Kentucky's Greek Revival Masterpiece

Ward Hall is the grandest Greek Revival residence in Kentucky, and one of the finest examples of a mid-nineteenth century classical building in the United States. It was completed circa 1857 at a cost of $50,000 in gold, and represents one of the most intact houses in the country.

Built for Junius Richard Ward and his wife Matilda Viley Ward, the mansion is attributed to British-born military engineer and Lexington architect, Major Thomas Lewinski. It was constructed by Taylor Buffington with the assistance of James Bailey, a free man of color. The house embodies numerous Minard Lafever design elements from his 1829 and 1835 pattern books.

Restoring History

Ward Hall was acquired by the Ward Hall Preservation Foundation in mid-2004. The foundation focuses its attention on the much needed restoration of the exterior of the building.

The Ward family suffered serious financial reverses after the Civil War, and the house and plantation were sold in 1867. Since then, there have been approximately 13 owners, but none has made major changes to the structure. Fortunately for the preservation foundation, that leaves a virtually intact house, including the very important 4,000 square-foot basement where servants lived and worked. Nonetheless, immediate work is needed to prevent further decay and damage to the house.

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