Join us on October 29 for the Hopemont Lecture with Donovan Rypkema
Save Your Seat for the Hopemont Lecture!
The 2026 Hopemont Lecture is just two weeks away, and seats are filling quickly! On Thursday, October 29, nationally recognized preservation economist Donovan Rypkema will present "The Housing We Already Have: Historic Preservation, Affordability, and Our Local Economy." As principal of PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development consulting firm, Rypkema has spent decades making the economic case for saving historic places.
We value historic buildings for their stories and architecture, but they're also homes, storefronts, and workplaces. Drawing on research from communities across the country, Rypkema will share what the numbers reveal about preservation's impact on affordable housing, jobs, local businesses, and tax revenues. As Central Kentucky navigates growth and rising housing costs, his insights couldn't come at a better time.
Thursday, October 29 | 7:00 PM
Lexington History Museum
210 N Broadway
We are at capacity for this event. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please email office@bluegrasstrust.org.
EDUCATION
November 2026 deTour
Heritage Window Solutions
Join the Blue Grass Trust on November 4 for a behind-the-scenes visit to Heritage Window Solutions, a local shop specializing in historic window restoration. This deTour will explore the hands-on process of repairing and restoring historic wood windows and the important role they play in preserving the character of our historic homes. We will also look at how window restoration can be an affordable, practical, and beneficial alternative to replacement, helping homeowners retain original architectural features while improving their windows' performance and longevity.
Heritage Window Solutions is a member of the Blue Grass Trust’s Preservation Professionals Directory, which connects property owners with skilled professionals who specialize in the care and preservation of historic buildings. Come see the work happening in the workshop and learn why sometimes the best way to improve a historic window is simply to save the one you already have.
2026 NOVEMBER DETOUR
Heritage Windows
196 Turner Commons Way, Suite 120, Lexington, KY 40508
Wednesday, November 4th
6 PM
Recap: October 2026 deTour
River House Museum
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday, October 7 for our deTour of the River House Museum at Fort Boonesborough State Park! Guests explored a preserved early 20th-century lockmaster's home and learned about the Kentucky River navigation system, a network of 14 locks and dams built between 1836 and 1917 to carry river traffic through the heart of the state. The tour also shared the story of the Walters family, who called the River House home for two generations and helped keep this remarkable system running.
Headless Horseman Historic Bike Tour
Join us for a bike tour on October 25th through some of downtown Lexington's most historic neighborhoods! We'll begin at Latrobe's Pope Villa at 11 AM and ride through the Aylesford, South Hill, Western Suburb, Woodland Heights, Northside, and Gratz Park Historic Districts, with several stops along the way to explore historic sites and their stories! We love the spirit(s) of historic preservation, but don't worry about ghouls, goblins, or haints. This Halloween-themed ride is not a ghost tour. The historic places along our route are very much alive and remain an important part of Lexington's community.
There's nothing scarier than watching a historic home or site disappear. This ride is a chance to get out, see some of the places that make Lexington special, and learn more about the historic resources we're working to preserve. After the ride, we'll return to Hopemont for sandwiches and refreshments in the garden.
This guided ride is open to cyclists of all experience levels, and helmets are required for all riders. The event is free, but registration is required.
ADVOCACY
Joseph Woolfolk House at 224 E. High.
New Threats to Historic Aylesford
Like many of our Aylesford neighbors, we are devastated by the recent loss of the two National Register-listed blocks on E. Maxwell, Kalmia, and Lyndhurst Place (shown below). Despite our successful challenge to the rezoning of this area, developer Core Spaces proceeded to demolish these residences and still has not submitted any plan for new construction.
Now, another developer – Up Campus Student Living – is seeking a rezoning for a 10-story luxury dormitory on E. High and Stone Ave that will result in the demolition of eight more historic houses. Among these is the c. 1868 Joseph Woolfolk House at 224 E. High (shown above). The Planning Commission will consider this rezoning request on October 22 at 1:30 pm.
On September 30, objectors to this rezoning filled the auditorium at Central Library capacity. To keep up this momentum, we will be hosting a community meeting at Kentucky Native Café on October 14, 5:30-7 pm. We will discuss our strategy for opposing the rezoning and offer advice on delivering public comment and crafting letters to the Planning Commission.
We’ve also come up with a list of talking points that letter writers can use that is available on the Advocacy page of our website. Email these letters to planningmailbox@lexingtonky.gov and note the project number: PLN-MAR-26-00019.
Help us save the Woolfolk House, protect Aylesford’s affordable housing, and safeguard our built heritage!
Demolition of 270 Lyndhurst Place, October 2026.
DIRECT SERVICES
Preservation in Progress
The 2026 edition of Preservation Matters, the Blue Grass Trust's annual publication, is here! This year's issue is all about preservation in progress. Get a first look at the Preservation Center at Hopemont as it takes shape room by room, catch up on Pope Villa's next big steps toward rehabilitation, and read about our advocacy alongside Aylesford Action for one of Lexington's most historic neighborhoods.
You'll also find a packed year of deTours, lectures, and workshops, this year's Preservation Award honorees, and two new faces on the Blue Grass Trust team. Download the full issue below, or if you'd prefer a physical copy, contact our office at (859) 253-0362 or info@bluegrasstrust.org and we'll mail one to you!
Out in the Community:
Lexington in Bloom
Community Outreach Manager Jackson Osborne recently had the opportunity to serve as the featured speaker at the Celebrate Lexington! annual Breakfast & CommUNITY Champion Celebration recognizing Tom Eblen.
Jackson’s remarks explored the connection between historic preservation and beautification, and how the buildings, neighborhoods, parks, gardens, and landscapes around us all play a role in making Lexington feel like Lexington. From historic places like Gratz Park to the trees and gardens found throughout our neighborhoods, he discussed how caring for these places helps preserve the character and sense of community that make our city special.
Out in the Community:
Teaching at UK
Over the past several weeks, Historic Preservation Manager Dr. Zak Leonard had the privilege of joining several classes and delivering lectures on local history and preservation practices. For the second year running, he has collaborated with Dr. Dan Vivian on a public history course that focuses on the trustees and key backers of the Colored Orphan Industrial Home on Georgetown Street. He also lectured on the topic of rural estates for Julie Riesenweber's Kentucky Architecture and Landscapes course and led a seminar on documentation methods and archival research.
Out in the Community:
NAACP’s Freedom Fund Banquet
Earlier this month, Esosa Osayamwen, Coordinator of African American Preservation, attended the Lexington NAACP's 2026 Freedom Fund Banquet. During the event, Esosa was introduced to NAACP President Whit Whitaker and had the opportunity to witness Tylik McMillan’s keynote speech. The banquet also recognized the outstanding contributions of members of the Lexington community. Congratulations to Chester Grundy, Dr. Alvin Seals, and NAACP staff members on receiving their awards in recognition of their dedicated service and lasting contributions to the Lexington community. The event offered a valuable opportunity to celebrate local leadership, community service, and the NAACP's continued work.
Heritage Society Visits Historic Cave Spring
On Sunday, October 4, members of the Blue Grass Trust Heritage Society gathered at Cave Spring Farm for our annual Heritage Society event. Under beautiful fall skies, members toured the house, grounds, outbuildings, cemetery, and the natural spring found on the property's 100 acres. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Cave Spring was the home of Capt. Robert Boggs, a Revolutionary War soldier who came to Kentucky in 1774 and was one of the founders of Boonesborough. The original portion of the stone house was completed in 1792. Thank you to our hosts for sharing this special place with us!
Heritage Society members have included the Blue Grass Trust in their estate plans, and their generosity sustains our mission of education, service, and advocacy for generations to come. Joining is simple! To learn more, please click the link below.
