1852-1866
YOU ARE HERE -> 1850s In the final months before Henry Clay died in June of 1852, his son James B. Clay promised his father that he would assume the responsibility for Ashland, as Clay had desired. James and his family planned to occupy the historic estate, but there was a serious problem: Henry Clay’s … More The Fate of Ashland After Clay’s Death: Son James Makes a Difficult Decision
YOU ARE HERE -> 1854-57 We made a promise some days ago to give an account of our visit to Ashland, which for so many years was the home of Henry Clay, a name dear to the American people… Ashland has often been described by abler pens than ours, and its name has gone forth … More “Henry Clay is dead and Ashland is a ruin…”
YOU ARE HERE -> 1857 After Henry Clay’s death, his national historic-themed display at Ashland evolved into son James’s Henry Clay tribute display. James and Susan continued the practice of displaying artifacts within the mansion for public viewing, but now the collection centered on those related to Clay’s life. They honored Henry Clay’s collection by … More Paying Tribute to Henry Clay at Ashland, 1857
YOU ARE HERE -> CHRISTMAS 1856 While statesman Henry Clay had not been home for many Christmases at Ashland due to Congress being in session, once James and Susan Clay come to Ashland in the 1850s, we begin to get details of how Christmas was celebrated at the estate. James had rebuilt the Ashland mansion … More An 1856 Christmas at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate
YOU ARE HERE -> 1857-1865 Once the second Ashland mansion was complete in 1857, normal hospitality resumed. Henry Clay’s son James and his wife Susan were, for at least the first years of their tenure, quite open to the public’s visitation, “extending cordial courtesies to almost unnumbered visitors.” The public was especially curious about the … More With Civil War Looming, James and Susan Clay Open Ashland to the Public
YOU ARE HERE -> 1855-1856 Henry Clay’s son James and his wife Susan rebuilt the Ashland mansion in the 1850s with an Italianate flair. Yet Henry Clay’s Federal-style floor plan remained at the heart of the structure, and the rooms were assigned for uses corresponding to those in Clay’s original house. But now the interiors … More Lavishly Furnishing the New Ashland
YOU ARE HERE -> 1850s When James Clay rebuilt his father’s Ashland mansion in the 1850s, his intent was to create a tribute to Henry Clay. James sought to create an impressive home so that they could receive the public (many of Henry Clay’s still devoted fans) and impress the world with the legacy of … More Unusual Architecture and Dolphins at Ashland
