HISTORY · HISTORICAL MARKER
Watkins Tavern
History
11
A stone tavern and inn stood here, built by stonemason Thomas Metcalfe, who later became governor of Kentucky. It was owned by Henry Watkins and his wife Elizabeth, the widow of Rev. John Clay and mother of Henry Clay. On May 15, 1825, Lafayette, traveling from Frankfort to Lexington, was entertained here, greeted friends and veterans, and had to address the crowd from the upper balcony. The tavern burned in 1886.
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