Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden
The Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden is named for the famed jockey whose house stood on this site. It was developed to commemorate the contributions of African Americans to Thoroughbred racing and to help revitalize this East End neighborhood. Many Kentucky horsemen lived in the East End, which was also home to the Kentucky Association, Lexington's first important racetrack.
The Art Garden, the downtown trailhead for the Legacy Trail, includes public art, an amphitheater for performances and gatherings and this rain garden. Designated as a legacy project through a community-wide process, it was planned by Arts Power, Leadership Lexington (a program of Commerce Lexington), NorthEast Lexington Initiative (NELI) and Friends of Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. It has been completed with support from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky; The J.M. Smucker Company; W. Rogers Company; Keeneland Association; S.L. Gimbel Foundation; Blue Grass Community Foundation; and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports.
Location. 38° 2.557′ N, 84° 28.899′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker is on Midland Place north of Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: East 3rd Street & Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Isaac Burns Murphy (within shouting distance of this marker); Murphy House (within shouting distance of this marker); Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden Trailhead (within shouting distance of this marker); Bell Place (approx. 0.4 miles away); Clay Villa, ca. 1845 (approx. 0.4 miles away); George Washington (approx. 0.4 miles away); William S. Farish (approx. 0.4 miles away); John S. Knight (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Isaac Burns Murphy
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 261 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 22, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.