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WEG Visitors Taking In Sights and History of Lexington

By WUKY Staff

Lexington, KY – For the duration of the games, LexArts is adding guided tours of its popular Horse Mania exhibit. Project Manager Tony Aros says tours are for anybody who wants the scoop on the artists and their creations.

"The tours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m. It starts at the Downtown Arts Center and that's 141 East Main Street located across the from the public library. Its about a two mile circuit around downtown and it will probably take around an hour and a half."

Aros, himself will be conducting the tours. He says participants will get to see 51 of the 89 decorated horses and 10 of the 50 foals. The tour includes a souvenir full color map with photos. Additional information is available at horsemania2010.com.

The non-profit group Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation is offering WEG visitors extended touring hours for two of Lexington's oldest estates. The Hunt-Morgan House in Gratz Park which dates to 1814 was built by John Wesley Hunt, the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies. The 200 year-old Pope Villa, designed by world-renowned architect Benjamin Latrobe, is undergoing a makeover, but Historic Preservation Specialist Allison Carter says visitors can tour it too.

"It is actually a self-guided audio tour so when guests arrive they will access the tour using their own cell phone. They can take their time touring the house looking at some of the exposed elements. This house is not interpreted, it is being restored right now so you can learn about how we go about restoring historic property and the steps we take securing the materials."

Carter says both sites are open daily from 10-5 during the World Equestrian Games and adds that Blue Grass Trust offers other self-guided neighborhood tours. Additional information is available BGT.org.