The Victorian neighborhood of Old Louisville, just south of the city center, is well worth a drive or stroll through. Don’t miss St James Court, just off Magnolia Ave, with its charming gas-lantern park. The part of the open to the public contains several remarkable historic houses, including Thomas Edison’s old cottage.
Kentucky Derby Festival and Museum
On the first Saturday in May, America’s upper-class personalities don their pinstripe suits and curved hats and descend to the ground for “two great minutes of sports” in the Kentucky Derby. After the race, the crowd sings “My Old Kentucky Home” and watches as the winner’s horse is covered with a blanket of roses. Then the fun begins.
Honestly, they already had some fun before that. The Kentucky Derby Festival, which features a hot air ballooning competition and the largest fireworks display in North America, kicks off two weeks before the big event.
Most of the places at the races are handed out by invitation or are reserved for years in advance. On Race Day, $ 40 will help you get into the paddock area (no seating) if you arrive early. But there are so many people there that you will not see anything. Do not worry. From April to November, you can get a seat for $ 3 at the Downs and watch a lot of exhilarating races, often a warm-up to the big races.
Check out the Kentucky Derby Museum, Central Avenue. In general, the museum exhibits horse racing history, including a quick glimpse into the lives of jockeys and most of the famous horses. There is a full audiovisual overview of the races and a backstage tour of the jockeys’ quarters and swanky VIP spots.
Haunted sanatoriums
Towering over Louisville like a mad king’s castle, the abandoned Waverly Hills Sanatorium was once home to victims of the early 20th century tuberculosis epidemic. When patients died, workers dumped their bodies down a chute into the basement. Unsurprisingly, this building is said to be home to the largest number of ghosts. Look for ghosts during a night hunting excursion; the truly fearless can spend the whole night here! Many people say that this is the scariest place of all, where they have ever been.
Muhammad Ali Center
Declaration of love for Louisville from his most famous native. The guided tours include an exhilarating film about Ali’s life and video projections of his most famous battles, as well as an exhibition on the racial segregation and humanism that so worried this man, formerly known as Louisville Lip.
National Corvette Museum
Everyone hails the beloved American sports car made in Kentucky by the Chevrolet Corvette! Car enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the modern National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. This is the place where 80 Corvette models were created. Here you can walk and look at dioramas filled with memorabilia (look at Main Street – a model of the Corvette, America’s darling of the 50s). Nearby Bowling Green Assembly Plant
