Ashland has many historic sites, an introduction to a vacation stop in the South. Ideas about activities in the area.
Between 1806 and 1852, Henry and Lucretia Clay had a home at Ashland. Even though they maintained a town house in Lexington, Kentucky, the home in Ashland had become their country home. In the years to follow, they decided to move their family to Ashland. This is where they resided until Henry's death in 1809. Travelers were quite frequently invited to tour and visit his farm and the grounds.
Livestock was raised and grains and tobacco were grown on the estate, which covered some 600 acres. Purebred stock was imported from all over the world. This was especially true for sheep and cattle. There were up to 50 slaves to perform the labor needed to maintain the farm. Unfortunately, Clay's heirs sold the estate to his son after his death in 1852.
After James, the son, acquired the Clay estate, he tore down the original house and built a new one. In 1857, the second house was completed. Documentation has revealed the newly built home was built on the original foundation or at least close to it. Excavations indicated that the identical spot of the first house was the location of the second house. There had been extensive repairs to the original foundation.
James Clay moved to Canada, along with his family. This was due to his Confederate sympathies. Subsequently, in 1864 James died in Canada. Susan Jacobs Clay, his widow, sold the estate to Kentucky University. During that period of history, the estate spanned over 324 acres. John Bowman used the Ashland house as residence from 1866 to 1878. It was also a part of the campus. A large Mechanical Hall was constructed at Ashland.
The Ashland estate was sold to Henry Clay McDowell and Anne Clay McDowell in 1882 when Kentucky University was dissolved. Anne was the daughter of Henry Clay, Jr. and granddaughter of Henry Clay. During this period of ownership numerous improvements were added to the house and grounds. This also included indoor plumbing, which we take for granted. The McDowells had a daughter, Nannette who was married to Dr. Thomas Bullock. Henry McDowell died in 1899 and Anne Clay McDowell died in 1917. Nannette and Thomas, along with their son, moved into the house with her mother before her death in 1917. The heirs of the McDowell's did not sell Twenty acres surrounding the property. This was kept for the "Ashland Addition", a development that was to be designed by a landscape architecture firm.
Upon Nannette McDowell Bullock's death, the Henry Clay Memorial Fund received the house, property, and most of the belongings. This was requested in her will and it was to be used as a museum in honor of her famous great-grandfather. In her will she stated that her son could live at Ashland for as long as he desired. In 1950, the first floor was open to the public. But in 1964, Henry Bullock moved out and the house became a historic museum. It is now a registered National Historic Landmark.
