Henry Clay Memorial Foundation – History of a House Museum

Interpreting Henry Clay in a Charming Home Environment

June 22, 2020

YOU ARE HERE -> 1950s-1970s Unlike many historic house museums, the public display of Ashland’s collection began during the domestic life of the founder’s—Henry Clay’s—home some 150 years before. The coexistence of home and museum actually has a long history at Ashland; exhibiting and interpreting artifacts for the public has been occurring for almost two … More Interpreting Henry Clay in a Charming Home Environment

Giving the Impression that Henry Clay “may return at any moment”

June 15, 2020

YOU ARE HERE -> 1880s-1940s When Henry Clay’s son James and his wife Susan left Ashland during the Civil War, they placed their precious Clay heirlooms safely in family hands. Their family line would retain a large portion of Henry Clay artifacts, many of which eventually found their way back to Ashland after 1950. But … More Giving the Impression that Henry Clay “may return at any moment”

Spring Beauty at Ashland

March 30, 2020

YOU ARE HERE -> today **Ashland is a good place to get outdoors while social distancing. There is plenty of room to walk, admire the trees, historic buildings, and the carpet of flowers, all while keeping everyone safe.** Springtime at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate is especially glorious with the carpet of tiny white blossoms … More Spring Beauty at Ashland

Ashland in the Path of the Bulldozer

March 4, 2020

YOU ARE HERE -> 1920s Ashland endangered The people of America…make no mistake in paying homage to the memory of Henry Clay; but our debt of gratitude, my friends, will not be liquidated until the historic home of Henry Clay, his dearly beloved ‘Ashland,’ is rescued from the menace of encroachment by advancing civic development … More Ashland in the Path of the Bulldozer

Messy Generational ‘Layers’ Complicate Museum’s Task

January 3, 2020

YOU ARE HERE -> 1950s Historic house museums often face difficult decisions regarding which period of the house’s history to interpret. This interpretive decision has proven to be a most complicated issue at Ashland. Not only is Henry Clay’s original house gone, but five generations of his family occupied the estate and much of the … More Messy Generational ‘Layers’ Complicate Museum’s Task

Come Along on A Vintage Tour of Ashland

September 19, 2019

YOU ARE HERE -> 1950s-1980s From 1950 through the 1980s Director Lorraine Seay welcomed guests to Ashland at her desk in the front hall where registration was required. In the case of large groups, she would greet them from the front doorstep, from which they would be led through the house by tour guides. Smaller … More Come Along on A Vintage Tour of Ashland

Spring Beauty at Ashland

April 5, 2019

YOU ARE HERE -> today Springtime at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate is especially glorious with the carpet of tiny white blossoms that covers the grounds. Spring Beauty—often referred to as “Spring Beauties” —has been blooming every spring on the estate for generations. Claytonia virginica is the botanical name for this perennial, in honor of … More Spring Beauty at Ashland

Children at Ashland

February 4, 2019

Ashland for over 200 years has been a magical place for children to play. From Henry Clay’s own children and grandchildren to his son James and Susan’s ten children, to his granddaughter Anne Clay McDowell’s girls, the estate’s young occupants delighted in their surroundings. And it was not only the Clay children who grew up … More Children at Ashland

Ashland Grounds as Public Park: The Formal Garden

January 16, 2019

YOU ARE HERE -> 1950s-today When Ashland opened as a museum in 1950 the estate featured seventeen acres open daily to the public. Although the mansion was the primary focus, from the beginning the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation emphasized Ashland’s spacious grounds and encouraged visitors to “pause” before entering the mansion to see the grounds, … More Ashland Grounds as Public Park: The Formal Garden

The Cottage At Ashland

October 8, 2018

It is the picturesque little building that most Ashland visitors first encounter: The Keeper’s – or Gardener’s – Cottage. Adjacent to today’s modern parking lot, this original structure from Henry Clay’s time is a charmer. The Cottage was designed in 1846 by Thomas Lewinski, the Lexington architect who had helped Clay with some mansion remodeling, … More The Cottage At Ashland