WELCOME TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

Though shorter than skyscrapers, the Muhammad Ali Center towers over downtown Louisville. More than a boxing museum, the values, influence and remarkable life of

the most recognizable man in the world unfold in a waterfront complex ... More

CULTURAL SITES

Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is rising among a cluster of

 renovated buildings at Muhammad Ali Boulevard and 18th Street. For decades the

city's streetcars and buses, were repaired and stored here ... More

RESTAURANTS and NIGHTCLUBS

Café Kilimanjaro, The Jazz Factory, Jay's Café, Expressions of You

and several more nightclubs and restaurants make for fond memories and

nice weekend getaways in Louisville ... More

SHOPS and GALLERIES

Ed Hamilton Studios by the sculptor known for his monuments of York,

Black Civil War Soldiers, Booker T. Washington at Hampton University,

Joe Louis, and the Amistad Memorial ... More

BLACK GENESIS

Although St. Louis claims to be the starting point of the great Western Expedition, explorers Lewis & Clark began their expedition actually began in Louisville where

they chose York to be their slave guide in 1803 ... More

MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER
PRESENTS THE LIFE OF A HERO

MAC is the definitive repository of Ali’s biographical materials. A Louisville native,

Ali's backstory is covered from his roots, to his boxing career, his societal

and religious convictions, stand against the unjust Vietnam War,

and global humanitarianism ... More

SPEED PLANTATION

A MIXED PATH TO FREEDOM

Farmington Home was built from a plan by Thomas Jefferson and completed in

1816 for John and Lucy Speed, wealthy hemp plantation owners.

Every part of the enterprise was made profitable by the labor of slaves who

were also frequently hired out to neighboring plantations ... More

BLACK JOCKEYS

When Thoroughbred Racing was in its infancy, most great jockeys were

African American. In the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, 14 of 15 were Black jockeys.

15 of the first 28 Derby races were won by Black jockeys ... More

HISTORIC SITES

From York Monument to Russell District to I. Willis Cole Residence to Columbia Gym

where Cassius Clay trained to Central High Scool to Farmington Historic Home

and more, Louisville is loaded with Black history sites ... More

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS

Louisville Slugger Museum, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville Science Center,

Louisville Zoo, Louisville Waterfront Park, Louisville Slugger Field ... More

GENERAL ATTRACTIONS

Kentucky Center for the Arts is more than a premier performance venue,

it also has an appreciation for Black Heritage.

In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, "The Midnight Ramble" ... More

ART and HISTORY MUSEUMS

Kentucky Derby Museum, Frazier Historical Arms Museum, Speed Art Museum,

Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft and International Museum of the Horse ... More

TRIVIA and FAMOUS RESIDENTS

Located on the banks of the Ohio River southeast of Chicago, east of St. Louis,

northwest of Atlanta, and west of Philadelphia, Louisville is one of

the most accessible cities in the country ... More

EMAIL ARTICLE

RESEARCH CREDITS:
Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Thomas Dorsey
Calvin Young
Sheila Umolu