ashland: the henry clay estate

kathyf495

I grew up in a house about three blocks from this historic home. As a child I played in the gardens and marveled at the house. I moved away for a time and have recently moved back to Lexington and into the home of my childhood. Even though I took a tour of Henry Clay estate when I was younger, I recently visited the home again during the Holiday season. It was an experience beyond words. I never fully appreciated the history and elegance of this home. You owe it to yourself to make a stop at this beautiful house. Full of history and charm, the grounds & the home are a must visit. And if you happen to be in the area in December for the tree lighting ceremony… Even better!

TeacherT

We stopped by this historic house on a cold day in early March, so we were unable to appreciate the gardens which would have enhanced this tour. My husband and I enjoy visiting historic homes and this one did not disappoint. The docent was excellent, providing a lot of background information about Henry Clay and the Clay family. The introductory film set the stage. This house has an impressive collection of furniture, books and artifacts from Henry Clay and his descendants who lived in this house until the 1950's. If you are a history lover, this is a must see.

RhondaSamplesBelcher

I love older homes, but mostly from the outside. The insides are pretty much all the same with period furniture and that musty smell of age, but the outside is fresh and full of life. Telling of the land owner and his hobbies and/or business. There is no exception to this at Henry Clays Estate with its beautiful yet simple gardens, the carriage house, ice house...etc. There is a lot to explore and enjoy.

plan2gosoon

Loved this home and more of the story of statesman Henry Clay. The docent was good, the home was beautiful. I wish there had been more information given though on his life. We were there in October so the gardens were basically brown. It would be beautiful in the summer. There were a few more small buildings which includes a food stop during non off season times. Pictures are not allowed inside the home. Too bad.

megcatfan

Ashland is a great place to spend your afternoon in Lexington. The house tour is historical and you learn a lot of information about Henry Clay and his family. The most beautiful landscaped garden in Kentucky. It is worth stopping to take a look.

snjmom

Well maintained. Easy to find. Near downtown Lexington. Good parking. Inexpensive entrance fee. Outside grounds can be an enjoyable walk or exercise break. No fee for grounds or looping continuous movie inside the estate. Neat little souvenir nook. WORTH A VISIT. Keep history alive.

858kaya

The outside of the estate and gardens were beautiful. The tour inside the home was rather bland. No pics allowed, either. I would personally not return for a second time.

DC414

We didn't have time to wait to go on the full guided tour, but this is still a very cool stop. I did not realize how powerful and influntial Henry Clay was.

168WIlliamP168

It is a very pleasant oasis in the middle of downtown Lexington, KY.There has been a lot of work done on the acrage lately and the walking paths have all been all upgraded. The staff is courteous, knowledgable, and willing to offer any assistance as needed. The 100' pine tree lighting is always memorable in December.as are the other events throughout the year. If you are of a historic bent, and God knows we coud use a Great Compromiser these days, or just want a peaceful afternoon go there.

bubba42101

Ashland the home of Henry Clay who was a statesman is a very well maintained historical home worth the effort to see. The home is filled with period antiques and many belonged to the Clay Family. A place to see.

brandanfun

This is a lovely place to take your mom or grandma. I know they have place for lunch during the warmer months. And the garden is what dreams are made of, and many people go there just to take wedding photos.I have taken the tour, and it is interesting....but it has been awhile.They do period things and that is fun.You might check if you are trying to do engagement or wedding photos....I think they do have a fee. I'm unsure though.

laurenvill

Fun afternoon! We toured the mansion and heard all about history. My husband and I did it for a date day. The gardens were beautiful. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

TwoBerrys

What can be said about this historic home that has not already been said? For a small fee, we took the tour of the house which leaves every hour on the hour. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about history and the house in particular. One of the finer points he would do is take us back countless years to the time he would have been there. What sights we would have seen, and what was happening in the world at the time. Each room was described in detail and the artifacts were explained in great detail. We truly believe that it is worth visiting for anyone visiting the area!

Cruzer0610

Great location for photos and a beautiful setting. The view in fall was supported by blue skies, leaves beginning to turn with an onsite garden and lush trees for backdrop. This offered many scenes to have our photos taken.

Dmarkwind

Previous visits to Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage, in Nashville inspired me to want to visit this historical home, although the two are not comparable. This is a much more modest estate from a different time, but it was still interesting and worth visiting. We were able to get to and tour this site after visiting the Kentucky Horse Park for much of our day in Lexington.Henry Clay was a longtime Kentucky statesman who served as a congressman, senator, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, and a three-time presidential candidate. Clay was also apparently someone Abraham Lincoln admired, although it’s not certain the two ever met. When Clay lived here from 1806 to 1852, it was a working farm with 672 acres of land and included slave quarters that are now gone. Now it is a smaller site in the center of a residential area.The tour was nice and the guide seemed well-informed, but I was really bummed that you are not allowed to take photos inside the house.We particularly enjoyed the nice Victorian-era garden on the grounds.