A world-renowned racecourse commemorating Henry Churchill, the Churchill Downs is the holy grail for aficionados of horse racing. Spread across more than 140 acres (56 hectares), the track rekindled Louisville's hope for horse racing after two of the city's favorite venues were shut down. Since its inception in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has prospered on this track garnering many raves from jockeys and equestrian sports lovers from across the globe. Featuring more than 70 luxury suites, the interior of the site is decorated with murals of Kentucky Derby winners thus celebrating the augustness and exclusivity of the sport. A museum, stables and a clubhouse are also a part of the Thoroughbred racetrack's extensive layout.
Louisville Free Public Library dates back to 1906, it was founded owing to the generous donations of Andrew Carnegie. The library building has featured in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Check website for details.
This mansion from 1790 is older than the state of Kentucky itself (it entered the Union in 1792), and it stands as a symbol of American land usurpation against the backdrop of the Northwest Indian War. The 55-acre estate once belonged to William Croghan, slave-owner and businessman, then it passed hands frequently after he sold it in 1878. The Waters family bequeathed it to the Commonwealth as a state treasure in 1964. Today the estate staff conducts tours around the house as well as the property. They last anywhere from 45-minutes to an hour. This property is open all days of the week, with an extended hour during the summer months.
Built in 1867, the Culbertson Mansion is one of eleven Indiana State Historic sites, and is considered a masterpiece in Victorian artistry. The mansion was designed by James T. Banes, a local architect and is spread over three floors, which include beautifully hand-painted ceilings and walls, fresco-ed ceilings, carved rosewood-grained staircase, marble fireplaces, and wallpaper of fabric-quality and crystal chandeliers. All displays and exhibits within the mansion belong to the Culbertson family. The rooms on the tour at the mansion are the 25 bedrooms, parlors, dining rooms, kitchen, laundry room etc. Even in present times, this mansion stands as an example of the tastes, ideals and lifestyles of the people living in Indiana during the late 1800s. Tours are held every hour for visitors looking forward to exploring the beauty of the historic mansion.
When the glossy hubbub of Fourth Street Live becomes overwhelming, head for Third Street Dive. It's dark and gritty, the drinks are inexpensive, and the frills are decidedly few. There's a pool table in the back, a juke box full of heavy rock'n'roll, and live music on select evenings. The regulars are full of colorful stories, and the barkeeps have their share as well. If your one-drink Happy Hour plan turns into an beer-fueled, punk-rock all nighter, you're more than welcome to order out for pizza or bring in a bag of White Castles from around the corner. See MySpace page for concert schedule and more.
Synomous with great brews, Goodwood Brewing Co has a long standing reputation as being the producer of the neighborhood's most loved beer. A place where brewing is more than a mere job, this brewery fuses together timeless techniques and innovative recipes to produce some of the finest brews in the city. With the appearance of a typical pub, replete with exposed brick walls, wooden themes and undying excitement, the taproom is a great place to catch up friends over a round of beer. Customers can sample some of the freshest brews, along with seasonal and rare beers at the taproom.