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Hopkinsville Recognized by State Senate as 'Best Place on Earth' to View 2017 Eclipse

NASA/Google Maps

The Kentucky Senate adopted a resolution Tuesday recognizing Hopkinsville as the “best place on Earth” to view next year’s total solar eclipse.

The resolution was introduced by 3rd District state Sen. Whitney Westerfield.

The eclipse will take place on August 21, 2017 and is expected to bring thousands of tourists to the Hopkinsville area. The city has already rebranded and moved its Little River Days festival to August so it can revolve around the celestial event.

Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation superintendent Tab Brockman says that estimates on just how many tourists the eclipse could bring range from 50,000 to as many as a quarter of a million people. Brockman said the eclipse will coincide with the rebranded Summer Salute Festival, the Kelly Little Green Men Festival and a local rodeo.

"We want Hopkinsville to put their best foot forward with this unique opportunity," Brockman said.

According to this map, the Bainbridge/Sinking Fork area of Christian County is expected to be the best place in the country to view the eclipse – the first total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States since 1979.

John Null is the host and creator of Left of the Dial. From 2013-2016, he also served as a reporter in the WKMS newsroom.
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