What to do and see in Lexington, Kentucky (KY): The Best Museums

When you were a kid, did you take stuff apart just to find out what was inside? Today's stuff is harder to see without specialized equipment, so we tear apart old analog phones to see the componentry that converts voice to electric current and back again. Then we compare this seemingly larger than life componentry of the 19TH century to today's semiconductor based versions. All things being equal, Ohm's Law is why smartphones work the same way as a candlestick phone. Furthermore, Ohm's Law is the fundamental principle of all circuit design including smartphone RF and Logic circuit designs. So, in the spirit of taking stuff apart that is meaningful, we offer telephone workshops at our museum.

The only park of its kind in the world, the Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm, educational theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. Set on more than 1,200 acres in the heart of the Kentucky's famous Bluegrass region, the park is THE place to get close to horses! Featuring dozens of breeds of horse at work and at play, the park showcases the horse in daily equine presentations, horse drawn tours, horseback and pony rides, and an array of horse shows and special events throughout the year. The park's International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the world's largest equestrian museum. Offering both the experienced horseman and novice an opportunity to explore the many facets of humanity's relationship with the horse, the museum is dedicated to all breeds and disciplines of horse and covers some 50-million years of equine history. State-of-the-art technology complements rare artifacts and scholarly research to present a unique, educational, museum experience for all ages. The American Saddlebred Museum, the Showplace for Saddlebreds, celebrates Kentucky's first native breed of horse. The museum features interactive exhibits and a movie. With the park's own tourist activities and the numerous additional horse shows that take place in the equine competition facilities throughout the year, there can be a fair amount of walking involved, depending on visitor interest level. Comfortable shoes and clothing is recommended, appropriate for Kentucky's seasonal weather. Dogs and other pets are permitted on park grounds, as long as they are on a leash or in an approved carrier, although they may not be permitted in some buildings.

The area's newest attraction is housed inFayette Country's old courthouse built in 1900.Explore the area's rich history through exhibits and lecture series. Open year-round daily noon to 4:00 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Hopemont, is a house museum that will be of interest to history, architecture, Civil War, and decorative arts enthusiasts. John Wesley Hunt, the first millionaire west of the Allegheny Mountains, constructed the Federal-style dwelling in 1814 for his urban residence. Henrietta Morgan, Hunt's daughter and mother of renowned Confederate general John Hunt Morgan, inherited the property in 1849. Hopemont features a collection of early Kentucky furniture, antique porcelain, and 19th-century paintings, which convey the status and tastes of the Hunt and Morgan families, who lived there from 1814 until 1891. Also on display are installations about hemp and the Civil War relative to Kentucky, Lexington, the Hunt and Morgan families, and the property itself. Hopemont also boasts a beautiful garden and a 19th-century carriage house.

The site of celebrated statesman Henry Clay's original 672-acre estate that once grew hemp, tobacco and grain is now a museum and National Historic Landmark, where visitors can tour the reconstructed 18-room mansion, grounds and beautiful gardens. *New for 2019: We now allow non-flash photography on all of our tours!*

The Headley-Whitney Museum is a decorative arts museum in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. Founded by George Headley, a noted jewelry designer from the twentieth century, the Museum houses pieces from Headley's impressive collection of jewelry and bibelots (small, decorative objects of beauty) in addition to an array of rotating exhibits and workshops. The property is also used for special events with many acres of unique and beautiful grounds to enjoy. Visit the Headley-Whitney Museum on your next trip to Kentucky and see why were are truly the Gem of the Bluegrass!

Open seasonally March 15th - November 30th. Discover one of America's most fascinating first ladies during a visit to her girlhood home. The wife of President Abraham Lincoln grew up in this house. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited her family here. Today the fourteen room house contains period furniture, portraits, and furnishings. The property is located in downtown Lexington. Convenient walking distance to local hotels and restaurants. The museum is open for self-guided tours, limited capacity, and timed entry to promote distance between guests. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Free parking is located directly behind the house. Guests may park in the museum’s designated parking or in the neighboring lot behind Main Street Baptist Church. Metered parking also available on Main Street.

LASC combines science, art, education, and community service for children and adults. Classes and exhibits are ongoing.

The AVIATION MUSEUM of KENTUCKY is located at Blue Grass Airport, Lexington. The facility has 20,000 square feet of display area, a fully equipped shop for aviation restoration projects, an office, a library/archive and a gift shop. The Museum is a dynamic entity which includes not only older restored aircraft and memorabilia, but also air-worthy, flyable aircraft for the public to enjoy.

Explore the history and legends of the American Saddlebred, Kentucky's only native breed, at this museum which includes various exhibits. The Museum houses the largest collection of Saddlebred artifacts in the world. Visit us on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park!