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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	ASHLAND Kentucky
Fayette County, Main Street (Richmond Road), Lexington. Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate

Ownership and Administration. Henry Clay Memorial Foundation.

Significance. This estate, in the heart of the Bluegrass region, was the home of one of the Nation's outstanding statesmen and pre-Civil War leaders, Henry Clay—the "Great Pacificator," or "Great Compromiser." From 1812, when he gained national recognition as a leader of the "War Hawks" in Congress, until his death, in 1852, Clay returned to Ashland as often as his busy schedule would permit. While there, he entertained many distinguished guests, worked on legislation, and prepared speeches for Congress. For diversion he dabbled in farming and bred race horses, cattle, and sheep. After his last disappointing try for the presidential nomination, in 1848, he left Ashland for the Senate to do what he could to avert the growing danger of civil conflict. In the fall of 1851 he bade goodbye to his home for the last time as he left to devote his failing strength to the political struggle in Washington, where he died the following year.

In 1811 Clay purchased nearly 400 acres of land from the estate that he had been renting and the following year constructed a brick mansion, designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, architect of the Capitol and other Washington buildings. Clay christened the home Ashland because of its location in a forest of ash trees. Even during Clay's lifetime the house revealed serious structural weaknesses. After his death his son razed and reconstructed it on its original foundations; he maintained as closely as possible the original Latrobe design. For many years Nannette McDowell Bullock, Clay's great-granddaughter, lived at Ashland and she deeded it to the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation, chartered in 1926. The foundation preserved it and dedicated it in 1950 as a historic shrine honoring Clay.

Henry Clay, the distinguished ante bellum statesman and Senator, lived in this mansion, on his Ashland estate. Although the city of Lexington, Kentucky, now occupies most of the original estate, a portion of it has been preserved.

Present Appearance. Most of Clay's original estate is today covered by residential areas in Lexington. The Henry Clay Memorial Foundation has preserved 20 acres of the estate, once totaling about 600 acres, as a park. The house is a 2-1/2-story brick structure, covered with vines, and has one-story wings on each side. From these wings, ells project forward and form a court in the front of the main section of the house. On both sides of the doorway are full-length windows and above it is a fanlight. The house is furnished with a great variety of Clay's possessions. Several outbuildings survive, including two cottages, two icehouses, and a smoke house. At the rear of the house the Garden Club of Lexington maintains a garden on the site of Mrs. Clay's garden. The house and grounds, both in excellent condition, are open to the public throughout the year.