Rosie, KY has been selected as the future site of a Bill Monroe Museum, just a short distance from where the great man was born and raised on Jerusalem Ridge. Officials with the Ohio County Tourism Commission have adopted “The Home of Bluegrass” as their official motto, and are steadfastly in support of this effort.
Both static and interactive exhibits are planned to tell the story of how Monroe learned the music of the western Kentucky hills from his mentor, Pendleton Vandiver, his fabled Uncle Pen, how he learned the mandolin as a boy, and went on to found a new sound that continues to resonate worldwide seventy years after he introduced on the Grand Ole Opry. The history of Monroe’s band, The Blue Grass Boys, will also be highlighted.
Jody Flener, Executive Director of the Tourism Commission, tells us that they are already hearing from people all over the country who have stories to share, or items they are willing to donate to the Museum. They anticipate a great many visitors as a steady stream make the trek to this part of the state now to see Monroe’s restored home place just a few miles away.
Donations are being solicited now so that construction can begin, and the staff is currently running a Buy A Brick campaign where donors/sponsors can have their name and message engraved into what will become the walkway to the Museum.
Anyone interested in corporate or larger donations, including the donation of items for the Museum, is urged to contact the Tourism Commission by phone (270-298-0036) or email.
