Lexington KY

This past weekend the hubster and I took an impromptu road tip to Lexington Kentucky. On Friday we noticed they were putting large white tents up in the parking lot across from our house. Oh no. Not that time of year again. The dreaded, uber noisy, Wizdom Foundation festival. Time to hit the road for the weekend! So early Saturday morning we tromped down the dusty trail to Lexington.

The hubster, who normally has his internal GPS on full alert, had some--ahem--difficulties finding his way around town. Later, as a neighbor told me, we learned that Lexington is much like Indianapolis and build on a circular grid. We never did find the restaurant where the hubster had been wanting to have lunch, but that was okay because we found <insert the sound of Angels singing> Mary Lou's BBQ. (See my Dippy Eats page for my review of Mary Lou's and pictures).

 

After lunch we went to the John Hunt Morgan house. I'd love to tell you how awesome it was...but it was closed for a private event. Dang it! Despite being closed, we were allowed to wander the grounds, including the lovely garden.

Then it was a quick walk across the street to Gratz Park where we puzzled over the fountain, dedicated to the children of the city. The part that shocked us was that the children were naked. Still pondering that one, especially given the era in which the foundation was built.

 

Late in the afternoon we toured the Henry Clay estate. Regretfully they don't allow pictures to be taken in the house. The guided tour of the inside of the house took about an hour and was very informative. The male spirit that followed us around the property (and back to our hotel) was even more informative. If I had to guess going from looks, I would say he was the man servant to Henry Clay. Interesting tidbit is that he told me, "I'm not deaf now." Good to know!

We enjoyed the Henry Clay estate so much that we returned on Sunday morning and toured the areas of the large estate that we hadn't had time to see the day before.

 

After spending a couple of hours at the Clay Estate on Sunday morning, our next stop was High Bridge, the highest railroad bridge in the US over a navigable stream (308 feet). Built in 1851, High Bridge was the first cantilever bridge built on this continent and was designed by John Roebling, the same man that designed the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC. A true testament to the lasting quality of good design and workmanship, the bridge is still in use as we evidenced by the two trains that crossed it while we visited.

Then it was onto Richmond battlefield. The second largest Civil War battle in Kentucky, the Battle of Richmond was one of the most decisive and complete Confederate victories in the entire war. One of the houses they'd used as a hospital after the battle has been turned into a surprisingly nice, privately funded, Civil War museum. In addition they have an extensive collection of arrowheads found in the area most likely from the Cherokees who inhabited the area at one time.

 

Mt. Zion Christian Church was used as a Federal field hospital during the U.S. Civil War Battle of Richmond and was the chief hospital for both Union and Confederate troops. The pews in use in the church are the actual pews the soldiers laid on, were operated on and died on. You'd better believe there's energies hanging around there!

 

Tired and hungry, we ended our Lexington trip at Ramsey's, the same place we started our day at that morning. I don't know if you're familiar with the term "meat and three" but basically that means you choose a meat and three sides. Its a popular type of restaurant in the south. (See my Dippy Eats page for my review of Ramsey's with pictures). Ramsey's was a fitting end to the day and the weekend. Full and happy, we headed off into the sunset for home. An hour later we were back in Louisville, already talking about where to go on our next weekender.