Pope Villa
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Original Architect: Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Period: 1810
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Constructed in 1810, Pope Villa is a perfect square in plan with a domed, circular rotunda in the center of the second story. Three sheets of drawings and correspondence between Latrobe and the Popes survive in the Library of Congress.
Senator Pope sold the house in 1829 and Pope Villa changed ownership a number of times. Later period additions and bays were appended to the building and Greek Revival and Italianate features were added to the exterior. The house was later divided into 10 apartment units. In 1987, Pope Villa suffered a major fire and that same year The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation acquired the house and began stabilization work and outlining a plan for restoration.
In the 1990’s, a temporary roof was constructed and Phase I of the exterior restoration was completed which included the restoration of the front façade and reconstruction of the original portico designed by Latrobe.
