Louisville, Kentucky
In 1778 surveyor and soldier George Rogers Clark founded the city of Louisville, naming the city after King Louis XVI of France, as a recognition for his troops help in the American Revolutionary War. From the city’s name to its streets and its people, history and culture are all around.
But it would be wrong to talk about Louisville without talking about the Ohio River. The city was founded on Corn Island in the middle of the Ohio River, which is part of the Falls of the Ohio, a US natural landmark and wildlife conservation area. Large parts of the falls show exposed lime fossils, which can best be seen between August and October during the low water season.
Louisville has no shortage of manmade landmarks either, and the Churchill Downs, being one of the world’s most famous horse racing complexes, is one of its crown jewels. The Downs hosts the renowned annual Kentucky Derby, which is one of the most prestigious races forming part of the American Triple Crown.
The city has also been the home of some of the most important people in contemporary and modern history. Both Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, and Muhammad Ali, regarded by some to be the best boxer of all time are Louisville natives. While visiting Louisville you can visit both of their homes, as they have been turned into museums in their honor. Muhammad Ali also had Louisville’s international airport named in his memory in 2019.
The city’s airport is not only an international airport, but one of UPS’ Worldport global air-cargo hubs. The city is not just made up of attractions and sightseeing locations, it is also one of America’s most important shipping and cargo locations. Its strategic location on the Ohio River, and relative proximity to many of the country’s biggest cities turned the first settlements into a shipping hub early on. Today the city also benefits from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and being the seventh largest inland port in the US.
When you think of Kentucky, bourbon is one of the first things that comes to mind, and Louisville is no exception to this state tradition. Approximately one in every three bottles of bourbon is produced in the city, which also houses the distilleries of some of America’s biggest whiskey makers such as Brown-Forman and Heaven Hill. If one is particularly interested the city offers “Urban Whiskey Tours” where tourists and locals alike can go on a tasting at 20 different bars and restaurants.
Louisville might not be as famous as New York, LA, or Chicago, but it is definitely a city worth visiting. With an incredible history of trade, innovation, and sports prowess, the city offers one of the south’s most unique experiences. Being the home of some of America’s, and the world’s, most influential people it makes it a rather intriguing city. And if you want to enjoy some of the best of America’s only native spirit, Louisville is where you want to be.