About Lexington KY
Lexington is the 2nd biggest city in the state of Kentucky, and as well serves as the county seat of Lafayette County. It is well noted for being the hub of the state’s bluegrass heritage. Lexington also has the distinction of been ranked among the #10 cities in the United States in the context of college education rate. To this end, around 40% of this city’s population have no less than a bachelor’s degree. The future site of the City of Lexington was previously occupied by several native Amerindian tribes. The first explorers of European descent traded with the natives, but didn’t establish a permanent settlement until the late 18th century.
Lexington was established by Americans of European descent in 1775. This was 17 years prior to Kentucky attaining statehood. A group of frontiersmen who were led by William McConnnell founded a camp on the Elkhom Creek at the current site of today’s McConnell Springs. When news reached them of the victory of the Americans in the Lexington and Concord Battle, McConnell and his group changed the name of their campsite to Lexington. The city would be the very first of numerous American places to be named in honor of the Massachusetts town.
The City of Lexington was chartered in 1782 by an enactment of the Virginia General Assembly. At the turn of the 19th century, a planter by the name of John Hunt emerged as the very first millionaire west of the Allegheny Mountains. It is as well important to note that many 19th century American politicians and military figures spend a portion of their lives in this Kentucky city. Some of the most prominent of which include President Abraham Lincoln, Confederate President Jefferson Davies, Senator and Vice President John Breckinridge and Secretary of State Henry Clay. While President Abraham Lincoln’s wife; Mary Todd was born and raised in the City of Lexington.
Request a Free Estimate
Fence Company Lexington Ky Pros
Top attractions
Lexington is highly acclaimed for its numerous arts and culture organizations. This includes a professional orchestra, 2 ballet companies, 1 professional theatre, a number of museums and choral organizations. Also, this Kentucky city hosts a wide variety of annual festivals, which draw big crowds from all over the state’s bluegrass area. One of the most notable of these is the Mayfest Art Fair that features a wide range of attractions for all ages. This includes around 100 arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, food, kids’ activities, adult activities, free carriage rides and even a Morris and Maypole dance. The City of Lexington as well hosts the Festival of Bluegrass, which has the distinction of been the state of Kentucky’s oldest bluegrass music festivals. This festival comes complete with 3 different live music stages and a music camp for school going children.
Lexington is also home to a wide variety of fascinating museums and structures of historic import. This includes the Ashland: Henry Clay Estate that is now listed on the National Historic Landmarks register. There is as well the Pope Villa, which was constructed in the early 19th century, and has the distinction of being one of the few surviving domestic designs created by renowned architect; Benjamin Latrobe. Other intriguing historic sites in the City of Lexington include the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, the First African Baptist Church, the Kentucky Theatre. The Lexington Cemetery, the Lexington Opera House, The Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Waveland State Historic Site.
On the other hand, the University of Kentucky Art Museum has the distinction of been the premier visual arts museum in Lexington, and is also the only accredited museum in the area. The University of Kentucky Art Museum showcases an impressive collection of works of art that number to more than 4,000 different pieces from old masters and contemporary artists. The City of Lexington is as well home to the world’s biggest ceiling clock and a 5 story Foucault pendulum, both of which are located in the Lexington Public Library. This given library also comes complete with an art gallery and a theater. Also, Lexington is home to a Woolworth building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This particular City of Lexington site was used as a meeting place for protests during the 1960s’ Civil Rights Movement against segregation.
Mary Todd Lincoln House
This is the childhood home for the United States’ 16th First Lady; Mary Todd Lincoln. It was well preserved and is now made open for tours by the general public. The Mary Todd Lincoln House has the distinction of been the very first historic site that was restored in the name of a United States First Lady. Visitors to this Lexington top attraction get the opportunity to review a fascinating collection of original artifacts such as furniture, portraits and furnishings from the Lincoln and Todd families.
Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is sprawled on a 1,000 acre parcel of land, and serves as a working horse farm. Some of the top attractions of this City of Lexington park are informative tours of the horse stables and other interesting facilities in it. Visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park also get to witness the ‘Horses of the World’ show that is held 2 times per day. This given show features a wide variety of rare as well as exotic horses, which have been sourced from all over the world. The Kentucky Horse Park as well holds fascinating demonstrations of riders garbed in authentic equestrian wear. This City of Lexington attraction is also home to original horse memorabilia and interpretive literature.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
This is a 700 acre nature sanctuary, which is located in close proximity to the City of Lexington downtown area. Its mission statement is to preserve the distinctive beauty of the Kentucky River Palisades area. To this end, the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary illustrates the historic import of this part of Lexington. While, at the same time, offering an open outdoor space for the express utilization of the inhabitants and visitors of this Kentucky city.
Headley – Whitney Museum
The Headley – Whitney Museum was founded by a native Lexington couple George Headley and Barbara Whitney. It showcases a wide variety of intriguing artifacts and objects that attract visitors in huge droves. George Headley spent most of his life working as a jewelry designer, and this City of Lexington museum is full of his various handiwork and private collections. The Headley – Whitney Museum also puts to show a number of interesting exhibits. This includes doll houses, miniatures, bibelots. All of which were designed by Barbara Whitney. Apart from the museum itself, this leading City of Lexington attraction comes complete with a sizeable library, a rose garden, shell grottos and a number of fascinating rotating exhibits.
Hunt Morgan House
This top City of Lexington attraction was first constructed in the early part of the 19th century. It was initially the possession of the very first millionaire who resided on the western end of the Alleghenies Mountains; John Hunt. Ever since then, the Hunt Morgan House has been the primary residence of a good number of historically prominent personalities in the country. This includes a Confederate Army General and Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan to name but a few. The last of which was the very first state of Kentucky resident to bag the prestigious Nobel Prize. The Hunt Morgan House’s interior comes complete with historic and period specific furniture and furnishings. Not to mention an impressive collection of artifacts, which were collected by its former residents. Also, this Lexington attraction has a Civil War Museum.