Museums are the cultural hubs of Lexington. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about LEX or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 10 museums to visit in our city.
Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, is located off Richmond Road on Sycamore Lane. | Photo courtesy of VisitLEX
History
Henry Clay, The Ashland Estate
, 120 Sycamore Rd. | $0-$25
Located in the heart of town, you can take a self-guided tour of the grounds or schedule an educational tour of the Ashland mansion + learn more about the Founding Father.
Mary Todd Lincoln House
, 578 W. Main St. | $0-$15
Learn about the life of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, from her beginnings here in Lexington to her path to the White House.
Waveland State Historic Site
, 225 Waveland Museum Ln. | $6-$15
Observe and educate yourself about the history of the enslaved peoples of Waveland and explore its 10 acres featuring curated gardens.
Don’t miss: Attending a vintage baseball game, where players abide by rules from the 1860s.
Getting a picture with the 21c penguins is a Lexington rite of passage. | Photo courtesy of VisitLEX
Arts
21c Museum Hotel
, 167 W. Main St. | Free
Stay the night or hop in for an evening at this museum within a hotel. Upon entry, you’ll be greeted with 7,000 sqft of exhibits from different mediums, including photography, paintings, and sculptures.
University of Kentucky Art Museum
, 405 Rose St. | Free
There’s no shortage of unique exhibits at this on-campus museum. Whether you’re looking to take a group or peruse the over 5,000 objects alone, there’s an experience for everyone.
Headley-Whitney Museum of Art
, 4435 Old Frankfort Pike | $0-$10
Discover trinkets and bibelots (French for “small, ornate, decorative object of beauty”), as well as vintage dollhouses.
Don’t miss: Strolling through the surrounding gardens or attending a yoga class within one of the space’s exhibits.
The LASC mobile planetarium is out of this world. | Photo courtesy of The Living Arts & Science Center
Science
The Living Arts & Science Center
, 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. | Pay what you want
This living, breathing museum features rotating exhibits in the Marksbury Discovery Room, art galleries commemorating Lexington’s vibrant history, opportunities to meet animals, and the city’s only public planetarium.
Don’t miss: The Kinkead Gallery, which is dedicated to abolitionist + lawyer George Kinkead, whose family inhabited the original house that is now the museum.
Aviation Museum of Kentucky
, 4029 Airport Rd. | $6-$10
Kids will love exploring historic air crafts, including a recreation of a Wright Brothers-inspired plane and a WACO Biplane.
Let the kids try on different professional hats. | Photo by LEXtoday
Kids
The Explorium of Lexington
, 440 W. Short St. | $8-$10
This interactive space includes exhibits that will appeal to all kids, including those interested in architecture, STEM
, health, and physics. For children that aren’t so sure about their future, don’t fret, the Explorium Way will allow them to discover a variety of professions.
Get a crash course on all things horse country at the Kentucky Horse Park. | Photo courtesy of VisitLEX
Equestrian
International Museum of the Horse
, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy. | $6-$20
Learn about our rich equestrian history, from the Black jockeys like Isaac Murphy
that contributed to what racing looks like today, to the Arabian Horse gallery that chronicles the life of this breed.
Don’t miss: Exploring the entirety of the Kentucky Horse Park grounds , which include an up-close look at horse training sessions, the campgrounds, and tours.
American Saddlebred Museum
, 4083 Wing Commander Way Ste. 150 | $6-$20
Also located within the Kentucky Horse Park, here you can come learn all about the American Saddlebred horse through film, art, and its commemorative sidewalk
.
What did we miss? If you know a museum that’s not on the list, let us know using this survey .