Since I spent some time touring some of the natural beauty in my hometown, I figured I'd take a stroll through one of the city's most beautiful historic districts. Now considered to be a lush oasis in downtown Lexington, Gratz Park was originally established outside of the city's limits in 1781.
Named for an early Lexington businessman, Benjamin Gratz, this historic neighborhood and park is now the crowning jewel in historic architecture of the city's downtown. Ever since I was a youngster, this was one of my favorite parks to lounge around in, twirling around the Maypole with other kids and daydreaming about ye olden times.
The park itself originally belonged to the oldest college west of the Appalachian mountains, Transylvania University. However, the school's main building was severely damaged by a fire and moved across the street, opening this space back up to the neighborhood. Now the park houses The Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning and the Hunt-Morgan House, a house museum that teaches about early 19th century life in Lexington, during a time when it was deemed "The Athens of the West".
More Info: The Bluegrass Trust
(Images: Smith Schwartz)
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Note that this neighborhood would have been destroyed, either figuratively or literally, if the city had approved a suggestion to let the interstate highway run right through downtown, decades ago. The houses you see here are only two blocks north of the center of the city. As it happened, the interstate ended up passing miles outside of the city, through farmland but not altering previously settled places. Lexington may be slower and smaller than it would have been if we had a stream of cars flowing through, 24 hours a day, but the city does still have some concentrated chunks of the heritage that keep it from being Anywhereville, USA. Gratz Park is also where Lexington began its efforts toward historic preservation.
Until recently, I owned a 100-year-old home four blocks north of Gratz Park, in another historic district. Lexington is a beautiful and affordable place to live. I remember, in 2000, wondering "Where is the next Seattle or Austin or Portland, a funky place that hasn't yet been discovered to death?" Turns out that you can find a lot of the spirit of progressiveness and charm right here in Lexington, which is fun enough but not so funky that it's in danger of getting overrun and overexposed.
This is great! I just happened upon your site while looking for home ideas. I live in and love Lexington. Next time you're in town, stop in and visit me at The Crushed Violet on Church Street (around the corner from Gratz Park Inn)! Wonderful website...I'm now a fan!
Yay! I live here! I love walking through here on Thursday Night Live events in the summer.