Donate to Historic Farmington

No house in Kentucky more gracefully embodies Federal architecture than Farmington. We need your generous donations.

Donate to Farmington

While there are many ways to pursue an interest in Kentucky history, only Farmington offers an intimate view of a hemp plantation visited by Abraham Lincoln at a crucial time in his life. By volunteering, supporting, or even working at Farmington you can help preserve the site and bring forward a key period of American history. Students, professionals, and retirees are welcome. Families of all sizes, shapes, and colors can visit the Speed family’s plantation: in person, virtually, and over time.  Learn more about our membership levels here.

$35 – Individual Annual Membership

  • Free tours
  • 10% discount in the Museum Store
  • Farmington Newsletter
  • Recognition in all donor listings

$75 Family/Dual Membership

  • up to 2 Adults and 4 children; additional children added for $10 each
  • All of the benefits of an Individual Membership

$100 Hemp & Agriculture Society

Farmington originated as a hemp plantation, the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s primary cash crop.  Hemp, a baste fiber, was grown by Kentucky farmers to make twine, rope, and rough bags for the cotton trade (so-called “cotton bagging”). In addition to hemp, the farm produced corn, apples, wheat, pork, flax, lamb and mutton, and dairy products.  Tobacco was grown intermittently.

  • All of the benefits of Membership
  • 2 Free Guest Passes

$250 – Skidmore Society

Construction of the Speeds’ ambitious brick residence, an outstanding example of Federal-style architecture in frontier Kentucky, began at Farmington in 1815, the design of Paul Skidmore.  Skidmore’s unusual and ambitious design was clearly influenced by the architectural designs of Thomas Jefferson.

  • All of the benefits of Membership
  • 4 Free Guest Passes

$500 – Lincoln Society

Farmington welcomed future president Abraham Lincoln for three weeks in 1841. His host and closest friend, Joshua Speed, described the visit to the Speed plantation as  “…one of the happiest times in Lincoln’s life.” Joshua Speed’s brother, James, later became Attorney General in the Lincoln administration.

  • All of the benefits of Membership
  • 6 Free Guest Passes
  • (1) Farmington Louisville Stoneware mug

$1,000 – Drescher & Bischoff Society

In 1865, Henry Drescher purchased the Farmington main house and part of the acreage from Peachy Speed Peay.  The Drescher family lived at Farmington for 43 years, operating a successful truck and potato farm until 1908 when Henry’s heirs sold the farm to the Bischoff family. The Bischoffs also farmed potatoes and lived at Farmington until the mid-1940s. 

  • All of the benefits of Membership
  • 8 Free Guest Passes
  • $25 Plant Sale Gift Certificate
  • (2) Farmington Louisville Stoneware mugs

$2,500 – Hays & Spencer Society

Named for Abram and Rosanna Hays and David and Martha Spencer, all of whom were enslaved at Farmington by Austin & Peachy Peay. Their descendants have been very generous in sharing their family histories with Farmington.  Funding donated to this Society will be dedicated to continued research and educational programming on the people once enslaved at Farmington.

  • All of the benefits of Membership
  • 8 Free Guest Passes
  • $100 Plant Sale Gift Certificate
  • (4) Farmington Louisville Stoneware mugs

$5,000 – Speed Society

By 1809, John Speed had purchased the 554 acres that would make up the original Farmington property and the Speed family soon built cabins to inhabit before the main house was built in 1815-16. Three years after the death of her husband, Lucy Fry Speed sold Farmington’s main house and 143 acres to her son-in-law, Austin Peay.  Although Peay died in 1848 his wife, Speed daughter Peachy, owned Farmington until the end of the Civil War, giving the family a 56-year tenure on the plantation. 

  • All of the benefits of the Hays & Spencer Society
  • 1 Free weekday rental of the Pavilion
  • Farmington Sampler – which includes (4) Farmington Louisville Stoneware mugs, a Farmington bud vase, a set of Farmington stationary, and a Farmington ornament

 

CONTACT FARMINGTON

3033 Bardstown Road
Louisville, Kentucky
United States

502-452-9920
EMAIL FARMINGTON

TOUR TIMES

Tuesday - All tours must be pre-booked online
Wednesday - 10 am - 2 pm
Thursday - 10 am - 2 pm
Friday - 10 am - 2 pm
Saturday - 11 am - 1 pm
Tours begin promptly on the hour