John M. McConnell moved from Pennsylvania to Greenupsburg in 1813, practiced law, served in the Kentucky House from 1822 to 1825, and was a Kentucky senator from 1826 to 1830. In 1831 he purchased 250 acres of land and built a Federal-style dwelling, another brick building for his law office, a windmill, and several outbuildings. McConnell died in 1834 at the age of 43. In the 1850s, his law office was converted into one of the first private schoolhouses in Greenup County. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ameteck Inc. purchased the house in 1989 and donated it with 1.06 acres to the Heritage Arts, Science, and Tourism Center in 1991.