BLUEGRASS TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION INC

HISTORIC PRESERVATION EDUCATION: THE BLUE GRASS TRUST EDUCATES CENTRAL KENTUCKIANS ON THE BENEFITS AND PRACTICES OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: DETOURS: FOUNDED IN JANUARY 2011, THE MONTHLY BLUE GRASS TRUST DETOURS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FREE, EASILY ACCESSIBLE TOURS OF PLACES THE PUBLIC CANNOT NORMALLY ACCESS, HELPING PEOPLE INTERACT WITH AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORIC PLACES THAT MAKE CENTRAL KENTUCKY SPECIAL. TOUR THE HISTORIC BLUEGRASS: FREE PRINT AND DIGITAL SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATIONS IN FAYETTE COUNTY, ALONG WITH THEMATIC TOURS ON SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE HOPEMONT LECTURE: NAMED AFTER THE 1814 HOME THAT SPURRED THE CREATION OF THE BLUE GRASS TRUST, THE HOPEMONT LECTURE BRINGS THE NATION'S FOREMOST PRESERVATIONISTS AND HISTORIANS TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE LECTURES INCLUDE A WORKSHOP FOR KENTUCKY'S PRESERVATION PROFESSIONALS AND A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTION. PRESERVATION MATTERS: THE BLUE GRASS TRUST'S SIGNATURE BIANNUAL PUBLICATION INFORMS THOUSANDS OF THE SWEEPING, BENEFICIAL IMPACTS OF PRESERVATION IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY. AMPLIFYING PRESERVATION SUCCESS STORIES, INSIGHTFUL LOCAL HISTORIES, IMPORTANT ADVOCACY WORK, AND HELPFUL RESOURCES, PRESERVATION MATTERS IS FREE IN BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMS AND IS MAILED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVOCACY: THE BLUE GRASS TRUST LENDS OUR VOICE TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS IN OUR CENTRAL KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES. OUR ADVOCACY WORK INCLUDES: COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THROUGH PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS, WE STRIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE REGION'S CULTURAL HERITAGE AND LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, ACTIVELY ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND INITIATIVES THAT PROTECT AND PROMOTE HISTORIC SITES, BUILDINGS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LANDSCAPES THROUGH MEANS SUCH AS HIGHLIGHTING DEMOLITION THREATS AND ORGANIZING PETITIONS TO SAVE ENDANGERED BUILDINGS. IN 2023-2024, WE LED THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO SAVE 13 NATIONAL-REGISTER-LISTED BUILDINGS FROM DEMOLITION AND SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED AGAINST UNFAIR BOND REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESERVATION ADVOCACY AT THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT. PRESERVATION AWARDS: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE PRESERVATION AWARDS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE POSITIVE, FAR-REACHING IMPACT THAT PRESERVATION PLAYS IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY BY HONORING INDIVIDUALS, PROJECTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE PROMOTION, AWARENESS, OR PRACTICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION WITHIN THE CENTRAL KENTUCKY REGION. PRESERVING PALMER PHARMACY: SAVED FROM DEMOLITION IN 2017, THE BLUE GRASS TRUST HAS LED THE EFFORT TO FIND A NEW STEWARD FOR HISTORIC PALMER PHARMACY, A MID-CENTURY GEM WITH AN IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS STORY, LOCATED IN LEXINGTON'S EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BLUE GRASS TRUST WAS ABLE TO RAISE $100,000 TO OFFSET THE RENOVATION COSTS AND ASSISTED THE NEW STEWARD WITH PRESERVATION CONSULTING. THE BUILDING REOPENED AS THE MARKSBURY FAMILY WAYPOINT CENTER OF THE UNITED WAY OF THE BLUEGRASS AT HISTORIC PALMER PHARMACY IN MAY 2024.