Louisville, KY

York Monument
DESCRIPTION: The place where the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803-06) departed to explore the Pacific, with the enslaved African American, York, as one of their most important scouts; York lived most of his life in Louisville and was the first African American to go coast to coast and made important contributions to the success of the expedition; York was also the first person of color that western Native Americans encountered; a Clark family slave born in 1772, York moved with them from Virginia to Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1785; he was inherited by William Clark from father John in 1799; After return from expedition to the West, York lived in Louisville and worked as a wagon driver; set free after 1815, Clark reported that York died in Tennessee before 1832

ADDRESS: end of Fourth Street on the Louisville Wharf

Russell District Marker
DESCRIPTION: Historic home of the Black neighborhood in Louisville; in the days of Segregation, it was a self-sufficient community of businesses and residences whose boundaries extended westward along Walnut Street (Muhammad Ali Blvd) from 9th through 31st Streets; in 1926, this district was named “Russell Neighborhood” in honor of a famous Black educator who lived here, Harvey C. Russell, Sr. (1883-1949)

ADDRESS: Muhammad Ali Blvd at Roy Wilkins Parkway

I. Willis Cole Residence
DESCRIPTION: Home of a Louisville pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement who fought against segregation in public parks and street cars; in 1922, he ran for state senate on the Lincoln Party ticket; he was successful at shepherding enough votes to pass 19 bond issues that funded community schools

DAYS & HOURS: not open to the public

ADDRESS: 2217 West Muhammad Ali Blvd

Knights of Pythias Temple
DESCRIPTION: Built 1914-15 as the state headquarters for the Black Knights of Pythias lodge in Kentucky, the temple has long since been associated with the development of the African American community in Louisville; today it is the only inner-city branch offering an extensive YMCA Black Achievers Program; Chestnut Branch YMCA

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8a-8p, Sat-Sun 8a-6p

ADDRESS: 930 West Chestnut Street

PHONE: 502-587-7405

Clay Family Residence
DESCRIPTION: Childhood home of Cassius Clay before he name-changed to Muhammad Ali; no visitors

ADDRESS: 3302 West Grand Ave
 
Central High School
DESCRIPTION: Attended by Cassius Clay and most other Black Louisville residents beginning in 1952; no visitors

ADDRESS: 1130 West Chestnut Street at 12th Street
 
Columbia Gym
DESCRIPTION: The boxing gym where Cassius Clay first trained

ADDRESS: 4th Street, south of York Street
 
Farmington Historic Home
DESCRIPTION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; completed 1816 for John and Lucy Speed, see how wealthy hemp plantation owners and slaves lived before the Civil War; Lucy G. Speed emancipated three slaves - Rose, Sally and her son Harrod; other Speed family members, such as sons J. Smith, Joshua, Phillip and daughters Mary and Eliza also freed their slaves between 1863 and 1865

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-4:30p, Sun 1:30p-4:30p

ADDRESS: 3033 Bardstown Road

PHONE: 502-452-9920

WEBSITE: http://www.historichomes.org/fmframe.htm

Locust Grove Historic Home
DESCRIPTION: Home to enslaved Africans between 1790 and their emancipation between 1849-1856; slave numbers varied but county records from 1800 indicate that William Croghan paid taxes on twenty slaves and two white male servants; in 1849, John Croghan's will listed 22 enslaved Africans ranging from infancy to age 55; these individuals were freed under terms of a seven-year guardianship which provided for their liberty by 1856; two men associated with Locust Grove made important contributions to U.S. history; York, a slave owned by William Clark, was a member of the Corps of Discovery, traveling with the Lewis & Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean; Stephen Bishop was a slave at Mammoth Cave during John Croghan's ownership of the property; as a guide he explored previously uncharted areas of the world's most extensive cave system and drew the famous Mammoth Cave map of 1844

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-4:30p, Sun 1:30p-4:30p

ADDRESS: 561 Blankenbaker Lane

PHONE: 502-897-9845

WEBSITE: http://www.historichomes.org/lgframe.htm

Louisville Free Public Library-Western Branch
DESCRIPTION: Carnegie Library at Tenth and Chestnut was originally called the Western Colored Branch when it began its history in 1905, the same year in which construction of the main library building of the Louisville Free Public Library on York Street between Third and Fourth Streets was started; the branch, functioning as a community center, was a significant force in the promotion of cultural awareness during this formative period; signs such as "Knowledge is Power" were daily reminders while monthly activities such as the Douglas Debating Club brought topics of special interest to library users

DAYS & HOURS: Mon, Tue, Thu 12p-8p, Wed 10a-8p, Fri-Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 604 South Tenth Street

PHONE: 502-574-1611;

WEBSITE: http://lfpl.org

Simpsonville, KY

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Birthplace
DESCRIPTION: This shrine celebrates the life of a famous Civil Rights Movement activist is located on the campus of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Job Corps Center

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8a-5p

ADDRESS: 8460 Shelbyville Road (off US Highway 60 West)

PHONE: 502-722-8862