Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate (Images of America)

On September 13, 1804, Henry Clay entered into an agreement to purchase 125 acres on Todd€s Road just outside the city limits of Lexington, Kentucky. With this transaction, Clay began the creation of one of Lexington€s most important sites. Over the next two centuries, Ashland would be home to five generations of one of Kentucky€s first families. Ashland would also be the source of some of Kentucky€s finest horses; the location of a small but important Civil War skirmish; the birthplace of the state€s flagship university; the home to one of the state€s first museums; one of Lexington€s first subdivisions; and finally a National Historic Landmark. Many books have been written about Henry Clay, Ashland€s creator and most important resident, but this is the first to tell the story of his beloved farm and personal retreat.