Read more on the history of Main Street in Maysville

Celebrating a vivid past while embracing the promise and advantages of the 21st Century, Maysville always has been and always will be a proud of its rich heritage.  Years ago city government realized the importance of our diverse architecture and has worked diligently to find new uses for the impressive collection of historic buildings we call home.  From placing MCTC’s culinary arts program in the 1886 Cox Building to hosting special events in an old Montgomery Ward department store, these are just a few examples of how our history is still playing a role in today’s economy. Maysville Main Street District is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a member of the National Main Street program since the 1980’s as one of five pilot programs established by the State of Kentucky. The City has worked hard to keep its historic center economically vibrant. However, the rise of strip malls, national retail chains, and the exodus to the suburbs began to take a toll on downtown housing and its small business economy. In 1998 the State of Kentucky created a program called “Renaissance Kentucky” under the tutelage of Governor Paul Patton.  The purpose of the program was to infuse money to decaying downtowns across the state.  To participate and be eligible for state and federal funding, a community needed to meet fourteen criteria to prove it was prepared locally to utilize the money to its best advantage.  Maysville entered the program as a “Silver” member and elevated to the highest level of “Gold” within the first year. The City has maintained the highest level of accreditation ever since.

As the State’s budget tightened, the Renaissance Program was suspended and Maysville shifted its focus back to Main Street.  Through the Kentucky Heritage Council’s initiative of “economic revitalization through historic preservation,” the Maysville Main Street Board works with various civic/non-profit groups as well as the City and it’s Board of Architectural Review to concentrate on promoting and renovating our vast array of historic properties.  It has been proven that the renovation of a historic building for commercial use vastly outweighs the economic return garnered from a “new” big box development. Some completed projects include: downtown streetscape, The French Quarter, Opera Theater Restoration, Ledger Independent, Maysville Conference Center, One Stop Government Center, Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, Russell Theatre, Mason County Judicial Center, Mason County Health Department, Cox Building, Limestone Center, Locally Funded Façade Program, Locally Funded Boarded Window/Door Program, Market Street Parking, Alleyway Lighting, and downtown murals.

Maysville Main Street continues to work very hard to make downtown Maysville a place where people want to live, work and play.

Mission Statement
To work toward the continued growth and awareness of Maysville’s historic downtown area while preserving and promoting its extraordinary heritage.

Vision Statement
With a vision to optimize the integrity, vitality and character of Maysville’s historic downtown, the Maysville Main Street board will continue to be a catalyst for change, growth and awareness.

It is the goal of the board and the City of Maysville to assist the Main Street District as it strives to remain the civic, cultural and social nucleus for the entire community, while offering small business, education, tourism and residents the environment in which to thrive.