JAN 19, 2022 Downtown, History, Interviews
Often referred to as one of the “Crown Jewels” of Main Street, the Bluegrass Heritage Museum occupies a stately 128-year-old Romanesque Revival building on South Main Street that once housed the Guerrant Clinic. The museum covers the history of the Bluegrass people and places from the Eskippakithiki Indian settlements to the modern era.
Recently Chuck Witt caught up with Sandy Stults, director of the museum since 2006.
WCNV – Thanks for taking the time from putting away your Christmas decorations. I wanted to start by asking what year the museum opened to the public.
SS – 2004
WCNV – And for a while, only the first floor was open to the public?
SS – Actually only a part of the first floor. The back portion was still closed off when we opened the doors but we wanted to move ahead and see how the community would accept a museum. The stair to the second floor was also opened, but the only space occupied on the second floor was my office and you should remember that since you were down here helping paint the room. I remember you saying that a canary would get lost in here because of the yellow color.
WCNV – I do remember. So when were the upper floors made available to the public?
SS – The first part of the second floor opened in 2007 and was completed in 2008. The first room to open up here was the military history room, and we immediately saw a large number of donated items for that room. I remember that a lot of veterans were involved and every time they came in they would start talking about their service, so it took longer to get the room prepared. (At this point Sandy chuckled at the memory). Everything was opened in 2009.
WCNV – You took over the directorship in what year?
SS – 2006
WCNV – There were some directors before you weren’t there?
SS – There were three, Nancy Turner, who went on to become director of the Tourism Commission. Clare Sipple was director for a short period and just before me was Jim Pitts. I think he moved and became director of another museum. There were also some individuals who served double duty, working part-time at Tourism and part-time here: Holly Goeing, John Hearn, Matt Graham, and a lady whose last name was Cole.
WCNV – You were a teacher before taking this job weren’t you?
SS – Right. I taught in Jenkins, Kentucky and when I moved here I taught reading and social studies at Conkwright, then at GRCHS teaching history and social studies, and finally at UK where I worked at supervision of student teachers.
WCNV – How much area do you have in the building?
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