Photo by Paul Atkinson, LCVB
Hours:
March-December: Tu.-Sa. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Su. 1-4 p.m.
Price:
Adults $10, Youth (7-18) $5, Children (under 5) Free
Type:
History Centers, Monuments & Historic Sites
"I had rather be right than be President." So said 19th-century statesman Henry Clay. And indeed he never became president despite five bids, though the Kentucky Senator did serve as Secretary of State and was chosen Speaker of the House on the first day of his first session in Congress. Clay’s story was featured on CSPAN’s The Contenders. Clay found sanctuary from a disappointing world on his estate, which he thought of as his Promised Land, on the (then) outskirts of Lexington, where he lived until his death in 1852. His son Jame razed the mansion following his death and rebuilt it as a memorial to his father. It’s served as a museum since 1950 and today draws visitors to the lush 20-acre wooded estate with an English garden even if they don’t explore the Clay family belongings and memorabilia. Summer jazz concerts, high tea in the tearoom and holiday tours are highlights of a visit throughout the year.