A story of ‘adventure, intrigue, scandal and vast wealth’ is topic of next History on Tap

Nearing the end of his long and notorious life, Asbury Harpending Jr. wrote his biography, “The Great Diamond Hoax and Other Stirring Episodes in the Life of Asbury Harpending.”

Born at Hopkinsville in 1839, Harpending was part of a conspiracy in 1861 to take control of San Francisco and create a new country — the Pacific Republic — from California and Oregon. That is one among several remarkable episodes in Harpending’s life.

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His story will the subject of the next History on Tap. Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, will lead the program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at Hopkinsville Brewing Co., 102 E. Fifth St.

“From mines in Mexico to real estate in San Francisco, Asbury Harpending accumulated a large fortune — alongside a good deal of controversy,” the museum said in a press release. 

Harpending’s life of “adventure, intrigue, scandal and vast wealth” also included a brief imprisonment at Alcatraz followed by a full pardon from President Lincoln.

History on Tap is a free monthly program. 

Hoptown Chronicle

Hoptown Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news outlet that is dedicated to providing fair, fact-based reporting for people who care about Hopkinsville, Kentucky. We believe that public service journalism serves the community's social, cultural and economic wellbeing by fostering knowledge, connection and meaning.