Educators are invited to bring their students to Ashland. See field trip info below.
Educators can also utilize our resource guides, lessons, and activities to bring history to life. The history of Ashland spans over two hundred years of local and national importance. Students can compromise with the Great Compromiser Henry Clay, take a stand with suffragist Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, or learn from the resilience of Charlotte Dupuy, one of the people enslaved at Ashland.
Educator Resources



Contact Eric Brooks for more information on any of Ashland’s educational resources: ebrooks@henryclay.org 859-266-8581 x 203
Plan A Field Trip!
At Ashland, every student learns from authentic historic sites.
We offer field trip opportunities for a variety of interests and needs.
On-site Field Trips
On-site field trips for the Signature Henry Clay tour (indoors), the Women’s Voices tour (indoors), and the Traces: Slavery at Ashland tour (indoor/outdoor) are available.
$10 per student
$5 per Fayette County Schools student
For the safety of students and the preservation of the estate, we require at least one chaperone per ten (10) students. There is no fee for required chaperones; additional chaperones, parents, or guardians can be added to a field trip for $15 per person.
Virtual Field Trips
With our live virtual field trip experiences, staff will customize programs for different grade levels and special interests.
Contact us for more information and to arrange:
Erick Brooks at ebrooks@henryclay.org 859-266-8581 x203
Up to 50 students: $50
Over 50 students: $100
Educators can choose from our live virtual field trip options and will work with staff to choose a date and time for their tour. Before the field trip, educators will receive corresponding resource guides to enhance their visit. Staff will use the platform of the educator’s choosing (e.g. Zoom) to lead students on a live virtual field trip. After the tour, an Ashland educator will be available for a student Q&A.
Tour Options
Signature Henry Clay Tour
This artifact-driven tour takes students through the mansion. Docents focus on Henry Clay, compromise, and the leading issue of the time: slavery. Additional themes can accommodate specific lessons or requests. The tour lasts one hour but can be adapted to fit the needs of each group.
Traces: Slavery at Ashland
Walk in the footsteps of the people enslaved at Ashland to learn about family units, farming, and labor. The tour reflects appropriate themes for students in primary and secondary education and lasts 45 minutes to an hour.
Women’s Voices
Explore the lives of nine women of Ashland and the changing roles of women from the late 18th to the mid-20th centuries. The tour lasts one hour but can be adapted to fit group needs.
For more information or to arrange a field trip,
contact Eric Brooks at ebrooks@henryclay.org 859-266-8581 x203
More Resources
Ashland hopes that every student has a meaningful visit and leaves with new ideas about compromise and patriotism. Teachers can help make the tour a more meaningful experience for students by preparing them for their visit and by reviewing what they have learned. We have posted the following activities for your classroom.
The 1847 Market Speech and Activities
The People and artifacts pictured in this bingo game should be familiar to students who have visited Ashland and will make a fun review. Click here to print Ashland Bingo.
The Crossword is filled with vocabulary familiar to students who have toured Ashland. It can also be used to introduce what students will see on their tour.
Civil War at Ashland
The Civil War Divides the Clay Family for Elementary
The Civil War Divides the Clay Family for High School
The Civil War Divides the Clay Family Answer Key and Discussion Questions