Henry Clay, secretary of state under President James Monroe, said of his Ashland estate, "I am in one respect better off than Moses. He died without reaching The Promised Land." Clay built the estate and its properties himself between 1804 and 1812, and upon his death it was used by Kentucky University. Visitors to Ashland can take guided tours of the 18-room mansion to see the many rooms that contain original furnishings and artifacts from Clay's rise from plantation owner to politician. A memorabilia and souvenir store are on-site, and between mid-April and mid-October, the Ginkgo Tree Cafe serves guests with traditional "Bluegrass iced tea" and other snacks.
Ninety-five percent of all U.S. bourbon is produced in the state of Kentucky, and the majority is manufactured in the Bluegrass region. The Woodford Reserve Distillery, built in 1838, is Kentucky's oldest bourbon distillery still in active use, and in 1995 it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The site offers three tours around its premises. The Bourbon Discovery Tour teaches visitors about the history of the spirit; the Corn to Cork Tour takes you on an in-depth journey through the distillation process; and the National Landmark Tour is a talk-and-walk through the history of the buildings themselves. Tours are subject to seasonal variations, so check before visiting.
The Cincinnati Museum Center was opened in 1990 on the site of the former Union Terminal train station. It is currently home to five different museums: the Cincinnati History Museum, the Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Linder Family Omnimax Theater and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. The Cincinnati History Museum takes visitors through the history of Cincinnati, from the first settlers in the Bluegrass Region in 1792, to life on the home front in World War II. The museum features three restaurants on-site, and entry is free if you become a member of the museum. Discounted memberships are available for families.
The Muhammad Ali Center has 2-1/2 levels of exhibits and artifacts that take you through the boxing career and social history of one of the Bluegrass Region's most famous sons. The "Train with Ali" exhibit is a full-scale replica of Ali's Deer Lake Training Camp, while "Lighting the Way" allows you to experience Ali's lighting of the flame at the 1996 Olympics. The center presents much of its material in 19 languages, and a Muhammad Ali memorabilia store is on site. The Muhammad Ali Center offers specific educational tours for students and discounts for visitors in large groups.
