We are excited to welcome Erica Friis as our new Lead of Visitor Experience at the Preservation Center at Hopemont! She'll be joining the Blue Grass Trust team in early November. A historic preservation professional with over a decade of teaching experience, Erica brings a rare combination of preservation expertise, program development skills, and strong community connections. The Lead of Visitor Experience position is made possible through the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, whose grant is helping us expand access, engagement, and impact in historic preservation. Please join us in welcoming Erica and stay tuned for more updates on the new Preservation Center at Hopemont! (fb)

LEXTalks: Lord Byron's Romantic Move to Hopemont Join us on October 30 at 6:30 PM at the Lexington History Museum (214 North Broadway, Lexington, KY) as we celebrate a new addition to Hopemont’s collection—a portrait of Lord Byron by Lexington-born artist William Edward West. Presented in partnership with the Lexington History Museum, the program will feature noted art historian and author Estill Curtis Pennington, who will share insights into West’s Kentucky roots, artistic career, and his portrayal of one of literature’s great Romantic poets. This event is free, but we do ask that you RSVP here https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lexingtonhistorymuseum/event/lextalkslordbyron/ (fb)