Museums of Historic Hopkinsville to host 50th anniversary celebration

The Pennyroyal Area Museum is home to various local artifacts that tell the story of Hopkinsville and Christian County. July 8 marks the museum’s golden jubilee, and the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County will be hosting a 50th birthday bash to celebrate the milestone.

The museum opened its doors on July 8, 1976 in the old Hopkinsville Post Office building. Museums Director Alissa Keller says the idea to open a museum sprouted during a conversation on the radio show “Julia Comes Calling” which aired on WKOA. Keller says the host, Julia Henry, and Local Historian William Turner were talking, and Henry brought up turning the old post office building into a museum and Turner thought it was a good idea.

To pay homage the museum’s origin, Keller says they plan to host a new episode of “Julia Comes Calling” at the celebration to spotlight members of the community who were instrumental in bringing the museum to life. She says a majority the museum’s artifacts were donated by community members.

Throughout the year, the museum has had a rotating exhibit that Keller has dubbed “50 Artifacts for 50 Years.” She says the exhibit is featuring items that helps tell the community’s story.

The celebration kicks off at noon on July 11 at the Pennyroyal Museum, and it will include live Bluegrass music by the Todd County Boys and lunch provided by the Pioneers along with the live “Julia Comes Calling” episode, which will be hosted by Turner. Tickets cost $15 and are available at museumsofhopkinsville.org.

Keller says they have also launched two clubs the 1976 Club and the 1776 Club. Community members can join the clubs and receive free admission to the birthday bash, along with museum T-shirts and tumbler glasses. Funds raised by club will support the local museums.