By Kathie Stamps
How cool is Louisville? It collected nationwide praise last year for being among Travel + Leisure magazine’s “America’s Favorite Cities Overall,” was one of Jetsetter’s “7 U.S. Cities That are Hipper Than You Think,” and was among Yelp’s “Hottest Hipster Markets in America.” There were dozens of other distinctions.
The vibrant culinary scene is a large part of what makes the city so appealing, but then there is downtown’s Bourbon District. In March 2018 the district unveiled “The Barrel” – five hoops made of cast concrete and wood reliefs that the mind assembles into a bourbon barrel. The art piece at Fourth and Main Streets signifies the center of the Bourbon District.
A sign offers an overview of downtown’s bourbon community and a map of the district’s bourbon-oriented attractions and historic sites. It’s a collaborative effort of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, Louisville Metro Government, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Louisville Water Co.
A short jaunt south from the Bourbon District is Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Just after this year’s race, attended by 157,000, the Kentucky Derby Museum began a $6.5 million expansion. The project is set for completion in November before the 2018 Breeders’ Cup, which is returning to Churchill Downs, its favorite venue.
The Kentucky Derby Museum hosted 240 events and had a record-setting 230,000 visitor tours in 2017.
“We have 10,000 items in our collection and only 10 percent currently on display,” said Patrick Armstrong, president and CEO of the museum.
Joining champion jockey Bill Shoemaker’s collection of equine memorabilia is champion trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ new collection of more than 1,000 items, including trophies from his trips to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont winner’s circles.
“We’re planning a grand opening to take place during Breeders’ Cup week. Wayne will be with us to open his exhibit,” Armstrong said.
Thanks in part to the Derby and its museum, the economic impact of tourism in Louisville for 2017, through 24.7 million visits, was an estimated $3.5 billion. Those dollars support 27,500 tourism-related jobs.
Those numbers could continue to climb in 2018 thanks to the all new Omni Louisville Hotel and the fully renovated Kentucky International Convention Center.
Scheduled for an August 2018 opening, the $207 million KICC is expected to generate an annual economic impact of $53 million and will be competitive in the national top-tier market of convention centers. There will be a 40,000-s.f. ballroom, 52 meeting rooms, a conference theatre with 175 tiered seats, kitchen capacity for 15,000 meals per day and 200,125 s.f. of Class A exhibit space, all within walking distance of Whiskey Row, Fourth Street Live, the Urban Bourbon Trail and other downtown attractions.
“We forecast this new infrastructure will grow Louisville’s convention market potentially by 25 percent,” said Karen Williams, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “We have so much to look forward to, and have already booked several high-profile convention industry shows, ensuring we get this new hotel product in front of meeting planners and trade industry executives.”
Also in 2018, the Galt House Hotel will begin an $80 million renovation to the 1972 property, the hotel’s third iteration from its origins in 1835. It is the city’s only waterfront hotel.
In March 2018, Omni Louisville Hotel opened after two years of construction. A Churchill Downs bugler played the call to the post and “My Old Kentucky Home” at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city’s tallest hotel (30 stories). The $300 million investment by Dallas-based TRT Holdings, parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts, created almost 400 permanent jobs. Among its amenities are a 20,000-s.f. urban market and food hall, a steakhouse and casual restaurant, a speakeasy and bowling alley, a local art gallery and luxury spa, rooftop pool bar and grill, luxury apartments and 70,000 s.f. of space for meetings and events.
With the opening of a dozen other hotels since 2015, including Aloft, Embassy Suites on Fourth Street, Holiday Inn Express Downtown and Home2Suites Nulu, Louisville has more than 2,000 new rooms for occupancy, with approximately 2,213 more hotel rooms expected over the next two years, for a total of 19,913 by 2019.
Visitors and residents in Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana have no shortage of other attractions and excursions to enjoy, including cave exploring, a firefighter museum, pedestrian trails, parks, historic sites, boat rides and more.
Here is a sampling of the highlights:
Abbey Road on the River
World’s largest Beatles festival
arotr.com
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
Symbolic cabin of Lincoln’s birth
Hodgenville – nps.gov/abli
American Printing House for the Blind
Factory and museum
aph.org/museum
Beck’s Mill
Restored late 1800s mill
Salem, Ind. – becksmill.org
Belle of Louisville/Spirit of Jefferson
Steamboats
belleoflouisville.org
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Nature preserve
Clermont – bernheim.org
Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead
Home dates to 1785
blackacreconservancy.org
The Brennan House
Historic home and gardens
Bullitt County History Museum
Shepherdsville – bullittcountyhistory.org
Carnegie Center for Art & History
Includes multimedia experience
New Albany, Ind. – carnegiecenter.org
Cave Hill Cemetery
cavehillcemetery.com
Churchill Downs
Home of the Kentucky Derby
churchilldowns.com
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum
Home celebrates Edwardian Age
conrad-caldwell.org
Corydon Capital State Historic Site
Indiana’s first state capital
Corydon, Ind. – thisisindiana.org
Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site
Built by Indiana’s wealthiest man
in 1867
New Albany, Ind. –
indianamuseum.org/explore
Falls of the Ohio Foundation
Ancient fossil beds
Clarksville, Ind. – fallsoftheohio.org
Farmington Historic Plantation
Home to prominent Speed Family
historicfarmington.org
Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery
Glassblowing studio
flamerun.com
Forecastle Festival
Music, art, activism
forecastlefestival.com
Fort Duffield
Union stronghold during Civil War
West Point – fortduffield.com
Fourth Street Live!
Downtown dining, entertainment, shopping
4thstlive.com
Frazier History Museum
fraziermuseum.org
General George Patton Museum of Leadership
Cavalry and armor history
Fort Knox – generalpatton.org
George Rogers Clark Homesite
Replica of cabin built in 1803
Clarksville, Ind. – fallsoftheohio.org
Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium
At the University of Louisville
louisville.edu/planetarium
Harvest Homecoming Festival
Family-oriented activities
New Albany, Ind. – harvesthomecoming.com
Historic Old Louisville
Neighborhood of Victorian architecture
oldlouisville.org
Howard Steamboat Museum
Located in mansion built in 1894
Jeffersonville, Ind. – howardsteamboatmuseum.org
Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
Starlight, Ind. – huberwinery.com
Ironman Louisville Triathlon
ironmanlouisville.com
John Hay Center
Washington County history
Salem, Ind. – johnhaycenter.org
Joe Huber Family Farm & Restaurant
Taste of the farm
Starlight, Ind. – joehubers.com
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
History, heritage, cultural contributions
kcaah.org
Kentucky Crossroads Harvest Festival
Springfield, Ky.
Kentucky Derby Festival
Two-week community celebration
kdf.org
Kentucky Derby Museum
At Churchill Downs
derbymuseum.org
Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
Promotes traditional arts
kentuckyarts.org
Kentucky Railway Museum
22-mile train excursion
New Haven – kyrail.org
Kentucky Science Center
Hands-on science center
kysciencecenter.org
Kentucky State Fair
kystatefair.org
Lanier Mansion
Greek Revival showplace
Madison, Ind. –
indianamuseum.org/explore
Light Up Louisville
Downtown holiday activities
louisvilleky.gov
Lincoln Heritage Trail
Sites connected to U.S. President
kylincolntrail.com
Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway
Explore Kentucky history
fhwa.dot.gov/byways/byways/2348
Lincoln Homestead State Park
Site of Lincoln’s parents’ marriage
Springfield, Ky. –
stateparks.com/lincoln_homestead.html
Louisville Bats
Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds
louisville.bats.milb.com
Louisville Mega Cavern
100 acres of underground passageways
louisvillemegacavern.com
Louisville Palace
Concert venue opened in 1928
louisvillepalace.com
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Interactive baseball exhibits
sluggermuseum.com
Louisville Zoo
Home to more than 1,700 animals
louisvillezoo.org
Madison Regatta
Boat race on Ohio River
Madison, Ind. – madisonregatta.com
Maple Hill Manor
Built in 1851
Springfield – maplehillmanor.com
Marengo Cave
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Marengo, Ind. – marengocave.com
Mt. Zion Covered Bridge
Built in 1871
Springfield – kentuckytourism.com/mt-zion-covered-bridge/
Muhammad Ali Center
International education center
alicenter.org
Museum Row on Main
Nine downtown attractions
museumrowonmain.com
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
Two-hour train excursion
Bardstown – kydinnertrain.com
My Old Kentucky Home State Park
Bardstown –
parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/old-ky-home/
Oscar Getz Museum
Whiskey and Bardstown history
Bardstown – whiskeymuseum.com
Patriots Peace Memorial
Honors fallen servicemen/women
patriotspeacememorial.org
Schimpff’s Confectionery
Candy making, packaging, advertising
Jeffersonville, Ind. – schimpffs.com
Scribner House
Built in 1814
New Albany, Ind. – scribnerhouse.org
Squire Boone Caverns & Village
Cavern tours, village crafts
Mauckport, Ind. –
squireboonecaverns.com
Thomas Edison House
Inventions on display
historichomes.org/thomas-edison-house/
Thomas Merton Center
Writings of famous monk
mertoncenter.org
Whitehall House & Gardens
Victorian mansion
historicwhitehall.org
Wickland
Home of three governors
Bardstown – visitbardstown.com/wickland/
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Burial site of 12th U.S. President
cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/
zacharytaylor.asp
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