Lexington, Ashland Henry Clay Estate Ticket with Guided Tour

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate

Explore the 18-room mansion of Ashland while learning about the life and legacy of Henry Clay, one of Kentucky's most famous statesmen. Choose from several tour options which each give a deeper context to Clay's legacy and American History.

Ashland - The Henry Clay Estate

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Discover Ashland, the estate of Henry Clay, the "Great Pacificator” and one of Kentucky's most famous statesmen. Enjoy a variety of narrated tours through the grounds as you explore the 18-room Italianate-style mansion which was rebuilt as a testament to the former political leader by his family. Your guided tour will grant you access to Ashland and deepen your understanding of important events in American History. The theme of the tours varies depending on the day of the week.

In addition to a guided tour, have time to explore everything from the grand drawing room to the bedrooms all highlighting the life and legacy of Henry Clay. Learn about how slavery shaped the Ashland and Clay's America. Visitors will marvel at artifacts related to Clay's legacy as a horse-breeder and scientific farmer. After touring both floors of the mansion, take a self-guided tour of the grounds taking in the lush scenery of Lexington.

Signature Tour:
Enjoy a narrated 1-hour tour of Ashland, stepping back in time to the 19th century as you explore the 18-room Italianate-style mansion re-built as a testament to the former political leader by his family. End your visit with a stroll of the gardens and grounds, Civil War monument, and rotating exhibits, at your leisure.

Women's Voices Tour:
This poignant tour focuses on 9 women of Ashland who span a century of social, cultural, and political evolution. As you visit the rooms they inhabited, hear their voices–the causes they championed, the challenges they faced, and the heartache they suffered. Also, find out about the changing role of women from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century.

Traces: Slavery at Ashland Tour:
Walk in the footsteps of the men, women, and children who were enslaved at Ashland on this indoor/outdoor tour. Learn about how historians use traces of evidence to uncover their stories. Listen to the voices of those who resisted bondage and honor the memory of those who were forced into labor.

Art & Grounds Tour:
Combine history, art, and nature as you explore Henry Clay’s lifelong interest in agriculture. Take a stroll on one of Clay’s walking paths and interact with John Henry’s Monumental sculptures while enjoying the beauty of this historic arboretum and home of Henry Clay. Ashland docents lead these 45-minute walking tours, offering historical background, tree identification, and stories about the people who lived and worked on these grounds.

Combo Tour:
With this option, enjoy the Signature Tour coupled with either Women's Voices (Friday/Saturday only) or Traces: Slavery at Ashland (Tuesday/Thursday only). Get an overview of the style and architecture of the estate alongside important historical context.