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Interesting Facts
- Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! Cassius Clay, better known now as Muhammad Ali, was born in Louisville in 1942. Known for his flamboyant attitude, quick jab and fancy footwork, Ali is recognized as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
- Bowling, Bowling, Bowling ... Vernon Lanes in Louisville is said to be the third oldest bowling alley in the U.S. The Italianate house was built in the 1880's and was made into a bowling alley in 1918.
- You'll never know which direction you'll be headed at this church. At the Church of the Epiphany, there are no permanent fixtures, platforms can be arranged at different heights, seats can be arranged and rearranged, worshipers can even face in a different direction from Sunday to Sunday. On a pretty day, the congregation can even sit virtually outside – the walls of the church slide back!
- According to the author of an MIT Press Book, Louisville has more aesthetically attractive manhole covers than anywhere else in the world. For the best examples, try the south side of the 700 block of West Main Street.
- The world's tallest and longest standup coaster fits nicely within the confines of Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. This thrill-seekers-dream-come-true also boasts the largest vertical loop and the largest number of inversions. The park attracts more than 700,000 people each year.
- The Belle of Louisville was bought at an auction by a former Jefferson County judge named Marlow Cook. Cook paid $34,000 for the 800-passenger pleasure boat. Today, the Belle of Louisville is the oldest operating steamboat on the Mississippi River system.
- Having been called "the most exciting 2 minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby is the world's most famous horse race. The event, held each year in Louisville, began in 1875 and currently attracts more than 130,000 people.
- A variety of famous dishes originated in Louisville. The most famous, the Hot Brown, was created at the Brown Hotel. The open-faced sandwich is made with turkey, toasted bread, cheese sauce and bacon or ham. Be sure to also try the famous Derby Pie, a chocolate walnut pie and registered trademark of Kern's Kitchen.
- How about a drink? In Louisville, you must try the concoction that is synonymous with that city, the mint julep. It's comprised of two ounces of bourbon and a half jigger of syrup that's been permeated with mint and poured over shaved ice. Believe it or not, the drink is not particularly well liked by many Louisvillians.
- It would be truly un-American to visit Louisville and not spend some time at the Louisville Slugger Museum. A steel replica of the famous baseball bat, which stands more than 6-stories tall, marks the outside of the museum. Inside you can take a tour of the factory that traces the bat-making process.
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