Hopewell Museum

On May 19, 1978, Historic Paris-Bourbon County signed its Articles of Incorporation. Membership was and is open to “any person, institution or corporation desiring to promote the objects of History Paris-Bourbon County.” Its goals were “to foster and participate in the preservation, interpretation, and welfare of the historic, architectural, scenic and culturally significant areas, districts, sites, structures, objects and activities, and to encourage the appreciation thereof by the general public.”

The first president was Mrs. Robert Van Meter, whose memory is honored each year with the Mary Spears Van Meter Dinner and an award for historic preservation in her name.

In conjunction with National Historic Site designations, members worked with Walter E. Langsam and photographer William G. Johnson in preparing Historic Architecture of Bourbon County, Kentucky, the “green book,” published in 1985.

Dorothy and Woodford Van Meter contributed an acre of land at the confluence of Houston and Stoner Creeks in 1994. HPBC has developed the land as a park where Hopewell, later called Paris was founded. Hopewell Spring is leased to the city, but owned by HPBC.