Best things to do in Louisville

Discover the underground world of Louisville Mega Cavern, once a bomb shelter capable of housing nearly 50,000 people. Today, the cavern features the world's only underground zipline course that allows you to plunge off 20 m (70 ft) cliffs into a pit of darkness. If jumping into complete blackness isn't your thing, take a tram tour of the cavern's many passages. The tram stops at a large worm farm, where insects consume trash in order to produce fertilizer. Be sure to dress appropriately--the cavern is 30 m (100 ft) below the city, and temperatures rarely rise above 13 C (56 F).

Delve into the world of America’s favorite pastime at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Home to the famous Louisville Slugger bat, the museum features a combination of hands-on, interactive exhibits dedicated to the history and legacy of American baseball. Practice your swing in the batting cages with one of your favorite bats, or join a factory tour to witness the fabrication of the Louisville Slugger. Don’t miss a picture with the 36.5 m (120 ft) tall bat, said to be the largest in the world, that adorns the museum’s front entrance. Pick up a replica of your favorite baseball player’s bat at the museum gift shop.

Kentucky Derby Museum features two floors of artifacts and interactive displays that celebrate what some consider the most exciting two minutes in sports. Your first stop in the museum is the 360-degree theater, which screens the film "The Greatest Race." You're then welcome to explore the two floors on your own. Check out the interactive exhibit that allows you to record yourself announcing races with the assistance of a prompter screen. Or view the collection of Derby hats that have graced the heads of race goers since the opening of the track.

The thoroughbred racetrack Churchill Downs is famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. This arena, which opened in 1875 and can hold up to 120,000 people, has also hosted the Breeder's Cup eight times and features live racing on weekends. This site is home to the Kentucky Derby Museum, where you can learn about the arena, horse racing, and even watch the film "The Greatest Race" in a 360-degree movie theater.

Keeneland, home to one of America's premier thoroughbred horse racetracks, offers live racing and a world-class reference library dedicated to the sport. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the complex began operations in 1936. Notable races include the Blue Grass Stakes and Beaumont Stakes, well known as preparatory races for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. The track's annual horse auctions draw buyers from around the world. If you can’t catch a live race, try one of the racetrack's self-guided tours of its active facilities.

The Big Four Bridge is a six-span former railroad truss bridge that crosses the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. It was completed in 1895, and updated in 1929. The largest single span is, with the entire bridge spanning 2525ft. It took its name from the defunct Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, which was nicknamed the "Big Four Railroad". It is now a converted pedestrian and bicycle bridge from Louisville into Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Access to the Big Four Bridge is limited to pedestrian and bicycle use. A pedestrian ramp on the Kentucky side was opened on February 7, 2013. The original approaches that carried rail traffic onto the main spans were first removed in 1969, earning the Big Four Bridge the nickname "Bridge That Goes Nowhere". The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge downstream, which carries U.S. 31 across the river, was previously the only bridge allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between Louisville and the neighboring Indiana cities of New Albany, Clarksville, and Jeffersonville.
In February 2011, Kentucky and Indiana announced that the two states, along with the City of Jeffersonville, would allocate $22 million in funding to complete the Big Four Bridge project, creating a pedestrian and bicycle path to link Louisville and Jeffersonville. Indiana would spend up to $8 million and the City of Jeffersonville would provide $2 million in matching dollars to pay for construction of a ramp to the Big Four Bridge. Kentucky pledged $12 million to replace the deck on the bridge and connect it to the spiral ramp that was completed in Waterfront Park.

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The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is located at the heart of Old Louisville, one of the largest Victorian neighborhoods in the nation. Situated at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and St James Court, the Museum stands as one of the finest buildings in the area. Remarkable in its completeness as a Victorian structure, this building was created with the finest craftsmanship and design, and contained all the latest innovations for its time. It has been lovingly restored and brought back to life as a family home circa 1908, when the Caldwell family lived here. It now is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday, and by appointment. The mansion contains antiques appropriate to the era, including many of the original pieces from the Conrad and Caldwell families. We enjoy the continued involvement of the Caldwell family, one of the things which sets us apart from other historic homes, and makes it seem much more a “home” than a museum.

As a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum relies on your support in order to survive. While we are able to generate some income with our tours and rentals, we do ask that you consider making a donation to the Museum in order to ensure our continued success.

Office hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 4 and Sunday 12 - 4. Tours are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday 1 & 3 PM, and Saturday 11, 1 & 3, or by appointment.

For general inquiries you can reach us at:

conradcaldwellhouse@gmail.com

For rental inquiries you can reach us at:

rentals.conradcaldwellhouse@gmail.com

Family owned and operated since 1976, Taylor Made began as a boarding farm for Thoroughbred horses. It is now a leading sales agency, best known for helping clients market and sell their Thoroughbreds at public auction.

In the hometown of one of the world's greatest boxers, Muhammad Ali Center features art galleries, interactive exhibits, media footage, and videos inspired by Ali's life, work, and values. At the three-level center, discover six core principles that kept the boxing megastar inspired and focused on pursuing his dreams: confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, giving, and spirituality. Experience a recreated training with Ali, see a 17 m (55 ft) long wall filled with more than 5,000 drawings by children from 141 countries, and browse through numerous permanent and temporary exhibits.

Winding through the ground for nearly 652 km (405 mi), the World Heritage Site Mammoth Cave claims the title, by a significant margin, of longest cave system on the planet. You won’t be the only one surveying the cave. Exploration continues constantly, so the official length of the system continues to grow with the discovery of new passageways, tunnels, and caverns. In addition to thousands of bats, the subterranean labyrinth possesses a nearly 6,000-year history of humans, beginning with pre-Columbian natives of the region. The National Park Service runs multiple versions of its cave tours of varying length, which can take you on popular paths or on more adventurous routes that require some tight squeezes and nimbleness. Watch for geological mineral and rock formations scattered throughout the cave.

In 54 hectares (134 acres) of natural setting, Louisville Zoo houses 1,700 different mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and invertebrates. This zoo was one of the first ones in the world to introduce rotating exhibits--where animals are moved throughout different habitats in order to have a better quality of life. Stroll through themed exhibits, such as a gorilla forest and a glacier town. See rare animals, such as an albino alligator. Take a train ride, or climb and balance on ropes above the zoo at an attraction for children and families. You can also interact with the zookeepers and learn about the animals.