For the past 10 years, people have been traveling from across the globe to see the world-class miniatures in Maysville.
Thursday, the woman behind those tiny items, Kaye Savage Browning, was honored as the Mason County recipient of the 2018 Buffalo Trace Community Leadership Award for contributing “to the development and well-being of the community.”
The founder and curator of the KSB Miniatures Collection, located at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, “has contributed greatly to the phenomenal growth the museum has experienced over the past five years,” said Mason County Judge-Executive Joseph Pfeffer.
“Her collection is the anchor of the museum and draws substantial international tourism to the region,” he added, citing an increase “from 5,000 museum visitors in 2013 to 15,000 in 2018.”
The Buffalo Trace Area Development District has presented the award yearly for more than 20 years to an individual who:
Is active in civic and community affairs
Demonstrates outstanding overall citizenship
Demonstrates community leadership
Contributes to positive change in their community
“All five Mason County voting members were overwhelmingly excited to have Kaye Browning as this year’s recipient,” said Pfeffer.
The KSB Miniatures Collection, founded in 2007, has evolved into one of the most recognized fine-scale miniatures collections in the world. The 3,300-square-foot gallery features works from artisans past and present as well as many art pieces that are rare and one-of-a-kind. “I am a life-long Maysville resident and nothing gives me more pleasure than to help bring tourism and economic growth to our region,” says Browning. “I am honored beyond belief to receive this award.”
The Buffalo Trace Community Leadership Award is given out once a year to recognize an individual from each of the district’s five counties: Bracken, Fleming, Mason, Lewis and Robertson.