Louisville Today

Louisville is a diverse city that has almost everything to offer. History is imprinted on the city — in its homes, its streets, and its buildings.

When Lewis first journeyed here to meet up with Clark in October 1803, Louisville was a community of only 359 settlers surrounded by a vast forest. The two explorers made Louisville a well-known place. By 1930, Louisville was the largest city in Kentucky and the largest city along the Ohio River.

Louisville Today offers everything from horse racing and minor-league baseball to plays at the internationally acclaimed Actors Theatre.

"You can never be bored in Louisville no matter what you like to do," says 10th-grader Drake Durham.

"Louisville is a great town, the people are nice and there are many things to do," said ninth-grader Ryan Dischinger. "What I like best about Louisville is that you can get around town pretty easily, and wherever you live you aren't too far from where you want to go."

Louisville was a town of horses, and in 1875 one of William Clark's grandsons established the Kentucky Derby. Steamboats were invented and became a main industry there.

Louisville is also known for the Falls of the Ohio. When Louis and Clark came to Louisville, they explored the Falls, which, for many years, was called Clark's Point. William's brother, George Rogers Clark, claimed the Falls as his own. The Falls of the Ohio is now a state park and is one of the main attractions for people visiting Louisville and Clarksville.

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson gives Lewis and Clark a lot of credit for putting Louisville on the map.

"The fact that the Lewis and Clark exhibition is the most incredibly adventurous and historical expedition of its kind in America, and the fact that it started here, where the two joined and recruited a team to go forward, makes Louisville a very important link in a chain that goes all the way to the Pacific Ocean" Abramson said.

From my personal experiences of Louisville, I would never want to live anywhere else. Its historic influences add to the flavor of the modern city, and the community atmosphere is great. If it wasn't for Lewis and Clark, this city would not be as great as it is today.

Louisville fourth graders dressed in period clothes to greet Lewis and Clark during a reenactment on the banks of the Ohio River in October. They also performed in the musical, "The Lewis and Clark Expedition." Waiting for the boat to dock are (from left) Gabriela, Allison, and Katie, just three of the dozens of kids who participated in the event. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)

York the slave, played by Shawn Parker, of Floyd County, Indiana, met with a group of Louisville elementary students during reenactment ceremonies in October. From left are CJ, 10; Cierra, 10; Shawn, 10; Chantel, 10; Isiah, 10; Markita, 10; Bridget, 9; and Kaysee, 9. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)