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      CONFERENCE & CONVENTION |
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WHERE TO HAVE FUN
This tour is a must for Ghost Story enthusiasts and history buffs! Brace yourself as you journey through scenic streets and haunted alleyways of the largest Victorian neighborhood in the nation. Try to sit back and relax on the 13-passenger coach as you get tantalizing glimpses of an elegant past with the eerie true tales of those spirits that refuse to vacate their 19th century mansions.
Mansions and Milestones Tours of Old Louisville
The "Mansions and Milestones" tours of Old Louisville are 1 1/2 hours in length. The tours are offered Friday and Saturday at 2:30PM and consist of a narrated driving tour plus a tour of one of the historic mansions. Tours are limited to twelve passengers. Tickets are $25. Reservations are required. All tours depart from the Visitors Center located at 218 West Oak Street. For additional information or to make reservations, call 502.637.2922. For on line reservations, click here.
Discover
Louisville: Discovering Louisville's architectural landmarks, heritage and diverse neighborhoods is the goal of a new local tour program sponsored by the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission. The three-hour bus tour explores Louisville's rich heritage as a pioneer village, bustling riverboat town, sophisticated Victorian city, and home to remarkable contemporary architecture. Highlights on the tour will include Main Street's cast iron buildings, imposing civic structures, the old river town of Portland, the U.S. Marine Hospital, Old Louisville, and Union Station. The tour will pass through the downtown business district and follow part of the Olmsted Parkway system through the neighborhoods of Portland, Shawnee, Russell, Old Louisville, Cherokee, the Highlands, Crescent Hill and Waterfront Park. Each tour will provide the participant with a new appreciation of Louisville's rich cultural landscape. The tour, which costs $45, will begin and end at the Water Tower on River Road. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Joanne Weeter by e-mail at Joanne.weeter@louisvilleky.gov or by phone at (502) 574-2868. Proceeds from the Discover Louisville Tour will be donated to the U.S. Marine Hospital to help fund the ongoing restoration of this National Historic Landmark. As of this time, Discover Louisville Tours will be offered on a monthly basis, on the second Sunday of each month, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tour dates are scheduled for February 12, March 12, and April 9, 2006. Additional tours will be scheduled during the Derby Season. Call today for details as tours fill up quickly! We will post the Derby schedule and future tours as soon as they becomes available. Gift certificates available.
See Louisville's top attractions for one low price. The Kentucky Derby Museum, the Fraizier Historical Arms Museum, the Glassworks, the Muhammad Ali Center, and many more. The number keeps growing, but the price remains the same. For only $35 a person, you may purchase a certificate that gives you admission to a number of attractions. (The list of attractions keeps growing, so click here to see what they are.) At the first attraction you visit, your ticket is validated and is then good for the remainder of that day plus the next 4 days. Additional days may be purchased for $15. Tickets are available at any of the participating attractions, at the Galt House Hotel & Suites, at the Visitor Center at 218 Oak Street in Historic Old Louisville, or on line.
"The Transit Authority of River City, (TARC) and Louisville's downtown galleries invite you to visit the community's Art Zone, a concentrated area where visual arts are flourishing. Hop on a free TARC trolley the first Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and take a ride along the Main Street, Market Street and 4th Street corridors. you'll visit participating galleries and be their guest for artist openings, refreshments, and special late night hours until 9 p.m. Louisville is well-known for its historic architecture, and now for its painting, sculpture, photography and glass art as well!" (Gallery Hop Web Site) Top off the evening with dinner in one of the great restaurants along the way. (Where to Dine.) The Trolley runs every 15 minutes. You can get on and off at any Trolley Stop along the route. The route not only includes the Art Zone, but the Historic District of West Main and the Fourth Street Live entertainment district. It's fun any month, but is really entertaining during the warmer months when the crowds tend to be larger and the entertainment more lively. As this event grows in popularity, the number of galleries and places of interest grows with it. Currently over 25 establishments are listed on the Gallery Hop web site. If you can't make it to the Gallery Hop, you can still visit the Galleries. Click here for the list.
Waterfront
Wednesday Free Live Concert, food booths and a cash bar. Also visit the Waterfront Park Website
F.A.T.
Friday This monthly event is growing in size and becoming a regular event for visitors and locals alike. The trolleys run frequently from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM on the last Friday of the month. Hop on or off anywhere along the route. The ride is free. Visit Historic Frankfort Ave, Mellwood Ave, and Story Ave, stroll through Louisville's most eclectic shopping district, and dine in any one of a number of great restaurants (see our dining guide). For more information and a map, check out the Fat Friday web site. As this event grows in popularity, the restaurants and galleries along the route have begun to add special events including music and demonstrations. The list of events changes regularly and is frequently only for Fat Friday. Check here for the current list.
Christened the Idlewild, she served first as a ferry between Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas while a bridge was being built. Her owners imagined a much greater future for her, though, so she was also outfitted as a packet (freight) and excursion boat. The Idlewild led a versatile life, carrying freight of all kinds in the off-season and running short excursion cruises as she traveled every navigable waterway from the Missouri River to the East Coast. In 1948, as a result of a deathbed wish of her Master, Ben Winters, the Idlewild’s name changed to Avalon, and she traveled as a “tramp” steamer until waning commissions and increasing operating costs put her out of business in the fall of 1961. In a sadly decrepit state, the Avalon was put up for auction at Cincinnati. A bid of $34,000 by Jefferson County Judge Marlow Cook and Louisville Mayor Charles Farnsley brought the boat to what was to become her permanent home, and she was renamed the Belle of Louisville. She will turn 91 on October 18, 2005, and since no other steamboat in US history has ever reached that age before, the Belle is especially unique. Because of wooden hulls and fires, explosions, ice, and snags, most steamboats didn’t make it to five years of operation. A ten-year-old boat was considered “ancient.” That the Belle has reached such a ripe old age is a testament to her builders, her steel hull, and a lot of tender loving care. When you ride on the
River Steamer Belle of Louisville, you can watch her hundred-year-old
engines work, listen to her steam whistle blow, and feel the rhythm of
the paddlewheel. Take a step back in time and take a cruise on a legendary
lady. For
information on scheduled excursions, click
here. Steamboat.org
Slugger
Field The stadium which opened in April of 2000 seats over 13,000 and was built on the banks of the Ohio River, within one block of the Waterfront Park. A key designs feature is the integration of an historic rail freight depot in the over all project. Retaining and restoring the depot of the late 1800's, is a vital component of the new stadium. "The converted structure, which will encompass more than 62,000 square feet, serves as the ballparks' front door and provides 22,000 square feet of retail shops and restaurants. It's a tremendous opportunity to save a piece of historic architecture while giving this stadium a unique atmosphere."
Kentucky
Museum of Art and Craft Founded in 1981 by Phyllis George Brown, then First Lady of Kentucky and former Miss America, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (formerly Art and Craft Foundation) was started as a dream to build interest in our state’s rich craft and art resources. The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft promotes the rich art and craft heritage of Kentucky through three main areas of programming: exhibition, education, and support of artists through a retail Gallery Shop.
Louisville
Slugger Museum - Home of the World's Largest Bat
It also takes a bright ad agency to see the potential the world's largest bat offers (above). This rather large ball (right) is actually a very clever billboard for a glass replacement company.
Speed
Art Museum
Current Exhibition -- Future Exhibitions -- Concert Series -- Hours of operation -- Parking
The
Kentucky Derby Museum
Churchill
Downs
For more information on Derbys past and present and all sorts of information associated with the Kentucky Derby, check out Kentucky Derby Research-All. A great place for research.
Frazier
Historical Arms Museum - The history
& art of weapons For more information on exhibits and the collection as well as special presentations, visit the Frazier Historic Arms Museum web site.
Kentucky
Center for the Arts
Actor's
Theater "Actors Theatre of Louisville, founded in 1964 and designated in 1974 the State Theatre of Kentucky, has emerged as one of America's most consistently innovative professional theatre companies. For over 25 years, it has been a major force in revitalizing American playwriting, and its unique approach to the presentation of the classical dramatic repertoire is renowned. Winner of a host of coveted awards and worldwide recognition for excellence, Actors Theatre has captured the hearts of audiences in Louisville and across the country for over three decades." from the Actor's Theater Web Site
Louisville
Ballet "The Louisville Ballet is a highly communicative and disciplined classical dance company, generating an emotional connection to its audience, and presenting a rewarding and stimulating dance experience. The company performs classical, neo-classical and contemporary works by established and emerging choreographers." from the Louisville Ballet web site
Derby
Dinner Playhouse An entertainment tradition for over thirty years, Derby Dinner Playhouse offers live-stage productions, a plentiful buffet, and desserts. Derby Dinner is one of the largest dinner theatres in the country seating 500 guests and entertaining over 200,000 people a year, including 8,000 season subscribers.
The Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium is open Tuesdays through Saturdays with a series of interesting and educational shows. The schedule changes regularly. Please check their Show Schedule for further information. The planetarium is located on the University of Louisville campus. Please check the campus map for driving information.
Louisville
Orchestra On November 2, 1937, conductor Robert Whitney, and the ensemble that would eventually be known as The Louisville Orchestra, took the stage at Memorial Auditorium for their first public performance.
Louisville
Science Center "Our Mission is to encourage the public's understanding of science, mathematics and technology through hands-on exhibits, IMAX® films and educational programs. " from the Louisville Science Center web site
Kentucky
Shakespear Festival "Kentucky Shakespeare Festival began with the vision of actor, director and producer C. Douglas Ramey in the late 1950’s. His desire to bring the works of William Shakespeare to the neighborhoods surrounding historic Old Louisville has grown tremendously, now serving the Commonwealth at large. Incorporated in 1960, and designated The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival by the Kentucky Legislature in 1984, we work year–round to make Shakespeare accessible to urban and rural communities alike." from the Kentucky Shakespear Festival web site
Louisville
Metro Calendar
Intermezzo Louisville's hottest new café and cabaret is now open on the lower level of Actor's Theatre. If there is another place like it in Louisville, we don't know about it. The atmosphere and the food are fabulous. (Read a review.) Dinner is served from 5-10 PM, Tuesday thru Sunday. If you are planning on dinner before a performance at Actors Theatre, reservations are a must! Allow about 1 1/2 hours. The cabaret show begins about 10:30 on Friday and Saturday evening. Saturday evening’s performance was excellent. My only complaint was that the night was over before I wanted to go home! This place promises to be packed as soon as the word gets around. This should also be a hot place to finish up a First Friday Gallery Hop! (Just a word of caution. If you stay past 11, the Gallery Hop Trolley may not be running. Take that into consideration when you park.) Now playing at the Cabaret: Southern Comfort
Third
Avenue Cafe'
Rudyard
Kipling
Music
In The Courtyard
A collection of lively restaurants and bars in the heart of the Center City. Read review
NEAR BY While there are plenty of activities and points of interest in Louisville, sometimes it is nice to take a short drive to visit surrounding areas. Here is a list of sites, events and activities within an easy drive of Louisville.
Bardstown, Kentucky
About an hour south of Louisville is the historic city of Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown is famous for Bourbon, Stephen Foster, and of course, My Old Kentucky Home. Also very popular is My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. For a listing of events and attractions, please visit the Bardstown web site.
Corydon, Indiana
About an hour west
of Louisville is the historic city of Corydon, Indiana. If you like a
small town atmosphere, this is an interesting place to visit. See their
listing of attractions
and events
and obtain driving directions by visiting their web
site.
Didn't
find what you are looking for here? Then give our list of |
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Copyright © 2006 - Circa 1900 | |||
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Relive
the historic past of Old Louisville on a narrated journey through
the largest collection of Victorian Mansions in the in the United States.
Discover the grand elegance of 45 square blocks of homes with architectural
styles and elements of centuries past.
Built
in 1914, the Belle of Louisville is the oldest operating Mississippi River-style
steamboat in the world. She is a US National Historic Landmark, listed
on the Register of Historic Places, and is a local and national treasure.
"It
takes a special place to craft the Official Bat of Major League Baseball.
Since 1884, Louisville Slugger has put prime lumber in the hands of the
greatest players of the game. A visit to the museum shows you how the
sport has changed a bit between then and now, but the "crack of the
bat" remains one of the sporting world's most thrilling moments."
"Established
in 1927, the Speed Art Museum is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art
museum with over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection. Its extensive
collection spans 6,000 years, ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary
art." 
I
doubt that I could say anything better than Arvan Steinberg did when he
wrote for Gallagher's Travels. 
Live
entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. The entertainment is always
good and seems to be geared for the more middle age crowd. Call for more
information and the time.
Here is something only the locals know about - until now. Friday
evenings from 8 to 12, weather permitting, locals come to the courtyard
behind the building at 2nd & Oak to play live music - some you may
recognize and some just totally impromptu. Enter around the east side,
adjacent to "Retro Fit". Bring your own refreshments. Join in,
or just listen. If you need something to eat while you listen, pick up
a carry-out from Leander's on Oak at the corner of 1st and Oak or a Chinese
carry-out from the Taste of China at 4th and Oak. Need something to drink?
Pick up a bottle of wine, or other beverage, at the liquor store on the
southwest corner of 1st and Oak.
