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Henry Clay Society

A Legacy of Leadership. A Commitment to Country.

The Henry Clay Society is an exclusive donor recognition circle honoring the visionary individuals and institutions who advance the mission of the Henry Clay Foundation. These leaders ensure Ashland remains a beacon of statesmanship, education, and civic virtue.

To learn more or become a member, please contact us.

Membership Benefits

Membership in the Society offers permanent recognition and a deeper connection to the Clay legacy:

  • Legacy Wall: A custom brass plate inscribed with your name is permanently mounted at Ashland.
  • Unlimited Access: Free admission for you and your family to tour Ashland at your convenience.
  • Priority Invitations: Get early access to exclusive Foundation events and public programs.
  • Insider Updates: Receive the Ashland newsletter and VIP notifications.
  • Museum Store Discount: Enjoy a 10% discount at the Ashland Museum Store.

Ashland was Henry Clay’s family’s cherished home for nearly half a century. His historic estate has been preserved for your discovery today.

The Story of Ashland

Henry Clay deeply loved Ashland, the farm and home he built. It provided a place of refuge and sanctuary from a difficult and often disappointing world, and it was one of the few places where Clay regularly found happiness. For his descendants, Ashland was a place of great reverence and inspiration. For students and regents of Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College, it was a place of learning and growth. Today, visitors see Ashland as a place of great history, pride, and awe.

The Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service

Honoring those who mirror Clay’s statesmanship and national impact.

Established in 1993, the Henry Clay Medallion is awarded by the Society to individuals whose life’s work reflects the principles for which Henry Clay is most remembered: union over division, courage in leadership, and a deep commitment to the public good.

The medallion is a replica of a rare bronze cast by Charles Cushing Wright in 1852, created as a memento upon Clay’s death for his closest friends and colleagues. Today, it remains one of the highest honors conferred by the Foundation.

Henry Clay Medallion Recipients

Dr. Thomas D. Clark, 1993
Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley, 1995
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, 1996
Governor Wendell Ford, 1997
Senator Trent Lott, 1998
Governor Edward T. Breathitt, 1999
Mr. William T. Young, 2000
Mrs. Lucille Caudill Little, 2001
Ambassador William S. Farish, 2002
Mr. Robert “Ted” Turner, 2004
Mr. Hilary J. Boone, Jr., 2005
Senator Mitch McConnell and Secretary Elaine Chao, 2006
Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, 2008
Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, 2009
Dr. Charles L. Shearer, 2010
Speakers John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Dennis Hastert, and Jim Wright, 2011
Mr. Itzhak Perlman, 2012
Dr. T. Pearse Lyons, 2014
Congressman Hal Rogers, 2017