The celebration ceremony will be held on the front porch, followed by refreshments on the back porch. Open house tours of the center will be given until 4:00 pm.
Whitehaven Welcome Center is located at 1845 Lone Oak Road in Paducah, at exit 7 of Interstate 24.
For more information, call 270-554-2077.
Whitehaven, also known as the Anderson-Smith House, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was owned by several families during the 1900's, eventually by Mayor Smith, his wife, and 6 kids. They abandoned the home in the late 60's because they thought it was going to be demolished when the Interstate and access roads were built.
Paducah residents slowly watched the "Smith Mansion" deteriorate by being repeatedly vandalized and damaged, until the state bought it in the early 80's and restored it. The home is open for tours at times, and is popular with photographers wanting a historic backdrop.
The home has some paranormal interest, too. Some visitors say they have seen an apparition of a woman on a second-floor landing, or a young girl in a bedroom. Others have smelled food cooking in the kitchen when passing by that part of the house.
It was recently recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as its best-maintained rest area.
