Boone Tavern has been in continuous operation since 1909. It was built as a guesthouse for Berea College at the suggestion of Nellie Frost, the wife of the college president. After receiving 300 guests one summer…the idea for a college guest house was born! 
Boone Tavern is named for its location on the Daniel Boone Trail, which ran from North Carolina to Kentucky in 1775.
The “Tavern” portion of the name is derived from the historic definition that refers to a public inn for travelers.
An $11 million “green” renovation in 2009 ensured efficiency and comfort without infringing on the historic beauty of the hotel. 
The Tavern was built with bricks manufactured by students in the college’s brickyard and was constructed by the college’s woodwork department at a total cost of $20,000. Boone Tavern is owned by Berea College. 
Butch and I took a walking tour of the beautiful Berea College Campus. The school was founded in 1855 and began as a one-room schoolhouse that served as a church on Sundays. Strong beliefs in an impartial love toward all has always shaped the institution’s culture and programs and is reflected in the college’s motto, “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth.”
Berea College admitted both black and white students making it the first non-segregated, coeducational college in the South. Berea was founded by Protestant Christians. It maintains a Christian identity separate from any particular denomination.
Berea has a mandatory student work program in which all students work 10 or more hours per week in campus and service jobs.
Some of the work-study has helped to extend and support practice of traditional crafts from the Appalachian region!
Admission to the college is granted only to students who need financial assistance. The majority of the incoming class is drawn from the Appalachian region of the South and about 8% are international students.
Of course, I found some things that I had to bring home…a hand-blown glass bowl, an interesting wood-crafted bowl, and napkin rings…all of which you will see on a future blog post!
Berea has one of the largest financial reserves of any American college.
Fine dining has brought Boone Tavern much of its international acclaim! 
The menu offers a blend of traditional and creative southern cuisine. 
Spoonbread is a signature item generously served. The Boone Tavern recipe is included at the bottom. 
A seared Kentucky raised rib chop, with Kentucky Barrel Ale barbecue sauce, roasted jalapeño corn cakes, and braised greens was my fare for the evening, and delicious, I might add! The restaurant uses locally grown ingredients, some of which are grown by the students in the College’s gardens and greenhouses.
Boone Tavern Famous Spoonbread
3 cups milk
1 1/4 cups white cornmeal
3 eggs
2 tablespoons butter
1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Stir meal into rapidly boiling milk. Cook until very thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool. The mixture will be very stiff. Add well-beaten eggs, salt, baking powder, and melted butter. Beat with an electric mixer for 15 minutes. Pour into well-greased pan and bake for 20-30 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve from pan by spoonful with butter.
Thank you all for reading and commenting! I hope you learned something about the small college town of Berea, Kentucky! What are some of your favorite travel experiences? I would love to hear from you!
Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, TheEnchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home, My Flagstaff Home, In The New House, Natasha in Oz, Vintage Refined, Rustic & Refined, Must Love Home, Grammie Time
The Hafer-Gibson Nursing Building is named after my great grandmother. She was my great grandfather Lewis’ second wife and her name was Lorena Hafer Lewis. I visited there in 2010 and loved the entire campus, it’s so beautiful!
Here is what is written about the building: The Hafer-Gibson Nursing Building
Designed in a hexagonal shape depicting a nursing cap, the current facility was dedicated in 1969 and celebrated 70 years of nursing at Berea College. The name Hafer-Gibson Nursing Building was chosen to honor two former nursing leaders, Lorena Hafer Lewis and Florence Gibson who had contributed to the development of the Hospital Nursing Service and the earlier nursing program at Berea Hospital.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful campus with us.
Susan, we so enjoyed Berea and learning some of the rich history. Thank you so much for sharing about your great grandmother…such a beautiful story! Blessings, Pam
My mother attended Berea and graduated in 1949 with a degree in home economics. My mother, sister, daughter and I visited Berea two years ago and had a wonderful time. It is a very special place and has provided an education to many who would not have been able to afford it otherwise. Thank you for the article.
Peggy, thanks so much for commenting and sharing your connection to Berea College. We so enjoyed learning about it’s fascinating history! Blessings, Pam
What a wonderful thing, this school! I’ve never heard of it, so I’m so glad you shared about it. I travel with my husband, too, except when he flies. Well, sometimes I fly with him, but for short trips, it’s not worth it. Anyway, if you two are ever near Tupelo, MS, please contact me (through my contact page) and let me know. I would love for y’all to visit so we can get to know you better. Our lives are so similar in some ways, I think we’d have so much to talk about! As a matter of fact, I looked for a contact page on your site this morning so I could tell you more info I’ve learned from Michael Hyatt. You will notice many changes coming to my blog soon. The Lord has just led us out of a wilderness, and I am strong enough now to follow His leading to speak louder for Him and impact more people around the web. God is so good, even when satan tries to steal, kill, and destroy. I’m so glad to have a savior who has dominion over such!
Wow, I love what you shared! I would love to meet you and it is so nice of you to extend an invitation! Maybe one day we can make that happen! I think I am going to sign up for Mr. Hyatt’s webinar. I have had to learn everything I know about blogging the hard way. I had no one I could even ask a question! I have so much to learn, still! Thanks for the info! My email is pamr53@gmail.com
My favorite thing is to drive the backroads with the intent of discovering small communities and their history. This is right up my alley! Thanks! The jalapeño corn cakes sound like they’re from my part of the world: the Texas Hill Country. Brenda
Brenda, I love anticipating what might be around the next curve in the road. Thank you for your warm comments and the jalapeño corn cakes were delicious! I love the Texas Hill Country!
How fun to be able to travel with your husband and experience so many exciting adventures! Love seeing different places and learning the history. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend, Jann!
What a charming tour! We would love to have you share @Vintage Charm. It’s live now thru Mon! Blessings, Cecilia
Thanks for your kind words, Cecilia!
It is great to hear about Berea College. I spent several weeks during the summers in the 60’s in Berea with my great aunt Manda Martin. Aunt Manda was good friends with Ms Hafer and Ms Gibson. My dad was born on December 30, 1928. Aunt Manda was given the honor of naming my dad. His name was “Gibson Hafer Martin”. So Susan the nursing building was the second thing named after your great grandmother. My sisters and I honor the name and cherish our memories of Berea College Boone Tavern and Berea.
Thank you, Carrie for the fascinating history that you shared! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!