City Hall ... a well known spot in Louisville's downtown, but not a spot most of us need or want to…read morevisit. I spent time there with my son and classmates for their mock trial competition. We found ourselves in small courtrooms used throughout the week by our local judges and attorneys. You will enter through the front doors and pass through security. Pockets must be emptied and bags placed on the scanner. You can bring in drinks and food but no glass containers. Vending machines can also be found inside. Bathrooms were in terrible shape, sometimes out of toilet paper. Overall this isn't an exciting building structurally. I was hoping it would feel more historical and interesting. Below is the information from the Louisville Metro Government website, which gives insight of its history and current usage. ..................... Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, this Louisville landmark at 601 W. Jefferson St. is an impressive piece of civil Architecture and a metaphor for Louisville's Post War optimism and can-do attitude. Its exuberance is a stylistic counterpoint to the far more austere, 1836 Greek Revival style county courthouse across 6th St. Before city hall was built, there was no city Government building. City officials had shared space in the County Courthouses. Plans for the city hall were initiated when a design competition was help with the winner receiving five hundred dollars. In April 1867 the winning design, created by Louisville architects John Andrewartha and CS Mergell, was chosen. By the summer of 1870 the final plans of construction had been drawn by Andrewartha, in association with local architects C.L. Stancliff and Co. The existing government buildings on the site were demolished, and ground was broken for the building's foundation. The city engineer, I.M. St. John had been chosen by Louisville General Counsel to oversee the project, and Andrewartha was named the managing architect. Built with stone from the White River quarries near Salem, Indiana, city hall's construction took place between 1870 and 1873 at a cost of $464,778. The city hall, with its three stories and raised basement, was a blend of Italianate motifs and the French Second Empire style that was prominent in civic buildings after the Civil War. The edifice is also characterized by prolific use of symbolic ornamentation. Louisville's trust in progress and railroads is reflected in the buildings upper carvings. For instance, the pediment over the main entrance displays a bas relief of the city seal represented by a train "plowing through the wilderness" past such Southern flora as a palm tree and bearing the slogan "Progress 1871" This not only indicated the direction of Louisville's principal trade but was also an apt symbol of the tremendous influence the railroads, especially the Louisville and Nashville line, had on the city's commercial development. Likewise, the stone livestock carvings along the sides of the building reflect the importance of Louisville's Stockyards in her economic history. Another prominent feature of the city hall is its 196-foot-high, four faced clock tower with a mansard roof, built by Henry Whitestone in 1876 after an 1875 fire had damaged the original. A major exterior restoration of City Hall was undertaken in 2017. The limestone walls were cleaned, masonry joints were tuck pointed, and windows were renovated. During the restoration, several architectural elements were replaced such as the limestone columns and cast-iron corbels. Many of the same methods used to construct the elements were used to recreate the replacement pieces. Thought the exterior has remained largely unchanged, several renovations and remodeling projects have left little of the original interior intact. Today, the building houses the offices and chambers of the Louisville Metro Council.

We walked the Loop and passed by Hogan's Fountain on our way. We also spied several deer,…read moreincluding a doe and her smallish fawn playing peekaboo in the underbrush. Lovely place and space in the city.

This is a cool pavilion fountain that they remastered in 2023. It's very old and been through a…read morewhole lot over the years so I spray-painted all over it during 2020 stuff that was going on and now it's back after a very expensive renovation looking better than ever.

We were out for a drive and passed by Wyandotte Cave and we were surprised to see that it was open…read moreagain. (It had been closed for several years). We decided to do the 1/2 hour tour of Little Wyandotte Cave instead of the 2 hr. tour of the big cave. We were able to see many interesting formations without a huge time commitment. Our tour guide was well-spoken and loud enough that everyone in the group could hear her. Wyandotte Cave, along with Marengo Cave and Indiana Caverns, are worth the visit when in Southern Indiana!

We took the 3 hour tour through Wyandotte Caves and have nothing but compliments on our experience…read more It is a wonderful hike through the caves and the guide was knowledgeable and friendly. There are so many interesting sites to see from the stalactites and stalagmites, the monuments that have been built, the small pathway that was carved by hand, and so much more. I highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to see caves. This one is worth it. Be sure and check the website to see when they are open as they are only open 3 days each week due to staffing.

Follow the Yellow Path [Louisville KY]…read more We originally thought of just visiting Muhammad Ali's gravesite at Cave Hill Cemetery but when the security personnel at the gate gave us a map of the cemetery we saw that Colonel Sanders's gravesite was also in this same location. The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has his final resting place right in the heart of the Cave Hill Cemetery. From the main entrance, at the corner of Baxter Ave and E Broadway, we followed the road into the cemetery for 1.5 miles. Follow the solid yellow line (the map will show the color yellow route). The line ends at Col. Sanders grave in Section 33 right on the road. Colonel Sanders was the most beloved gentleman in Kentucky and holds a significant place in American Culture. His grave was marked by a bust that was created by his daughter Margaret. He was 90 when he passed away in 1980. It was a nice, unique and memorable experience. Review #3907

Something to see while also visiting Mohammad Ali. Read the inscriptions on the family members…read moreheadstones. The cemetery is beautifully landscaped and peaceful, drive around and soak in the history.

Historical Marker #1990 on 2nd and Main is titled "Slave Trading in Louisville". Due to its…read morelocation along the Ohio River, Louisville greatly profited from the sale of enslaved people, and Matthew Garrison was a notorious slave trader and ran a slave jail. One side of the marker reads, "By the 1850s, Kentucky was annually exporting between 2500 and 4000 of its slaves down river to the large plantations farther south. To prevent runaways, traders operating near the Ohio River kept slaves shackled together in pens when not being displayed to buyers. Slave traders were often social outcasts avoided by all but fellow traders." The other side reads, "Garrison Slave Pen Site - Matthew Garrison was a well known Kentucky slave speculator in the Deep South. A white abolitionist leader, Rev. Calvin Fairbank, wrote in 1851 that four slave markets, including Garrison's and Arterburn's, sold men, women, and children "like sheep." Slavery abolished by 13th Amendment, 1865." The marker was presented by Louisville and Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee, Inc. and dedicated February 22, 1998. [Yelp collections: Louisville/Indianapolis 2023; Louisville, KY 2023; Monuments, Memorials, and Historical Markers]

Back in the day, Kentucky was a slave state. And just across the Ohio River, Indiana was a free…read morestate. If escaped slaves could make it to there, they would have a much better chance* of freedom. When captured, they were usually returned here to Louisville before being returned. This marker recalls those times. On one side, "By the 1850s, Kentucky was annually exporting between 2500 and 4000 of its slaves down river to the large plantations farther south. To prevent runaways, traders operating near the Ohio River kept slaves shackled together in pens when not being displayed to buyers. Slave traders were often social outcasts avoided by all but fellow traders." And on the other, "Garrison Slave Pen Site - Matthew Garrison was a well known Kentucky slave speculator in the Deep South. A white abolitionist leader, Rev. Calvin Fairbank, wrote in 1851 that four slave markets, including Garrison's and Arterburn's, sold men, women, and children "like sheep." Slavery abolished by 13th Amendment, 1865. Presented by Louisville and Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee, Inc. Dedicated Feb. 22, 1998" Times have changed but we need to not forget about them. (* Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, they could still be returned to their owners even if they were captured in "free" states.) [Review 13584 overall, 903 of 2020.]

The old section of Louisville and Nashville turnpike. The bridges to the past is this preserved…read morepast. This is a paved path that has a stream to one side and the limestone rocks on the other side. This area is monitored by the army base. Sometimes the path gets washed out, like now. This area after a long rain storm can cause mud and other problems come prepared when hiking.

This is our new favorite trail. It's paved all the way up to the top. It has tree cover so it helps…read moreprotect you from the sun. We have hiked this 2-3 times. Our dog loves to come with us too. It's great for people who need solid footing for hiking. Lots of history here. Watch for the brown signs you may miss them.

A number of local run groups ran here Derby morning and snapped a photo in front of the statue. It…read morewas neat being here on the big morning, seeing people show up and line up hours before the races. For out of town visitors, a photo in front of the Barbaro Statue has been a fun stop no matter the season. On one visit, races were happening and we could see the horses' names up on the board. My family loved seeing this without the crowds of Derby. I've never had issues with parking on visits outside of Derby week.

2006 Kentucky Derby Winner [Louisville KY]…read more In front of the Kentucky Derby Museum/Churchill Downs stood a statue of BARBARO. Buried at Churchill Downs, the champion's final resting place is remembered by a bronze sculpture that shows Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado in full flight, legs above the ground, nearing the finish line in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and coming home to win the 132rd running of the Kentucky Derby. I cried reading articles about Barbaro's story. He was brilliant on the race track, Barbaro always will be remembered for his brave fight for survival. Barbaro was a hero. He was a colt who represented the spirit of the Kentucky Derby. He will be remembered for his six, first-place finishes, including the 2006 Kentucky Derby which he dominated by 6-1/2 lengths. Barbaro's ashes were interred beneath the memorial. The sculpture was dedicated on April 26, 2009. It is here that Barbaro runs forever. Review #3909

There's a cool little school to check out that is in Shepherdsville. It is one of the first schools…read morethat Bullitt County ever had. So it is historical it has been in this location for many many years. It is obviously no longer used but they do have it set up like a classroom where you can look and explore and see it. It is right next to the elementary school Robbie. And is right off of Highway 44