Riverview At Hobson Grove

Riverview at Hobson Grove is the Italianate home of Atwood and Juliet "Julia" van Meter Hobson, was so named because of its proximity to the Barren River. Construction of the hilltop home began in the late 1850s, but was temporarily halted by the Civil War. The partially completed home became a munitions magazine while the Confederates held Bowling Green during the winter of 1861-62. Riverview was finally completed in 1872 and became a centerpiece to the surrounding 400-acre horse and cattle farm. This historic house museum is currently interpreted to represent the Victorian Period of 1860 to 1890 in south central Kentucky. The house has several features of Italianate architecture including rounded arches at the top of all exterior windows, deep eaves around the roofline with ornamental brackets, and the cupola on the top of the house. Other unique features of the house include the painted ceilings in two parlors downstairs and two early "green" innovations including a water recycling system to provide water to the upstairs water closet, and an oculus as part of the home's ventilation system.  Visitors enjoy seeing both the Victorian decoration in the downstairs public areas of the house and the comfortable family areas upstairs. Riverview at Hobson Grove is the only non-profit historic house museum in south central Kentucky.  A site on the Civil War Discovery Trail and listed on the National Register, Riverview began providing tours of this historic structure in 1972.  Established to preserve the house's architectural and historic heritage and to educate visitors about its significance in the south central area since the Civil War, Riverview hosts several private and public events throughout the year. Besides educational community outreach programming for all ages, the staff and volunteers support Riverview and its special events including the Victorian Valentine Tea, Victorian Antique and Garden Festival, and special Christmas tours and teas among other popular favorites.