Before the Civil War, the land on which the East End neighborhood now resides was mostly dotted with large estates owned by Lexington's elite. These estates, on the outskirts of the then-smaller city, sat on large tracts of land. After the Civil War, these large parcels were divided into smaller parcels to create neighborhoods for recently freed African Americans to rent, purchase, and build housing. The East End, as we know it today, was once a collection of these neighborhoods, small sections named "Gunntown," "Kinkeadtown," and "Goodloetown," to name a few. Thanks to the talented and driven Black professionals in the neighborhood, it was also a center for the creation and growth of the racing industry in Kentucky.

Take this tour to learn about the prominent doctors, builders, and jockeys who made the thriving East End their home. By casting a spotlight on these individuals and the environment they inhabited, this tour emphasizes the East End’s core role in Lexington’s history and stresses the necessity (and urgency) of its continued preservation.