Downtown Louisville is a cultural hub in this region that features nationally recognized attractions and venues. Entertainment options include a variety of museums, performing arts venues, sporting events and nightlife. Combined with downtown’s eclectic culinary scene, there is something appealing to downtown workers, young professionals, residents and visitors alike.

Museums

West Main Street, a historic preservation district, is home to Museum Row. This collection of museums and cultural attractions features museums dedicated to everything from history and science to the Louisville Slugger.


Frazier International History Museum
http://www.fraziermuseum.org/ 
The Frazier International History Museum features local, American and world history exhibits in their 100,000 sf space. There are live performances, interactive exhibits and collections featuring arms, such as General Custer’s pistols, presidential items like Teddy Roosevelt’s “big stick” and items from the founding fathers and pioneers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
www.sluggermuseum.com
Visit the home of the world famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat and learn about the history of the Louisville Slugger, watch bats being made, purchase your own customized bat and tour the facilities baseball exhibits. Nickelodeon recently named Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory as the city’s #1 tourist spot.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Louisville Science Center
www.louisvillescience.org
Started as part of the public library system in 1871 the Louisville Science Center is now the largest hands on center of its kind in the state. There are over 150 hands on interactive exhibits and displays, a 4-story IMAX theater and a science education wing with workshop labs. The mission of the Louisville Science Center is to encourage people of all ages to enjoy science, math and technology in a stimulating and engaging environment that is educational as well as entertaining.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
www.kentuckyarts.org/index.cfm
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft features work representing Kentucky’s best artisanal heritage. Four traditional galleries and one gallery shop showcase pieces from hundreds of Kentucky artists, in addition to the regional and national pieces on display in the rotating galleries. The museum also spearheads educational outreach to schools and professional development for artists.


21C Museum
www.21cmuseum.org/museum/default.aspx
21c Museum is the first museum in North America dedicated solely to 21st century contemporary art. Separate from the for profit hotel at 21c, the non-profit museum has 9,000 square feet of exhibition space as well as a video lounge. Rotating exhibitions change about twice per year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Muhammad Ali Center
www.alicenter.org/Pages/default.aspx
The Muhammad Ali Center is an international education center promoting the ideals of Muhammad Ali. Guests experience six exhibits organized around Ali’s core values of respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality. The Center uses those principals and the story of Muhammad Ali’s life to focus on bringing people of different backgrounds together.
 
 
 
 
 
 



Glassworks
www.louisvilleglassworks.com/index.html
Glassworks is a gallery and glass blowing facility that allows visitors to learn and participate in glass art, tour working studios and participate in workshops.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Sports Facilities

Downtown Louisville is host to some of the finest sporting events and venues in the country. Downtown is home to one of only 22 worldwide Ford Ironman Championship qualifiers, the Triple Crown of Running, the Louisville Bats triple A baseball team and the University of Louisville Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Crew teams.


Louisville Slugger Field

http://louisville.bats.milb.com/
Louisville Slugger Field is home the Louisville Bats, triple A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Opened in 2000, Slugger Field’s natural grass playing surface, view of the city skyline and direct neighbor Waterfront Park are just some of the reasons it is still considered the best minor league park in the country. It seats 13,131 and has also hosted concerts for Dave Mathews, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson. The historic rail freight depot on the site was incorporated into the structure of the ballpark, and the project is considered a model redevelopment of a Brownfield.
 



KFC Yum! Center
www.kfcyumcenter.com/default.aspx
The KFC Yum! Center is a multi-purpose arena that opened October 10th, 2010 and is the new home of the University of Louisville Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. The arena will host 2012 first and second round games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the 2012 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. In addition to athletics the Yum Center is a prime venue for concerts and conventions. A continuous pedway system connects the Louisville Convention Center with the arena and several downtown hotels making it an ideal location for large conventions.
 
 
 



Louisville Extreme Park
www.louisvilleextremepark.org
The Louisville Extreme Park is a top notch park that features a 24’ full pipe, varying size bowls, a street course and vert ramps. Skateboarders, cyclists and inline skaters from across the country visit the 40,000 sf park.
 
 
 
 
 


 

Entertainment


4th Street Live!
www.4thstlive.com
4th Street Live! Is an entertainment complex developed by the Cordish Company in the heart of downtown. Nine different nightclubs, over eight restaurants, a food court and shops make up the complex. Additional live concerts and events take place on 4th St. With over 4.5 million visitors per year it is one of the largest attractions in Kentucky. Please visit their web site for a full listing of restaurants, entertainment venues, shops and events.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


The Belle of Louisville
http://www.belleoflouisville.org/
The Steamer Belle of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark and The Riverboat Spirit of Jefferson serve as the western anchor of Louisville's award winning Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. With the playing of her calliope, the Belle, now in her 95th year, continues to beckon one and all to join her on a journey back to the time when she carried passengers and goods to ports all along the beautiful Ohio River.



 

Performing Arts

Downtown Louisville’s performing arts are among the best in the country. The Kentucky Center hosts the Broadway Across America series, and brings in premier shows such as Wicked, Stomp and Mamma Mia!. Actors Theatre of Louisville is home to the Humana Festival of New American Plays, a world renown festival celebrating contemporary playwrights and giving a glimpse of the future of American Theater. Downtown is also home to the Louisville Palace and Bunbury Theatre at the Henry Clay.
 

Home to many of the city’s major arts organizations, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts brings the finest in music, dance, theater and more to Kentucky! We are the home for Louisville’s nationally-renowned arts scene, to The Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Stage One and PNC Bank Broadway Across America – Louisville.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acclaimed for its artistic programming and business acumen, Actors Theatre presents over 500 performances of about 20 productions during its year-round season composed of a diverse array of contemporary and classical fare. It boasts one of the largest per capita season ticket holder audiences in the country and logs an annual attendance of over 200,000.  
http://actorstheatre.org/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Bunbury Theatre was founded in Louisville in 1985 as a theatre focussed on cutting edge/experimental theatre. Although they have had several homes, in 2007 The Bunbury renovated the old gymnasium on the third floor of the historic Henry Clay building. The seat state of the art theatre, has become a symbol of the tenacity of a small arts organization. From 2007-10 Bunbury mounted 15 maintstage plays and 3 social awareness issues oriented pieces.  
 
 
The Louisville Palace is a theatre,is located in the city's theater district, on the east side of Fourth Street, between Broadway and Chestnut Street. It has a seating capacity of 2,700 people. This historic landmark opened in 1928 and was designed by architect John Eberson.Elegant and ornate, The Palace exhibits a Spanish Baroque motif with arcades, balconies and turrets. Cobalt blue, bursts of red and gold indirectly light all of the niches, coves and entrances. Above is a curved, vaulted ceiling with 139 sculptures of the faces of historical figures. The actual theater room inside The Palace is heavily ornamented and displays an imitation nighttime sky on the ceiling.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Brown Theatre is a restored theatre dating back to 1925 that seats approximately 1,400 patrons in Louisville, Kentucky. The theatre still stands today and remains a testament to the glory days of Louisville’s theatre district. In 1998, re-christened the W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre, new stage equipment and rigging, a modernized computer marquee, and new heating and air conditioning systems are put in to place making the space a comfortable and state-of-the-art theatre.
http://www.kentuckycenter.org/

Hotels

Fine lodging is available at all levels downtown. Hotel space is also convenient for conventions and meetings. There are 3,800 downtown hotel rooms with 2,300 connected to convention space via pedway. For a full listing of Louisville hotels please visit: http://www.gotolouisville.com/stay/index.aspx

 

The Marriott Convention Center Hotel
Marriott Downtown is an excellent choice for both the business and leisure traveler. Outfitted with 616 hotel rooms and suites and expansive 50,000 square feet of event space, this ideally situated hotel in Downtown Louisville is perfect for meetings, social gatherings, family travel or weekend escapes.
http://www.marriottlouisville.com/  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Galt House Hotel
Galt House Hotel, the largest hotel in Kentucky offers a wide array of well-appointed lodging options with 1290 guest rooms, including 650 suites. Choose from five types of luxurious accommodations—Executive Suites, Waterfront Balcony, Two-Bedroom Waterfront Suites, Deluxe Guest Rooms and Extended-Stay Apartments.







The Hyatt Regency
Located in the city’s thriving central business district – with a direct connection to the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) – Hyatt Regency Louisville delivers the impeccable service you expect with a gracious dose of southern hospitality.
  
 
 
 
 
Seelbach Hotel
The Seelbach offers its guests in Louisville access to its restaurants, fitness center, Z Salon and Spa, and valet parking, among other standard features of a luxury hotel. The Seelbach is a AAA 4 Diamond award-winning hotel. The hotel appears on the National Register of Historic Places.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Brown Hotel
Located at the corners of Fourth and Broadway in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, The Brown Hotel is one of the most treasured landmarks in Louisville.  It was built in 1923 at a cost of $4 million by J. Graham Brown.  The Brown Hotel features 293 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites; more than 26,000 square feet of meeting space; a business center; fitness center; two restaurants, and the renowned Lobby Bar.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

21C Hotel & Museum
Congratulations to 21C Hotel who was recently named the best hotel in the United States for the second year in a row by Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Awards, beating out The Peninsula in Chicago and the Mandarin Oriental in Boston.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Restaurants

Downtown is home to a variety of dining establishments. There is something for everyone. The map below, courtesy of the Louisville Downtown Management District (www.ldmd.org), contains all of our downtown restaurants, their type and price range.   

Online Restaurant Map
http://www.ldmd.org/playing.html


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