Bethel Academy / Asbury College

The historical marker is located in the semicircle at front of the Asbury College campus along Kentucky route 29 (North Lexington Ave) in Wilmore, Kentucky (Jessamine County).

Bethel Academy Marker (front)

Kentucky State Historical Marker 1830
Kentucky Historical Society        Kentucky Department of Highways

BETHEL ACADEMY
This was second Methodist school
in United States. In 1790 Bishop
Francis Asbury laid plans for
Bethel Academy, four miles
southeast of Wilmore on cliffs
above Kentucky River. It was
operating by 1794; closed ca.
1804, due to lack of funds and
Indian hostilities. Second site
was in Nicholasville, 1820 - 93.

Reverse

Asbury College marker

ASBURY COLLEGE
Established in 1890, this school
was named for Francis Asbury,
first Methodist bishop and
circuit rider in United States.
Asbury Theological Seminary was
established at Asbury College,
1923. Original Bethel Academy site
and Asbury College Administration
Building are listed on National
Register of Historic Places.