Location: Louisville
Top Things to do in Louisville
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Things to do in Louisville, Kentucky (KY): The Best Specialty Museums
Each year, horse enthusiasts hoof it to Louisville and Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby. In addition to equestrian endeavors and bluegrass roots, Louisville boasts a range of exciting attractions the whole family can enjoy. Stroll through Central Park, in the historic district, to people-watch and get a real feel for the city. Visit other nearby parks for hiking, biking and fossil finding. Baseball fans will love the Louisville Slugger Museum, a celebration of the sport's legends. The museum is easy to spot, just look for the humongous bat that leans against the building.
Restaurants in Louisville
1. Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 622 reviews
The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is a historic, Victorian mansion located in the heart of Old Louisville on St. James Court. It is one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and was the masterpiece of famed local architect Arthur Loomis of Clarke & Loomis. Surrounded by a beautiful courtyard neighborhood at the center of the largest collection of Victorian Homes in the US, "Conrad's Castle" featured all the latest innovations of its day, including interior plumbing and electric lighting. Known for its beautiful woodwork and parquet floors, this massive Bedford limestone home, covered with gargoyles, beautiful archways, and elaborate stone designs, incorporated 7 types of hardwoods and magnificent stained glass windows in the interior design, making it one of the most stunning homes in Old Louisville. The Museum has been lovingly restored to the Edwardian Age, housing a massive collection of period items including many original pieces.
Reviewed By mhume
Beth Caldwell, a great granddaughter of the second owner of the home, led our tour and it was the best home tour I have ever done, due in large part to her engaging personality and personal stories! The framing woodwork and staircase, as well as the different parquet flooring pattern in each room are remarkable examples of craftsmanship from the past. Seeing the Acousticon (a hearing aid from the early 1900s) which Grace used, her life size doll, a sewing machine from the era, mechanical pencils and tools used by the Caldwell men, the large hidden wall safe, and more were all interesting. The exterior is constructed of limestone, and with its indoor plumbing and electric light bulbs, it was one of the most remarkable homes of its day! It is a treasure to have such a beautifully preserved home to tour in Louisville.
2. Kentucky Derby Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,298 reviews
The Kentucky Derby Museum, where every day is Derby day, is the official tour provider of historic Churchill Downs. When you visit the Museum, you will find yourself immersed in the next best thing to actually being at the Derby! As the exclusive tour provider for the track, various tours are offered throughout the year even when the track isn’t in session with live racing. General admission includes two levels of family-friendly interactive permanent & temporary exhibits, "The Greatest Race," a 360-degree immersive sound and visual experience that'll get your heart racing and emotions soaring, Historic Walking Tour of Churchill Downs Racetrack, access to the Gift Shop, Kentucky fare in the Derby Cafe Express and much more!
Reviewed By B465DMsarahc - Glenwood, United States
We stopped here on our drive through to take a break and it was well worth it. It was four of us, 10-month old, 14 year old, and my husband and I. We took the tour, watched the video, and walked around the museum. It was all well worth it and we learned a lot. We didn't get to see the entire museum because we had to get back on the road. You can stop here for a little over an hour, or spend the day....lots of options and lots of different tours depending on how long you want to stay. I will say, we got there after lunch time and the more in depth tours were already sold out, so if you want to take the behind the scenes tour that take you to the barns, etc. - you probably need to book those early. We would come here again.
3. Muhammad Ali Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,242 reviews
Located in the heart of historic downtown Louisville, Kentucky, the Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural attraction and international education center inspired by the ideals of hometown hero Muhammad Ali. The Ali Center features 2 levels of award-winning exhibits, a five-screen orientation theater film, historic Civil Rights era media footage, video of Ali fights, interactive boxing fun, two art galleries, children's Hope and Dream wall, meeting and event space, retail store and more.
Reviewed By MDMRunner - Farmington, United States
My son (age 23) and I both enjoyed the Muhammad Ali center on our recent meet up in Louisville. This is a very well done center cover Ali's career in all its aspects. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to and came away with a much better appreciation of Ali the man. The historical context seemed to be done very fairly especially for some of the controversial parts of his career. There is a very good short film (approximately 15 minutes) that does a good job of introducing a lot of information that makes it easier to enjoy the rest of the museum. We spent about an hour and a half but you could definitely spend more time there if you wanted to.
4. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,521 reviews
Batter up! It takes a special place to craft the #1 Bat in Major League Baseball. At Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, experience history-in-the-making as you stroll through the actual factory where world-famous Louisville Slugger bats are created. The award-winning factory tour is a highlight of the visit here, but there's plenty more to enjoy along with it. Admire the World's Biggest Bat - stretching 120 feet into the sky. Hold bats actually used by baseball superstars like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, Cal Ripken Jr. And Derek Jeter. Face down a 90-mph fastball hurled by a major league pitcher. Count the homerun notches Babe Ruth carved into his Louisville Slugger bat for every home run he hit with it. Step into the batting cages and take some swings with a replica model of your hero's bat. Guests even get a free miniature souvenir bat at the end of the factory tour. You can even create a bat with your own name on it, just like the pros. They make great gifts for all kinds of special occasions, from newborn babies, to groomsmen gifts, to team trophies and more. The museum store is also loaded with lots of sporty merchandise for every budget. Be sure to swing by!
Reviewed By Vmorris99 - Saint Louis, United States
Don't hesitate...go...and pay for the tour! We toured the museum while in Louisville for a convention and visit with friends. My husband and I took our 9 year old son. We all found the museum to exceed our expectations. You can pop into the museum, and you have the option to pay for a tour of the factory. We are so glad we took the tour! Our tour guide was knowledgeable, interesting and funny. You begin with a short movie about how they own their own forest, and how trees are selected, harvested for production and conserved. It was a short and interesting film. Then, our guide lead us through the factory and stopped at key points to describe the process of bat production, labeling and painting. I found the info on how MLB players select bats fascinating. At the end if the tour, each person receives a miniature bat. Afterwards, you are able to explore the museum, which contains baseball history, actual bats of famous players, clocked pitching speed demo, and fun photo opportunities including a dugout and pitching mound where you can pose with a famous player's actual bat. For fellow smashed penny collectors, the lobby features a crank machine with four designs for your smashing pleasure! The lobby also contains a nice gift shop where custom bats, hats, keychains and other souvenirs can be purchased. The ginormous bat on the outside of the building is Instagramable!
5. Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Looking for a unique Louisville experience? Founded in 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind is a company like no other. We're the world's largest creator of braille and educational aids for blind users. And you can watch them being made, step-by-step, as you tour our facility. During your FREE visit, you will: -Write your own name in braille. -See books printed on century-old braille presses and modern digital versions. -Explore the efforts of generations of blind and visually impaired students, teachers, and inventors to overcome obstacles to learning. -Handle braille books, tactile maps, and globes. -Tour a working recording studio where "Talking Books" are made. Located on historic Frankfort Avenue, the American Printing House for the Blind is within easy walking distance of charming shops and restaurants.
Reviewed By marypsmith2018 - Chicago, United States
The museum is small, it is next to a school for the blind. The exhibits are outstanding. We were two adults with two teenagers and spent over an hour examining the objects and learning about the history. None of us got bored. The staff went out of their way to answer our questions. Great experience!
6. Frazier History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 789 reviews
The Frazier History Museum is located in the West Main District of downtown Louisville, a part of "Museum Row on Main." The museum features Cool Kentucky, the Lewis & Clark Experience, and the KentuckyShow! in addition to temporary exhibits that focus on the state's history and culture. The Frazier also houses a Founder's Gallery of historical arms and the Stewart Collection of historical miniatures, one of the largest collections of toy soldiers on public display in the world. In 2018, the Frazier became the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with the opening of the Bourbon Trail Welcome Center and Spirit of Kentucky exhibit. The museum has private event spaces for rent including the Rooftop Garden, the Great Hall, Speakeasy, Order of the Writ, Gateway Garden, and more. The Frazier is where the world meets Kentucky and seeks to ignite the human spirit with thoughtfully crafted stories to spark curiosity about who we are and our connection to the future.
Reviewed By CPGTheATeam - Fort Worth, United States
As a "Lover of History," my "Must See Attraction" during a recent visit to Louisville was the Frazier History Museum. The Museum is located in a three-story building in downtown Louisville, contains an impressive collection of historical items, and includes a large gift shop located on the Museum's first floor. The exhibits focus on Kentucky history, but also contain extensive collections of artifacts that will be of interest to residents of Louisville, tourists from Kentucky, and TripAdvisor Travelers. Among the Museum's many exhibits, my favorites were the Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit, the History of Bourbon Exhibit, and the Museum's World-Class Exhibit of Arms and Armor. Individual artifacts in these exhibits were impressive and included George Washington's Long Rifle, Theodore Roosevelt's Famous "Big Stick" (actually a rifle, not a stick), George Custer's Ivory-Handled Pistols, and Daniel Boone's Family Bible. In spite of the Museum's World-Class Exhibits and all the interesting artifacts in these exhibits, the favorite part of my visit to the Frazier History Museum were the "Living History Presentations" by the Museum's Teaching Artists. On the day I visited the Museum, there were five 20-30 minute "live" presentations on famous, but lesser known Americans, including local fashion icon Madame Glover, female pirate Anne Bonny, and Lewis and Clark's slave York. Unfortunately, because of time limitations, I was only able to view the presentation on "Madame Glover." Her impact on Louisville and the city's expanding fashion industry was interesting, entertaining, and skillfully presented by Melinda B. a Teaching Artist at the Museum. In appropriate attire for a fashionable lady of Louisville's Gilded Age and with an appropriate background setting, Melinda assumed the role of Madame Glover. She made an excellent presentation on this women and her impact on Louisville's fashion industry. After watching Melinda assume the role of Madam Glover and telling "her story," I wished I had had time to see other presentations and will return to the Museum for other "Living History Presentations," Hopefully, Melinda will still be assuming the persona of famous individuals and sharing their accomplishments and historical contributions with Museum visitors. My visit to the Frazier Museum was a most enjoyable educational and entertaining experience. Because of the Museum's schedule of visiting exhibits as well as its multiple and ever-changing "Living History Presentations," I am looking forward to a "return visit. Of special interest to me is the Museum's Edger Allen Poe Program presented annually in October. For TripAdvisor Travelers living in Louisville or visiting the city, I highly recommend a visit to the Frazier Museum of History and consider it to be one of Louisville's "Must See Attractions."
7. 21c Museum Hotel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Consume global culture and connect with local communities when you visit 21c Museum Hotel - a multi-venue contemporary art museum, coupled with a boutique hotel and chef-driven restaurant. Founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who believe in the power of contemporary art. Experience our curated rotating exhibitions, commissioned site-specific installations, and regular cultural programming at each location.
Reviewed By Ccoug19 - Louisville, United States
The museum was highly recommended by some friends and so of course we had to go check it out. This location has a hotel (which we did not stay in) and a restaurant in addition to the art. I loved the variety of artistic expression, the different canvas. It was definitely a unique experience and above all,free. I look forward to visiting again but this time to go to the restaurant.
8. Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium
9. Prohibition Craft Spirits Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By ED507 - Tallahassee, United States
This place needs to be added to your “To Do List” while in Louisville. It is very unique and the tour takes a time travel through prohibition. There craft spirits are very unique and tasty. They do not have bourbon yet, but will have in a few months. The bar is very uniquely decorated. Well worth the time and money!!
