There’s Never Been a Better Time to Join the Blue Grass Trust!
Become a Member. Shape the Future of Preservation.
Join the Blue Grass Trust and become a partner in preserving the places that tell our story.
You care about the places that make Central Kentucky unique—and so do we. This August, we’re launching a New Member Drive to welcome more people into our growing community of preservationists.
As a nonprofit, we rely entirely on private support to fuel our work—whether that’s saving endangered landmarks, conducting property research, helping owners secure tax credits, or offering public education programs. By becoming a Blue Grass Trust member, you not only support the preservation of the places you love, but also gain access to exclusive member benefits, including invitations to members-only events, early registration for our most popular programs and regular updates on local preservation projects.
EDUCATION
2025 Hopemont Lecture Save the Date
"When the Landscape is Guilty: History, Law, and Understanding the South" by Dr. Melynda Price
We’re honored to welcome Dr. Melynda Price—Co-Director of the Monuments Workshop and Director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan—for this year’s Hopemont Lecture.
Dr. Price’s lecture will examine how difficult it is to understand the history of a place or a people without understanding their relationship to the land beneath and around them. This lecture will discuss how Dr. Price’s long engagement with the law, as an attorney and professor of law, helped her rethink her own identity as a Black American and a Southerner. She draws on her past work on the death penalty and her current work on monuments to highlight the complexities of race, place, and “the natural” in the contemporary South. As our nation nears its 250th birthday, together we will explore how communities publicly remember, share, and commemorate our collective histories. Please join us for this incredible evening!
Thursday, September 25 | 7:00–8:30 PM
Lexington History Museum (210 N Broadway)
The 2025 Hopemont Lecture is free and open to the public. RSVPs required. Registration will open in early September.
Upcoming September 2025 deTour
JC Cock House
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 3rd
⏰ Time: 6PM
📍Where: JC Cock House at Botherum, 341 Madison Place, Lexington, KY 40508
Mark your calendars! Our next deTour is just around the corner on September 3 at 6PM—and you don’t want to miss it. Join us for a special evening at the JC Cock House, a circa 1810 summer kitchen that’s been masterfully transformed on the historic Botherum property by celebrated landscape designer Jon Carloftis.
This incredible example of adaptive reuse maintains the building’s historic character while incorporating modern amenities like updated electrical and plumbing, proper drainage. Located on the beautifully landscaped grounds of historic Botherum, guests will also enjoy a stroll through some of the most thoughtfully designed gardens in Lexington. It’s a rare opportunity to experience preservation, design, and horticultural excellence all in one place. Hope to see you there!
August 2025 deTour Recap
Hickman House
We enjoyed a wonderful summer evening in Winchester for our latest Blue Grass Trust deTour and are deeply grateful to our gracious hosts at the historic Hickman House, who welcomed us so warmly. Built in 1814 as a tavern, the home was soon purchased by William Hickman—one of Central Kentucky’s most celebrated furniture makers—and remained in the Hickman family for more than 160 years. Guests were treated to stories of its rich past while exploring its distinctive floor plan and beautifully appointed rooms, filled with elegant antiques that reflected the home’s long and storied history. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening celebrating one of Kentucky’s early craft and community landmarks!
ADVOCACY
New Herald-Leader Op-Ed
The Loss of 245 Stone Ave
The latest casualty of The Maxwell mega-project was the charming John F. Nunan House at 245 Stone Ave, an architecturally significant bungalow dating to the 1920s. We had every expectation that this building would be retained based on the planning documents that were submitted, but wheeling and dealing by the developer and the Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity ensured its demise. The city’s Planning staff, for their part, were willing to rubber-stamp extensive changes to the final development plan without gaining the approval of the Planning Commission; they further rebuffed our efforts to obtain a review of their questionable interpretations by the Board of Adjustment.
Dr. Zak Leonard’s recent op-ed in the Herald-Leader (also available on our website blog) guides readers through this debacle and emphasizes city staff’s increasing ostracization of community members from the planning process.
DIRECT SERVICES
Just Released: 70th Anniversary Edition of Preservation Matters
The Blue Grass Trust is proud to unveil the 70th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of Preservation Matters! This special issue celebrates seven decades of preserving the historic places, stories, and communities that define Central Kentucky.
Prefer a physical copy? We’re happy to mail one to you. Simply email your name and mailing address to info@bluegrasstrust.org.
Correction Notice:
In our print edition, we regretfully omitted two extraordinary supporters from our donor recognition list. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks and proper acknowledgment to Mr. George Meng and Ms. Jo Ellen Hayden, who generously supported the Blue Grass Trust at the Landmark ($2,500–$4,999) Membership Level. Thank you both for your commitment to preservation and to our shared mission.
Founder’s Day Event Recap
Last month, we packed Hopemont for a celebration 70 years in the making. At our Founders’ Day gathering, we honored our legacy, toasted our future, and unveiled major plans for growth. Full of meaningful conversations, shared memories, and laughter, it was truly a night to remember!
A special thank you to our generous sponsor, Barnhill Chimney, for helping make this celebration possible, to Kopana Terry for the wonderful photos, and a big thank you to all our members. Your support is what makes our impact possible!
Mellon Grant Announced
$600,000 for New Preservation Center at Hopemont
In a landmark moment, we’re thrilled to share that the Blue Grass Trust has received a $600,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to support the creation of the Preservation Center at Hopemont—a one-stop resource hub for preservation across Kentucky.
The Preservation Center will house all BGT programming, consulting services, and educational resources, plus new exhibits and two staff positions focused on African American heritage and visitor experience. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
