Nothing feels more American than baseball, and The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory explores this piece of America through exploring the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats still created by Hillerich & Bradsby. The museum showcases the story of Louisville Sluggers, from the original Hillerich woodworking business in 1864 to the famous baseball players that later used the bats produced by the business. Any baseball lover will enjoy this museum.
Dedicated in 2006, this statue honors Paul Hornung, a Heisman Trophy winner and pro football star in the late 1950s and 1960s. Hornung began his football career as a high school student in Louisville under coach Paulie Miller and won the Heisman for his performance in the offensive backfield at Norte Dame. the fullback and running back was a leading player on Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers championship teams in the 1960s. He is best-known today as a highly versatile player and colorful performer who went by the nickname "Golden Boy."
Dedicated in 2000, this statue of Pee Wee Reese honors one of the most successful baseball players from Louisville. Reese began his professional career with the Louisville Colonels in 1938 and became the captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s. Reese led his team to seven National League pennants and is best-known today for his role in supporting and befriending Jackie Robinson during his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The statue of the famous Louisville sporting legend was created by local sculptor Raymond Graf and located at the main entrance to Slugger Field in Louisville.
Originally known the Jefferson County Armory when it was built in 1905, the Louisville Gardens building now stands as a multi-purpose arena for a variety of events. First opening in 1905 as an actual armory complete with drill halls and ammunition for the local branch of the state militia, the historic building has witnessed more 20th-century Louisville history than most other buildings. Because the armory included a swimming pool, rifle range, and other recreation infrastructure, the Louisville community used the building as a gathering place right from the beginning. After 1945, the building became home to the University of Louisville basketball and later, at various points, both the Kentucky Colonels and the Kentucky Wildcats. In 1963, the building was converted into the Louisville Convention Center where many famous individuals would eventually host events in Louisville. However, when the Kentucky International Convention Center was built in 1975, the building was renamed yet again to what it is today, the Louisville Gardens. Currently owned by Metro Louisville, it was used to house victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2004, and it currently is in use as a warehouse. Its future remains uncertain as developers make bids on the building.
Parkway Field was a minor league baseball field and later college baseball park in Louisville, Kentucky. Built in 1923, the field was home to the Louisville Colonels of the American Association until 1956. The park also served the Louisville White Sox of the Negro National League, the Louisville Black Caps of the Negro Southern League, and the Louisville Buckeyes of the Negro American League. Rich with history and sport, Parkway Field could hold 13,000 baseball fans. After most of the Negro Baseball Leagues disbanded,the grandstand was demolished in 1961, but the University of Louisville used the original field until 1998. Today, the new field is used for intramural football and soccer at the University of Louisville.
A.D. "Pap" Ruff is said to be one of the great pioneer cyclists in the country during an era when cycling was one of the most popular spectator sports. Ruff was also the oldest member of the League of American Wheelmen at the time of his death. A memorial bench was placed here in 1897 to honor him. Ruff left a request that the Kentucky Division of the League of American Wheelmen create a place “where wheelmen may stop to drink and rest under the shade of the forest trees.”
The longest continually running sporting event in the United States is the Kentucky Derby. The world-famous thoroughbred horse race is held at the equally famous racetrack, Churchill Downs. Known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby takes place the first Saturday in May each year at the Louisville racetrack. Churchill Downs officially opened in 1875 and is instantly recognizable by the twin spires atop the grandstands. Churchill Downs also is known for hosting the Kentucky Oaks and other thoroughbred horse racing and has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championship eight times.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
This tour of Louisville includes museums, monuments, and historic venues related to the history of sport. The tour begins at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and concludes at Churchill Downs. Additional entries will be added in the near future.
