In the summer of 1965, descendants of Atwood Hobson stood next to a hole in the floor of a second-floor bedroom in the family home. They could peer all the way down into the basement and survey the damage caused by a fire the previous winter. The abandoned home, its windows boarded and grounds overgrown, gave few hints of its 19th century grandeur. The reluctant conclusion of the family was that Riverview at Hobson Grove was beyond repair. Thankfully, fate had other plans. The following year, the Hobson House Association was formed with the purpose of saving the old home. Our first board spent the next six years raising funds and restoring the building. In 1972, exactly 100 years after Atwood and Julia Hobson moved into their showplace next to the Barren River, Riverview at Hobson Grove Historic House Museum opened to the public. For fifty years, it has been our great joy to share this historic treasure with visitors from around the world.
During our Golden Anniversary year, we invite you to join us in celebrating Bowling Green’s only historic house museum. Mark your calendars to attend the events below and call 270-843-5565 for more information. Follow us on social media for more details as events approach.
Tuesday, March 1: Museum re-opens for regularly scheduled tours. Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm; Sunday, 1-4pm. Tours given at the top of the hour until 3pm. Admission charged.
Friday, April 29: Bourbon and Bowties: A Benefit Bash for Riverview’s 50th Anniversary. Bowling Green Country Club, 6pm-9pm. Call Riverview for ticket information.
Saturday, May 14: Twilight Tours of Riverview. 4:30pm-7:30pm. Free admission.
Saturday, June 25: Enjoy a stroll on the grounds of Riverview as part of the Kids on the Block Garden Tour. 10am-1pm. Contact Kids on the Block for ticket information.
Sunday, July 17: Lecture in the Parlor: Recent Restorations. Learn about the ongoing work to preserve the Hobson House for future generations. 2pm.
Sunday, August 21: Lecture in the Parlor: A discussion with George Anna McKenzie, great-granddaughter of Atwood and Julia Hobson. 2pm.
Friday, September 16: Hobson House Harvest: Windows to the Past. Details to come.
Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16: 50th Anniversary Museum Rededication Weekend. Tune in to our social media for details on the celebration of our founding.
Wednesday, November 30: Christmas Marketplace. Make plans to enjoy your holiday shopping in the splendor of Riverview at Hobson Grove. Free admission. Doors open at 10am.
Saturday, December 10: Candlelight Tours of Riverview. 4:30pm-7:30pm. Free admission.
-by Brooke Westcott Peterson
