Gratz Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gratz Park Historic District
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Fountain of Youth
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| Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
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| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000796 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1973 |
Gratz Park is a special neighborhood and historic area located just north of downtown Lexington, Kentucky. It's named after an important early businessman, Benjamin Gratz, whose old home is still there. This historic district has 16 interesting buildings, including famous ones like the Hunt–Morgan House, the Bodley-Bullock House, and the original Carnegie library in Lexington. Gratz Park sits on land that was set up in 1781, a bit outside Lexington's first boundaries.
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Discovering Gratz Park's History
Gratz Park has a long and interesting past. It was once the first home of Transylvania College. However, the college building was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1829. After the fire, Transylvania College moved across Third Street to where it is today.
The Fountain of Youth
At the northern edge of the park, you'll find a beautiful statue called the "Fountain of Youth." This fountain was built to remember a Lexington author named James Lane Allen. He left money to the city, and that money was used to create this lovely landmark. The park itself was given to the city of Lexington in the mid-1900s and is still a popular public park for everyone to enjoy today.
Exploring the Park's Location
Gratz Park is surrounded by West Third and West Second streets on its north and south sides. Buildings on Mill and Market streets form its western and eastern edges. The park is always open for people to visit. The historic Christ Church Cathedral is also very close, located at 166 Market Street. Some of the old houses within the Gratz Park district are even open for the public to tour and learn about their history.
The Historic Carnegie Library
One of the important buildings in the Gratz Park district is the old Carnegie library. It was built around 1904 to 1906 and has a beautiful Classical Revival style. The library was designed by architect Herman L. Rowe. It cost $75,000 to build and was made from strong Bedford limestone. This building was the main Lexington Public Library for many years until a new, bigger library was built on East Main Street.
