A 17-acre estate in the centre of modern Lexington, preserved as a museum to the great 19th-century Whig politician who lived here. The Italianate mansion has been restored with much of the Clay family's original furniture, silver, and clothing. Guided tours run on the hour and the gardens are open free of charge for walking. The estate's interpretation has been deepened in recent years to address the history of slavery on the property; the slave quarters are included in the standard tour. A good 90-minute stop.
Ashland — The Henry Clay Estate
A story
Henry Clay, three-time presidential candidate and architect of the Missouri Compromise, lived at Ashland from 1811 until his death in 1852. The original house was rebuilt by his son in the 1850s on the same foundations using the same Italianate plan — meaning the visitor today is walking through a faithful but rebuilt copy of where Clay actually lived. Clay's enslaved workforce — at one point around 50 people — ran the estate; the surviving slave quarters are part of the tour.