My Dear Valentine ❤️

Mass produced Valentines were first made in the United States in the mid-1800s under the direction of Esther Howland, the daughter of a Massachusetts printer, who had encountered Valentines from Great Britian. Her assembly-line approach allowed middle-class Americans to participate in the tradition of sending cards, which helped establish Valentine’s Day as a widely recognized holiday.

The Kentucky Gateway Museum Center has many beautiful Valentines from the 1800s in their collection.  Many of that time incorporate printed or hand painted pictures with cut out dollies or paper.  One of the favorites is a fan “from Papa to Momma” with a silk purse attached.

It is the thought that someone took time to express their feelings that make Valentines so special. If you ran out of time to get that special card for your love, don’t fret. If your love is one for the history books, send them a historic valentine from our selection! View some beautiful Valentines from our archives and some new digital ones from our Facebook page below.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Check out a few antique valentines from our archives!

❤️ Save a digital valentine to send to your love! ❤️

Introducing "Billy Says"

As part of our mission of education and preservation, KYGMC is introducing a bimonthly blog to enhance your KYGMC experience!

Billy Says… is inspired by none other than, Billy Hixon. Billy was the first librarian and curator for the Maysville-Mason County Library, Historical, and Scientific Association, now known as the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center. We would like to carry on Billy’s passion for community and for education through this blog!

Billy’s love for Maysville and dedication to the preservation of its history are the cornerstones of your favorite local museum. Before becoming our legendary librarian, Billy was a teacher, soldier, reporter, and editor. All these life adventures established Billy on firm footing to kick off a legendary organization—like the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center! We are thankful for the role Billy played in our history and appreciate all of YOU for supporting us for nearly 150 years!