Ashland, Henry Clay Estate

Beautiful historical site and incredible grounds. We went for the Signature Tour and were not disappointed. The docent was very knowledgeable about Henry Clay and the history of the estate as well as American political history. The tour was supposed to last an hour but it was more like one hour and twenty minutes. Nothing was hurried. Tip: the tour does include some rooms in the house, and you are free to walk all through the grounds and gardens before and afterwards. For anyone with mobility challenges, you can ask your docent for a chair in some of the rooms. While there is not a lot of walking on the tour itself, there is a lot of standing, so be prepared to wear comfortable shoes etc.

It's been years since I've visited the interior of Ashland, but I have to say, regardless the garden is a highlight of the estate, with its meticulously maintained paths, flowerbeds, and water features. It's a lovely place to wander and relax, with plenty of benches and shaded areas to take in the beauty of the surroundings. The garden also features several commemorative statues and markers that pay tribute to Henry Clay's legacy.My favorite time of year is Spring, when the Ashland Peonies are in bloom! This is such a beautiful spot for an evening walk!

A great historical site. I've been to numerous historical homes and this was one of my favorites. The condition and decor of the home is excellent. Our docent, William, was informative and very knowledgeable, even providing detailed answers to all questions. If you're a fan of Henry Clay or American history then make this a stop on your visit in Lexington.

I have always wanted to see this house and grounds but have never made the effort until today. I was greeted by one of the employees as I was walking through the parking lot who was nice enough to tell me about the loop video and the gift shop. As I was walking towards the ice house this gentleman and his dog Maggie May started telling me about the ice house and how they would go to the river and chop ice blocks and bring them back to the ice house. The garden was like sensory overload for me I wasn't sure which way to go first ! I ended up going to the left and just walked around and stopped to look at the scenery. It felt like the secret garden.Once your there it just feels like you're so far removed from downtown Lexington. I didn't see any birds, I did see some chipmunks racing around though lol. It's definitely one of those hidden gems, I think everyone should go at least once !

I visited Lexington with a friend this past weekend, and Ashland was our main historical stop during our visit. While the tour was interesting and the house beautiful, the tour felt a bit slow and a bit long. I appreciated that they spent some time on the tour talking about the slaves who worked at Ashland (and Henry Clay's complicated legacy on slavery and the strange gradual emancipation of slaves contained in his will), because I'm never comfortable talking a tour of a plantation or plantation house if they only discuss the lives of the people who lived inside the home but ignore the uglier parts of that history. But the tour seemed a little disjointed (moving back and forth in a time that I found confusing as a person that didn't know that much about Henry Clay or his descendants). Worth visiting, but wasn't a highlight of my weekend in Lexington.

Lovely little place that not many people realize its existence. Their garden is beautiful especially during early spring-summer. I enjoy visiting there for a short walk with friends with a cup of tea in one hand or for a picnic. Nice breath of fresh air and such healing hundreds years old trees. Central Park of Lexington

I haven't done any of the tours, but love how beautiful and peaceful the grounds are, and it's wonderful that they are open to the public. It's tucked away close to downtown, but feels very secluded. I love bringing my kids here to have a picnic and play, and it's also a perfect place to bring a coffee and read or get some work done. The garden has pretty limited hours, which seems odd, and there have been several times that it is locked despite the sign indicating that it's open, so that's all that keeps it from being 5 stars. I hope to take a tour at some point, but it's a great spot even without that component. The gift shop with many Kentucky Proud items is a nice addition as well and makes it a fun place to bring visitors.

Beautiful area and love the preservation of the estate. It's also nice to know that they do not hide the fact that this guy was a slave owner and that he's not over glorified.

We learned a great deal about Henry Clay and his importance in the history of our country touring his estate. The tour is focused on Henry Clay's life and our excellent guide did a wonderful job. The house is beautiful and the grounds are lovely with a number of out buildings of interest. There is also a small gift shop which is very nice.

Had a wonderful tour led by Steve today! He was super knowledgeable about the Clay house, grounds, and family members! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Henry Clay, he was quite the statesman, and seeing many of his personal artifacts. The woman selling the tickets was very nice too. Unfortunately the grounds (17 acres) have 20 felled trees due to a recent wind storm but crews are working to clean everything up and the house and buildings were u touched.Looked like the garden was being tended by another crew today so I didn't tour it.If you're in Lexington seek out this historical site!