Located at the Falls of the Ohio River, Louisville was founded by General George Rogers Clark in 1778 as a base from which to harass British troops during the American Revolution. Today, restored historic sites sit side-by-side with modern structures, and visitors can wander through the quaint streets in Old Louisville. The nation’s oldest steamboat, the Belle of Louisville, still sails along the Ohio River. Other highlights in the city are Glassworks, a unique facility that includes glass studios, galleries and a cafe; the Portland Museum of Art, which includes a sound and light show; the Falls of the Ohio State Park, where visitors can walk onto the world’s largest exposed Devonian fossil bed; Louisville Science Center; and the Speed Art Museum.
The two weeks of Derby celebrations lead up to the most important date on Louisville’s calendar – the first Saturday in May, when the famous Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs provides an exciting climax to the festivities.