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| Louisville
Skyline1 |
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Known as the home of mint juleps and what many call the most exciting two minutes
in sports, Louisville
offers more than the Kentucky
Derby to entertain guests. Starting out as a stop on the Ohio
River, Louisville has grown exponentially and offers travelers a variety
of entertainment possibilities, from festivals and museums to a range of Derby
festivities and attractions.
ORIENTATION
Located in the Midwest of the United
States, Louisville, Kentucky,
is situated on the shores of the Ohio River. South of Jeffersonville,
Indiana, Louisville sits
on the Kentucky-Indiana border at the Falls
of the Ohio, a stretch of white-water rapids that were treacherous to
cross before the advent of a canal to bypass them. Cities found within close
range of Louisville include Lexington,
Kentucky, 71 mi (114 km) to the east, Cincinnati,
Ohio, 92 mi (148 km) to
the northeast and Indianapolis,
Indiana, 109 mi (175
km) to the northwest.
HISTORY
The area that is now known as Louisville was inhabited by many American Indian
tribes, including the Cherokee, Shawnee and Chickasaw, before Europeans made
an appearance in the region. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the area
was investigated by a number of European explorers. In 1769, Daniel Boone created
a trail from North Carolina
to Tennessee and spent
the two subsequent years traveling within the borders of Kentucky. Louisville
was officially founded by Colonel George Rogers Clark in 1778, when he and his
troops, along with approximately 80 settlers, traveled from Redstone, Pennsylvania,
following the Ohio River. One month after their arrival in the area, the Colonel
and his men moved on, except for 13 families who remained and established the
first permanent settlement. In 1780, the Virginia General Assembly approved
the town charter, formally naming the settlement Louisville in honor of France’s
King Louis XVI, whose troops aided American soldiers during the American Revolutionary
War.
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Mint Julep
While visiting the Kentucky Derby it is customary to partake in this traditional
Southern libation. The mint julep has its roots in the Mediterranean as
the Arabic drink julab, which is made with water and rose petals. In the
1800s, farmers in the United States from the east and southeast drank
a julep in the mornings, adding to its growing popularity. The drink became
a signature of Churchill Downs in 1938, when it was served at the Derby
in souvenir glasses for 75 cents. Today more that 80,000 mint juleps are
served during the two days of the Kentucky Derby.
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In 1803, the expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, which investigated
the American landscape to the Pacific coast and back, was organized at the Falls
of the Ohio. In the period from 1798 to 1846 the University
of Louisville was established with the Jefferson Seminary, Louisville
Medical Institute and the Louisville Collegiate Institute. The Louisville and
Portland Canal was completed in 1826, giving river travelers the opportunity to
avoid the falls, allowing easier travel from Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, straight through to New
Orleans, Louisiana.
The increased traffic on the Ohio River resulted in a rapid increase in the
population of the city, leading Louisville to incorporate as a city in 1828.
The strategic location of the city along the Ohio River, and the impassable
Falls of the Ohio, made rail travel important, and in 1850 the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company was founded by James Guthrie.
The city was spared any active fighting during the Civil War because of the
results of the Battle of Perryville in 1862, where Kentucky came under control
of the Union Army of the United States. In 1893 two Louisville sisters, Patty
and Mildred Hill, who were both schoolteachers, wrote a song that later changed
in to Happy Birthday—the most performed song in the English language.
During World War I, Camp Taylor was established as the largest training camp
in the United States, at one point housing and training 47,500 men. In 1937,
month-long heavy rainfalls resulted in the Great Flood, which submerged 70 percent
of the city. After the flood waters subsided, levees were installed so that
similar disasters would be avoided. During the mid-20th century the arts flourished
in Louisville with several museums, festivals, the ballet and orchestra being
established. Although Louisville experienced population decline in the 1960s
and 1970s as many residents moved to the suburbs, the city began to grow again
in the late 1980s, a trend that continues still. Today Louisville is a thriving
city with an interesting mix of history, fine arts, festivals and industries.
TRANSPORTATION
Three Interstate highways maximize Louisville's accessibility: Interstates
64, 65
and 71.
These highways all intersect at virtually the same point in the city, which
is referred to as Spaghetti Junction, because of the mass of exits and roads
that jumble together. Three road bridges, Interstates
64, 65
and Second
Street, span the Ohio River and cross into Indiana at separate points.
Louisville
International Airport is found 6.5 mi (10 km) from downtown Louisville.
The airport services several major airlines and houses the UPS Worldport, which
is the centerpiece of the UPS global distribution and sorting network.
Louisville has an extensive public transit service run by the Transit
Authority of River City. With a fleet of buses and chartered vans, the
transit service operates more than 55 routes and serves residents of both Kentucky
and Indiana.
Louisville also has a vast bicycle trail system that runs parallel to many
of the major roadways and leads to a number of city parks.
Rental car
providers and 24-hour taxi
services are also available.
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|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Percipitation |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
25°F
(-4°C) |
41°F
(5°C) |
83
mm |
| Feb |
28°F
(-2°C) |
46°F
(7°C) |
82
mm |
| Mar
|
37°F
(3°C) |
57°F
(14°C) |
112
mm |
| Apr |
46°F
(7°C) |
67°F
(19°C) |
99
mm |
| May
|
56°F
(13°C) |
75°F
(24°C) |
124
mm |
| Jun
|
65°F
(18°C) |
83°F
(28°C) |
95
mm |
| Jul |
70°F
(21°C) |
87°F
(30°C) |
109
mm |
|
Aug |
68°F
(20°C) |
86°F
(30°C) |
86
mm |
|
Sep |
61°F
(16°C) |
79°F
(26°C) |
77
mm |
|
Oct |
48°F
(9°C) |
68°F
(20°C) |
71
mm |
|
Nov |
39°F
(4°C) |
56°F
(13°C) |
96
mm |
|
Dec |
30°F
(1°C) |
45°F
(7°C) |
93
mm |
|
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Climate
data from the
Midwestern Regional Climate Center |
CLIMATE
Louisville is defined by four distinct seasons. Summers tend to arrive early,
from April to August, and are described as hot and humid with temperatures ranging
from 66 to 86°F (19 to 30°C). Autumn in Louisville is apt to last longer (September
to mid-December), while winters are relatively short, usually lasting from mid-December
to February, with an average snowfall of 16 in (41 cm) and temperatures of 27
to 43°F (-3 to 6°C). Rain is fairly constant throughout the year in Louisville,
but spring and summer are considered the wettest seasons.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Kentucky Derby and Other Derby Attractions
Kentucky Derby
Dubbed the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby is a one-and-one-quarter-mile
(2 km) race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. Every year on the first
Saturday in May, spectators make their way to Churchill
Downs where the race is held. Known as the Run for the Roses, because
of the blanket of roses awarded to the winning horse, some form of the race
has occurred since the 1700s. Presently, the race draws thousands to Kentucky
to witness the event and to participate in the variety of activities that take
place in the weeks leading up to it.
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Kentucky
Derby at Churchill Downs2 |
Churchill Downs
Opened in 1875, Churchill Downs was founded by Colonel M. Lewis Clark, grandson
of explorer William Clark. Distinguished by the twin spires that adorn the grandstand,
the Downs cover 147 acres (59 ha) of land and have a seating capacity of 51,000,
yet can accommodate over 140,000 people on Derby day with the use of standing
room. The main track is 1 mi (1.6 km) in circumference and approximately 80
ft (24 m) wide.
Kentucky Derby Museum
Located on the grounds of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky
Derby Museum is the only museum in the world devoted to a single race.
Featuring a selection of memorabilia such as jockey’s silks and rose garlands
worn by past winners, the museum presents a variety of educational exhibits
and seminars about horse racing and the Derby. Tours of the Kentucky Derby Museum
are offered, taking visitors through paddock areas, Churchill Downs, the finish
line pole and the grave sites of famous derby horses.
Kentucky Derby Festival
The Kentucky
Derby Festival began in 1956 and takes place over the two weeks preceding
the race. Featuring more than 70 events, the festival is Kentucky’s largest
annual event. The celebration officially begins with the 30-minute fireworks
spectacle, Thunder Over Louisville, which is touted as the largest fireworks
display in the United States. Also included during the festival is the Great
Steamboat Race, where the Belle
of Louisville races against the Belle of Cincinnati. One of the largest
parades in the United States, the Pegasus Parade, takes to the streets, and
the Run for the Rosé has waiters and waitresses from area bars and restaurants
running an obstacle course with trays of rosé wine.
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| Muhammad
Ali Center3 |
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Museums
Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad
Ali Center is an attraction that entices many as they visit Louisville.
Opened in November 2005, the center is an international cultural and educational
center that is inspired by the ideals of the former Heavy Weight Champion of
the World. The center exhibits Muhammad Ali’s boxing memorabilia and contains
the Howard L. Bingham gallery, which displays photographs by the noted photographer
of not only Ali, but also of distinguished people and events during the Civil
Rights Movement. The center also features a variety of interactive exhibits,
mutimedia presentations, a library, archives and much more.
Speed Art Museum
Established in 1927 by Hattie Bishop Speed as a memorial to her husband, the
Speed
Art Museum is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum. Boasting over
12,000 pieces of art in its permanent collections ranging from Egyptian artifacts
to contemporary art, the Speed Art Museum also features intriguing exhibits
that are brought to the museum. Public tours are free with admission and take
visitors through the paintings, sculptures and furniture displayed by the museum.
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The
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory4 |
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
Many sports fans head to the Louisville
Slugger Museum and Factory, which is home to Big Bat—the largest bat
in the world. Bud Hillerich, founder of the company, was arguably the first
maker of the baseball bat in 1884. The Louisville Slugger Museum offers guided
tours of the factory, illustrating the process of bat production. The museum
contains many interactive areas, from the Ball Field exhibit, where visitors
can share a dugout with famous players, to the Batting Cages area, where visitors
can try out replicas of bats used by greats like Babe Ruth.
Festivals
Kentucky Shakespeare Festival
Established in 1949 by the Carriage House Players, the Kentucky
Shakespeare Festival is the oldest free and independently-operated Shakespearean
festival in the United States. Presenting a selection of the bard’s plays each
summer in Central Park of Old
Louisville, the festival also features Will on Wheels, an educational
program that tours area schools.
Lebowski Fest
An innovative event that made its start in Louisville is the Lebowski
Fest, which honors the cult film The Big Lebowski and takes place in
September. Started in 2002, the festival has since branched out to Los
Angeles and New York City.
Lebowski Fest incorporates a variety of events, including a night of unlimited
bowling, trivia contests and prizes for attendees who have the best costume
and who are the farthest traveled. The festival also features concerts, a screening
of the film and celebrity appearances.
St. James Court Art Show
The St.
James Court Art Show is an outdoor art fair that has taken place, rain
or shine, on the first week of October since the mid-1950s. Hosting over 650
artists, the fair allows visitors the opportunity to purchase original pieces
of art, in a range of mediums, directly from the artists. Admission is free
to the St. James Court Art Show, which is located in the Old Louisville district
of the city.
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| Belle
of Louisville5 |
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Other Attractions
Belle of Louisville
While staying in Louisville, the Belle of Louisville and her calliope are not
to be missed. As emblematic of the city as the Kentucky Derby and mint juleps,
the Belle of Louisville is a historic steamboat that has been in operation since
it was built in 1914. Used for a variety of purposes throughout her lifetime—notably
a USO nightclub during the Second World War and as a vessel that pushed oil
barges out to sea—the Belle of Louisville now offers sightseeing and dinner
tours and can be rented for private functions.
Old Louisville
Visitors who enjoy the outdoors and historic buildings appreciate Old Louisville,
which features a variety of tours, festivals and other special attractions.
Old Louisville is not necessarily the oldest part of Louisville, yet it is considered
the first suburb of the city, which was originally called the Southern Extension.
Annexed by Louisville in 1868, Old Louisville is a historic preservation district
and neighborhood. Officially dubbed the Limerick Historic District, Old Louisville
is the third largest such district in the United States and the single largest
featuring purely Victorian architecture. Lying adjacent to the University of
Louisville, the district is bound by Kentucky Street to the north, Cardinal
Boulevard to the south and Interstate 65 to the east.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Greater Louisville Visitors & Convention Bureau; Louisville Skyline; Louisville,
KY, USA
- Greater Louisville Visitors & Convention Bureau; Kentucky Derby at Churchill
Downs; Louisville, KY, USA
- Greater Louisville Visitors & Convention Bureau; Muhammad Ali Center; Louisville,
KY, USA
- Greater Louisville Visitors & Convention Bureau; The Louisville Slugger
Museum and Factory; Louisville, KY, USA
- Greater Louisville Visitors & Convention Bureau; Belle of Louisville; Louisville,
KY, USA
