3 Must-Do Attractions in LOU

3MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS in LOU!

Late summer is the perfect time to be a tourist right here in our state. If you're looking for some wonderful day trip destinations, look no further than our sister city, Louisville! Some of their triedand-true attractions are worth rediscovering – or seeing for the very first time! by Dawn Anderson

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Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

In April 2022, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory topped Good Housekeeping’s list of 25 Best Factory Tours in America for Families Who Love to Go Behind the Scenes. The Museum is instantly recognizable on Louisville’s historic Museum Row on Main, thanks to The Big Bat - an iconic downtown landmark. J.F. Hillerich and Son was turning Louisville Slugger baseball bats as early as 1884. Salesman Frank Bradsby became a full partner in 1916, and Hillerich & Bradsby Co. continues to supply “the stick of choice” for baseball’s greatest players. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory celebrates the past, present, and future of baseball - America’s favorite pastime and signature sport. More than 8000 Major League Baseball players have signed with Louisville Slugger, starting with Honus Wagner in 1905. Those contract signatures are used for their bats' autograph brand and are featured on the Museum’s Signature Wall. The new-and-improved factory tour experience begins with a thrilling movie followed by a walk through the production line. The tour concludes in a newly revamped gallery of superstar quotes about Louisville Slugger, where each guest receives a free souvenir mini-bat. Museum exhibits include lifelike sculptures, Johnny Bench Artifacts, Must-See Bats, the hands-on Hold a Piece of History and Batter Up! Bud’s Batting Cage exhibits, as well as those honoring Black Ballplayers. Barrels & Billets next door offers Custom Bourbon Experiences for guests 21 and over. The All-Star Experience is the ultimate behind-thescenes factory tour specially crafted to feature your favorite teams and players. Guests will have exclusive access to areas not available for public tours, such as The Bat Vault and the Archive Room. Each participant will receive a full-sized personalized Louisville Slugger bat. photos courtesy Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

For more information and advance tickets, visit sluggermuseum.com. Follow @slugger_museum on Instagram and @SluggerMuseum on Facebook and Twitter.

2Summer vacation is a great time to be a home-state tourist! The independent, nonprofit Kentucky Derby Museum, located on the grounds of historic Churchill Downs Racetrack, encapsulates the Kentucky Derby experience like no other. Fresh off the excitement of Derby 148 and Rich Strike’s come-from-behind longshot victory, the Kentucky Derby Museum is Churchill Downs’ exclusive tour provider. A $17 General Admission ticket provides full Museum access to two floors of interactive exhibits, including the spectacular new permanent exhibition, This is the Kentucky Derby! You’ll view the epic 18-minute 360° film “The Greatest Race,” updated larger than life with Rich Strike’s thrilling longshot victory, and take the 30-minute Historic Walking Tour visiting the Paddock, Grandstand, and legendary racetrack. The Kentucky Derby Museum offers additional Specialty Tours for horse lovers, bourbon enthusiasts, and more! The Kentucky Derby Museum Store offers apparel, collectibles, and other items to commemorate Derby 148. Shop in-store at the Museum or online at derbymuseumstore.com. The Derby Café & Bourbon Bar inside the Museum is the perfect place to grab lunch. The classic Southern menu with Kentucky-inspired staples includes bourbon flights, Mint Juleps, Oaks Lilies, from-scratch burgers with house-made buns, a Hot Brown panini, plus kid-friendly options. 2022 Cultural Pass holders receive General Admission on Tuesdays and Sundays. On August 2, the Museum offers special programming to pass holders. Thoroughbred Care teaches children ages 5-8 “how to care for a Thoroughbred and prepare it for racing, discovering the many jobs in the stable.” Young people ages 9-17 enjoy Louisville and the Derby, seeing “how images and artifacts tell the stories of Louisville and the Kentucky Derby through two centuries of history.” photos courtesy Kentucky Derby Museum

For more information, visit derbymuseum.org. Follow @derbymuseum on Instagram and Facebook.

Kentucky Derby Museum

Muhammad Ali Center

Founded by Louisville native and boxing champion Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie in 2005, the Muhammad Ali Center is a nonprofit interactive museum and cultural center with educational programming and special events to inspire greatness. Guided by Muhammad Ali’s six core principles of Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality, the Ali Center presents Ali’s life through boxing memorabilia and history, multimedia presentations, and art galleries. “It’s an exciting time to visit the Muhammad Ali Center, as we have two temporary exhibits on display,” says Ali Center President & CEO Marilyn Jackson. “Shining a Light explores the way women around the globe are affected by water scarcity. What Lifts You? is a mural exhibit created by renowned mural artist Kelsey Montague. We’ve got nearly 100,000 square feet of education and family fun ready to explore!” Featured in Taylor Swift videos, celebrity Instagram posts, and murals across the US, Montague’s artwork explores the intersection of art and social media. Six new works inspired by Muhammad Ali will grace each wall of the Center’s Ina Brown Bond Gallery through December 31, 2022. Guests are encouraged to take photographs with the murals and post them to social media using the hashtags #WhatLiftsYou and #LiftWithAli. The entire catalog of Ancestor Spirit Portraits produced by the I Was Here Project will be on exhibit for the first time beginning August 27, 2022, at the Muhammad Ali Center. photos courtesy Muhammad Ali Center

Visit www.alicenter.org for more information and to support Muhammad Ali’s legacy. Follow @MuhammadAliCenter on Facebook, @AliCenter on Twitter, and @alicenterlou on Instagram.

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