Alissa Keller

Alissa Keller is the executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County. She’s a graduate of Centre College with degrees in history and English and of Clemson University/College of Charleston with a master’s degree in historic preservation. She serves on the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance boards.

All the museum wants for Christmas: Artifacts from merchants of old

Staff members at the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County are hoping Santa's local elves will dig through attics to find merchandise from some of the community's signature businesses.

By Alissa Keller

Mechanical horse conjures strong memories of Hopkinsville’s past

The horse housed at the Cayce-Yost department store gave rides to children for more than four decades.

By Alissa Keller

Hotel Latham spoon serves up stories from the past

The artifact featured in this month's Snapshots in Time column served as an inspiration for the menu at the museum's upcoming gala.

By Alissa Keller

Old post office blueprints depict the origin of Hopkinsville’s museum

Found on the floor in the basement shortly after the building was chosen as the site for the Pennyroyal Area Museum, these pages provide insight into the construction of this landmark on the downtown streetscape.

By Alissa Keller

Parisian wedding dress reveals surprising journey of Christian County woman

The dress, which is on display at the Pennyroyal Area Museum, is connected to one of the most famous people and one of the most notable events of the early 20th century.

By Alissa Keller

Museum to table: Hopkinsville history takes shape with old cookbook recipes

In this month's Snapshots in Time column, Alissa Keller details the history behind a 1978 Christian County cookbook — and highlights from a recent event inspired by its recipes.

By Alissa Keller

Stagecoach stop ledger reads like a Hopkinsville pre-Civil War ‘Who’s Who’

After running a hotel in the heart of Hopkinsville, proprietor Burwell C. Ritter was elected to Congress and was serving in Washington, D.C., at the time of Lincoln's assassination.

By Alissa Keller

Long lost ledger from an old Hopkinsville stagecoach stop reveals details of everyday life

In January, readers chose the artifact they'd like museum director Alissa Keller to feature next. Here's that column.

By Alissa Keller

Edgar Cayce’s photography: The world as he saw it

Before he became internationally famous as a psychic, Cayce earned his living for several years as a photographer in Hopkinsville and other cities.

By Alissa Keller

Nursery bed symbolizes Brooks family legacy in Hopkinsville

Cowan Brooks, the son of Dr. Philip Carruthers Brooks, donated the artifact to the Pennyroyal Area Museum shortly after the death of his father.

By Alissa Keller

This tiny artifact opens doors to several Hopkinsville stories

It came from the estate of Dr. Bertha Beazley, one among a small number of female dentists practicing in Kentucky during the mid-20th century.

By Alissa Keller

Gant Gaither’s scarves depict whimsical designs from one of Hopkinsville’s most creative sons

Among the scarves designed by Gant Gaither in the Pennyroyal Area Museum's collection is one depicting ice skating horses.

By Alissa Keller