Ashland (Henry Clay estate) facts for kids
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Ashland
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The front of the house
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 120 Sycamore Road Lexington, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1811 |
| Architect | Benjamin H. Latrobe; Thomas Lewinski |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000357 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
Ashland is the name of a large farm, also called a plantation, that belonged to Henry Clay. He was an important politician from Kentucky in the 1800s. Ashland is located in Lexington, Kentucky, in a beautiful area called the Bluegrass region.
People who were forced into slavery built the buildings at Ashland. These enslaved people also grew and harvested crops like hemp. They cared for farm animals and did all the cooking and cleaning for the Clay family.
Today, Ashland is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. This means it is important to the history of the United States. A famous horse race, the Ashland Stakes, is even named after this historic estate. It takes place every year at Keeneland Race Course.
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History of Ashland Estate
Henry Clay moved to Lexington, Kentucky from Virginia in 1797. In 1804, he started buying land to create his plantation outside the city. Over time, he became a very large landowner. He owned more than 600 acres (about 2.4 square kilometers) and forced 60 people into slavery.
Among the people enslaved by the Clay family were Aaron Dupuy and Charlotte Dupuy. Their children, Charles and Mary Ann Dupuy, were also enslaved. Henry Clay took them to Washington D.C. when he became a member of Congress in 1810. They were kept there for almost 20 years.
In 1829, Charlotte Dupuy bravely sued Henry Clay for her freedom. She also sued for the freedom of her two children. This happened in a court in Washington D.C. She was told to stay in Washington while the court case went on. She lived there for 18 months and worked for Martin Van Buren, who later became the Secretary of State.
When Henry Clay went back to Ashland, he took Aaron Dupuy and the children with him. The court eventually decided against Charlotte Dupuy. When she refused to return to Kentucky, Clay had her arrested. He then sent her to New Orleans, where she was held by his daughter and son-in-law. She remained enslaved for another ten years. Finally, in 1840, Henry Clay freed Charlotte and her daughter Mary Ann Dupuy. In 1844, he freed her son Charles Dupuy.
The Mansion at Ashland
Henry Clay used the money he made from his forced-labor farm to build his home. Enslaved people built the house in a style called Federal architecture around 1806. Between 1811 and 1814, two more sections were added to the house. These were designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Latrobe.
The building materials used were not very strong, especially the bricks. This made the house unstable. It was probably damaged during the big New Madrid earthquake and its aftershocks in 1811–1812. Even with many repairs, Clay could never make the house completely stable.
Later Owners of Ashland
After Henry Clay died, his estate was divided among his three sons. His son, James Brown Clay, owned and lived at Ashland. He also owned about 325 acres (about 1.3 square kilometers) of land around it.
James Clay had the old house torn down in 1854. A new house was finished by 1857. A local architect named Thomas Lewinski designed the new building. He used parts of the old house, like its foundation and floor plan. But Lewinski made the new house look more modern. It had many Italianate features, mixing old Federal architecture with new Italianate styles.
Inside, James Clay added Greek Revival designs. He decorated the home with fancy furniture bought in New York City. James Clay and his family lived there until he died in 1864. His wife, Susan Jacob Clay, sold the estate in 1866.
Kentucky University bought Ashland and used it as part of its campus. The university's founder, John Bryan Bowman, lived in the mansion. The Agricultural and Mechanical College, which later became the University of Kentucky, was built on Clay's old farm. During this time, John Bowman used part of the mansion to show off the University Natural History Museum.
Kentucky University later split into two schools: Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky. Ashland was sold again in 1882.
Henry Clay's granddaughter, Anne Clay McDowell, and her husband, Henry Clay McDowell, bought the estate in 1883. It included about 325 acres and other buildings. They moved in with their children. They updated the house with gas lighting (and later electricity), indoor plumbing, and telephone service. Their oldest daughter, Nannette McDowell Bullock, lived at Ashland until she died in 1948. She started the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation. This group bought and saved Ashland. The historic house museum opened to the public in 1950.
How Ashland Got Its Name
It is not fully clear if Henry Clay named the plantation or if it already had the name. But he was calling his estate "Ashland" by 1809. The name comes from the many ash trees that grew there.
Clay and his family lived at Ashland from about 1806 until he died in 1852. His wife, Lucretia Clay, moved out in 1854. Because of his political work, Henry Clay spent most of his time between 1810 and 1829 in Washington, D.C.
Several cities across the United States were named in honor of this estate. These include Ashland, Kentucky, Ashland, Missouri, Ashland, Oregon, Ashland, Virginia, and Ashland, Wisconsin. The town of Ashland, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town, was also named after the estate.
See also
