The Pennyroyal Area Museum will have its grand re-opening on Feb. 27, Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County announced this week.
“The building renovation is in its final phases, and designers plan to begin installation of our new exhibition near the end of January,” Keller said in a news release. “We will provide more details on our opening festivities soon.”
The renovation and new exhibit design are being financed through a $1 million grant from Christian Fiscal Court, plus additional money from the museum and donors. The entire project will exceed $1.5 million, and a capital campaign continues to help pay for the improvements.
The museum is housed in the East Ninth Street building that was the Hopkinsville Post Office from 1915 to 1967. The museum was established at the city-owned property in 1976.
Keller encouraged local supporters to consider making a contribution to the renovation project.
“Want to get a sneak peek before the public grand opening? There is still time to make a contribution to our capital campaign and get exclusive access to a preview party,” she said.
Information about the campaign and giving levels is available at the museum website or by calling 270-887-4270.
“In the meantime, we will be closing the Woody Winfree Fire-Transportation Museum to the public so that we can focus on getting the Pennyroyal Area Museum open,” Keller said. “We hope you will join us as we usher in a new season for the museum and for our community’s history.”
(Note: Jennifer P. Brown chairs the governing board of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County.)
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
