass Land Conservancy as part of their Kentucky Legacy Land Project. The initiative is building a statewide conservation framework that reflects Kentucky's geographic and ecological diversity, bringing together cross-sector partners to create a lasting tool for land stewardship and decision-making.
Participants engaged in facilitated discussions and breakout groups focused on natural habitats and wildlife, waterways, agriculture and farmland, and cultural, scenic, and historic resources. It was a valuable opportunity to ensure that historic preservation has a seat at the table as Kentucky plans for the future of conservation across the Commonwealth!
Preservation Success Story
Belle Brezing Rowhouses
Thank you to everyone who joined us on February 18 for our free Virtual Workshop on Historic Tax Credits, presented in partnership with the Kentucky Heritage Council! The session drew nearly 30 attendees, who learned about the three-part application process, eligibility requirements, and expectations for appropriate rehabilitations. If you missed it, or want to revisit the details, the presentation slides are accessible through the link below!
DIRECT SERVICES
Out and About in Central Kentucky
Exploring Matthew Kennedy’s Legacy with Mulberry & Lime!
Earlier this month, we partnered with our friends at Mulberry & Lime for a special tour of the historic Matthew Kennedy House on Fourth Street. Guests enjoyed an intimate look inside the 1815 home of one of Kentucky's first known architects — the same Matthew Kennedy who designed the Transylvania University Main Building and the second Kentucky State Capitol. Local UK student Wesley Francis guided visitors through the home's distinctive architectural details and its evolution over two centuries, followed by afternoon tea from Lexington Tea & Brie. It was a truly lovely afternoon, and we're grateful to everyone who came out to support the Blue Grass Trust!
The good news? You haven't missed your chance to step inside history. On May 17, Mulberry & Lime is hosting a tour of the stunning Elkwood House, designed by Kennedy c. 1835 for the Buford family. Wesley Francis returns to walk guests through the home's architectural highlights, and this time the experience continues with a tour of Bluegrass Distillers, whose operations are rooted in the very farmland surrounding the house. You'll follow their grain-to-glass process from field to bottle, exploring their brand-new distillery and production spaces. Options for a bourbon tasting are also available after the tour! All proceeds benefit the Blue Grass Trust — grab your tickets using the link below!
Plaque Property Spotlight
Hugh Carlan House
Our latest Plaque Property post examines the beautifully rehabilitated Hugh Carlan House at 149 E. Fourth Street. Built around 1814 by house-joiner Samuel Long, this Federal-style brick building is one of several that Long constructed on the east side of Limestone. In 2015, the current owner undertook a major rehabilitation of the deteriorated property, adding a sympathetic frame addition that harmonizes with the original massing. This project is truly a testament to the resurgence of Lexington's historic North Side and Mulberry Hill, in particular. Check out the post for dramatic "before" and "after" images!
