Restoration Round-Up A ‘Round-Up’ of the Duncan Tavern Facebook Posts about the Restoration of the Pianos August 12, 2025 Soon after State Regent Julia Hood took office, a donor pledged a gift of almost $20,000 to restore two antique pianos to playing condition. The pianos, which have been on display on the first floor of the Tavern, were removed today to Schmidt’s Piano Service in Lexington so that restoration can begin. The pianos should be back at the Tavern no later than November. On December 21 at 2:30 p.m., a special Christmas concert will be held at the Tavern, featuring carols and classical tunes. Thank you to this generous donor for giving Miss Hood the first significant lead gift of this administration. August 13, 2025 Back in June, a generous donor of the Lexington Chapter contacted me, as chairman of the Tavern. She said: It bothers me that those pianos on the first floor are not in playing condition. I told her I would have them evaluated to see if they could...

Keys of Christmas Holiday Music on Restored Pianos December 21st, 2025 2:30 – 4:30 pm Free Admission Donations Welcome Generational Generosity Come to the Tavern as We Make History In a once-in-a-lifetime gesture of unprecedented generosity, a member of the Lexington Chapter, NSDAR, made a gift to the Kentucky Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, to fully restore two antique pianos housed at Duncan Tavern Historic Center. These two stunning instruments have been undergoing extensive repairs under the direction of Dennis Mayhew, one of only four individuals authorized to repair Steinway pianos not employed by Steinway. On December 21, 2025, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., these beautiful pianos will be played as fully restored instruments at the Tavern for the first time. Our generous donor and a friend will play your holiday favorites in an informal, fun afternoon reminiscent of holiday celebrations in early 19th-century parlors.You’ll learn the history of these parlor pianos from...

Voice from the Early 1800s Heard Again Antique Pianos Find Their Voice Again During National Piano Month Paris, Ky. For decades, two antique pianos sat silent inside Duncan Tavern Historic Center in Paris, Kentucky. Visitors admired their craftsmanship, but no one had heard their voices in generations. This National Piano Month, that silence is about to be broken. The Kentucky Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), has launched the restoration of the rare instruments — an effort that will reconnect Central Kentucky with the music that once filled parlors in the early 1800s. “These pianos have always been beautiful to look at, but it bothered us that they couldn’t be played,” said Judy Owens, Chairman of the Duncan Tavern Committee. “One of our members, a pianist, felt the same way. Her generosity is what made this restoration possible — and now both pianos will sing again.” A CRAFTSMAN’s DREAM The pianos are in the hands of Dennis Mayhew, a second-generation piano technician...