Waveland, Greek Revival mansion in Lexington, Kentucky
Waveland is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1848 in Lexington that served as the main residence for a wealthy family. The property includes several outbuildings that reveal how such an estate operated, with separate structures used for food preparation, storage, and housing for household workers.
The estate was built in the mid-1800s during Kentucky's agricultural boom when wealthy landowners commissioned grand homes on substantial properties. Its original buildings and layout preserve how these large agricultural holdings operated before major changes swept through the region.
Walking through the rooms reveals how wealthy families organized their daily life in the 1800s, from the formal spaces where guests were received to the working areas behind the scenes. The layout shows the separation between family quarters and service areas that was typical of the period.
The property can be explored on guided tours that include easy access features for visitors with different mobility needs. Plan to spend time looking at the different buildings on the grounds, including the smaller structures that many visitors miss on first glance.
A rustic barn structure on the grounds now serves as an event space that can hold up to 60 people while keeping its original character. The lack of modern climate systems means visitors experience the building much as it would have been used in earlier times.
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