Adsmore Museum, Princeton, Kentucky

We traveled about thirty miles and one hundred-twelve years back in time on September 15, 2018 to the Adsmore Museum in Princeton, Kentucky. When we entered the museum, we were transported back to 1906 and the day after 250 “Nightriders” had burned two of Princeton’s tobacco warehouses and held the town captive.

Adsmore is the name of the home which was purchased by the Smith-Garrett family in 1900. It got its name from an aunt who said every time she visited they were adding some more to the house and they should just call it Adsmore. The last family member to own and live in the house was Katherine Garrett, the only child of Robert Garrett and Mayme Smith Garrett. Katherine never married and lived her entire life in the house (1901-1984). It was her wish that the home and its contents become a public museum after she passed away. Therefore, she willed the property and all its furnishings to the library and left enough money for an endowment to fulfill her wishes.

Depending on what time of year you go, you might visit as the family is marking a joyous occasion such as Katherine’s Aunt Selina’s engagement or wedding to Wyoming’s former governor, John E. Osborne. Or you may arrive in time to observe the rituals of a Victorian wake. If you go during November and December, the house will be decked out for a Victorian Christmas. The exhibits at Adsmore change about seven times a year.

Our visit found the family in the opening days of what became known as The Black Patch War. The Black Patch War was a struggle by an association of tobacco growers to force the Duke Trust to pay a fair price for their tobacco. This is the same Duke that a university is named after in North Carolina.

The Smith-Garrett family was friends of the owners of the J.C. Orr and Stegar Dollar warehouses that were burned by the “Nightriders” and they hosted Princeton’s most prominent citizens at a dinner the next night to discuss how to protect their community. The exhibit gave us some insights to how the family members reacted to this event and was well-told by our docent, Sandy.

The tour was very affordable at $7.00 per person for about a 45 minute visit into the past. The home is packed with authentic original furniture and photographs. Admission tickets are sold in the property's carriage house  which also serves as a gift shop. We had a very good time and will probably go back for the Victorian Christmas Exhibit.