The Haydens were enslaved for 30 years, escaping with their son Joseph in 1844. Their story is also one of broken families. Lewis Hayden was previously married, but his wife and child from that marriage were sold and sent further south, and he never saw them again.
The statue, sculpted by artist Basil Watson from Lawrenceville, Georgia, is titled "Towards Freedom." It depicts the Haydens hand in hand, symbolizing their partnership in the journey to freedom.
Governor Andy Beshear spoke at the event, noting the importance of acknowledging history while working towards a better future. He said diversity should be celebrated every day.
"While our Federal Government tries to erase a lot of our history. Today in Kentucky, we are celebrating it," Besehar said. "We are celebrating it and committing to preserving important people like Lewis and Harriet. We are committed to celebrating these leaders and educating ourselves about the aspects of our history that have been too long overlooked."
From nearly 100 proposals and four finalists, the Lexington Freedom
Train selection committee chose Watson to create the monument, which stands in Lexington’s historic East End near Lexington Traditional Magnet School.