The History

The Henry Clay is a vital part of downtown Louisville’s history, and was even added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979. Originally developed as an Elks Lodge in 1924, The Henry Clay was transformed into a premier hotel in 1928, which remained a popular destination until the 1960s. The building was then used to host the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) from 1963 to 1986, but was eventually abandoned in 1987 and sat vacant for many years. New life was breathed into The Henry Clay when the building was revitalized by Weyland Ventures in 2005, beautifully restoring this historic building’s 1920s neo-classic revival style architecture to its previous grandeur.

Today The Henry Clay is known for its long-standing reputation as an elite and highly versatile venue option for events such as weddings, fundraisers, corporate events, galas, holiday parties, and more. Bursting with historic charm, intricate architectural details of the 1920s, and a timeless elegance, strolling through the rooms of The Henry Clay transports you back in time as you become immersed in Louisville’s rich history. With two-stories and close to 20,000 square feet of event space, The Henry Clay offers the largest historic boutique event space in the heart of downtown Louisville. Whether you’re planning an intimate get-together or a large celebration, The Henry Clay is the perfect choice for those wishing to honor history and evoke nostalgia.

Memorable Experiences at The Henry Clay

Beautiful event venue. Great for parties, wedding receptions, and more. Lots of space, including room for a stage and plenty of seating. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful and the facility was extremely well kept and clean. Definitely check it out if you are nearby and want to see the gorgeous interior.
– Sean Harrington

We just had our wedding at The Henry Clay and it was beyond stunning. We used the beautiful 4th floor for the ceremony and moved downstairs to the 2nd for our reception. Christine was absolutely incredible to work with and went above and beyond. We highly recommend this historic Louisville location!
– Katie Wade

Our family hosted a fundraising event at the Henry Clay and can’t say enough wonderful things! It is a beautiful and historic venue, easy parking for guests, top notch service… From start to finish, they went above and beyond to make our event perfect and dreams come true. We will forever be grateful to the Henry Clay family! I would highly recommend Henry Clay to anyone looking for a perfect experience in an event venue in Louisville, KY!
– Jackie Hancock

We went to an event at the Henry Clay on Saturday night. We had never been there before. This beautiful 1920’s Art Deco building is gorgeous! The event was in the second floor banquet room. It was an incredible experience
– Stephen Knutti

We had our wedding at The Henry Clay & had the best day. The coordinator was great to work with & with the Hilton being right next to the venue we couldn’t have asked for a better location. Absolutely recommend!
– Madison Buckner

We had an amazing experience with The Henry Clay! A group of 30 traveling from all over the country, the space was a great place to connect for a work retreat. We highly recommend them. Space was great, food was wonderful, and the whole team were easily accessible.
– Crystal Quade

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