Pioneer National Monument Association

Pioneer National Monument Association. Fort Boonesborough State Park Association. , The Pioneer National Monument Association was an outgrowth of the Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission, which was created in 1934., Under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan T. Dorris, Eastern Kentucky State Collegé history professor and Lexington Judge Samuel Wilson the Bicentennial Commission lobbied extensively to secure state park status for Boonesborough. The organization sold Daniel Boone half dollars to fund their efforts. On June 18. 1963, Kentucky purchased 75 acres of land at Bbonesborough for $210,000 of which $123,100 came from the Pioneer National Monument Association., The Association was replaced in 1965 by the Fort Boonesborough State Park Association whose mission was "to develop. improve, and promote” the state park. University President Robert R. Martin and a board of directors of citizens from Clark, Fayette, and Madison counties spearheaded efforts to raise funds, primarily through the sale of Daniel Boone art prints, for the Association. Through the years the Association sponsored several projects such as an archaeological dig to determine the exact location of Fort Boonesborough and sëcuring the designation of National Landmark status for Boonesborough. The Association was dissolved in 2002.