About us
Cultural Services Department
The Cultural Services Department is where Louisville's community life comes alive. We run three parts of the City:
- The public library
- The historical museum
- Arts, culture, and events programming
These three divisions are different, but they share one goal: serving the people of Louisville.
Louisville Historical Museum
Louisville has a story worth knowing, and the Historical Museum is where you can become part of it.
The Museum sits just steps from Main Street, next to many shops and restaurants. When you visit, you can:
- Explore three historic buildings
- Browse our exhibits
- Take an informal tour
Our collection includes photographs, artifacts, and archival materials. (Archival materials are historic documents and records that we keep and protect.) You'll find these items in our exhibits and publications. We also share them through community outreach, including school visits.
Come immerse yourself in the story of Louisville's past and present.
Our mission
Be a part of the story!
Connect and share in the heart of Louisville.
The Museum engages the community, preserves historic collections, and shares the history of Louisville.
Our goals
Engage the community. The Museum helps make our community vibrant.
Collect, preserve, and share Louisville's history. The Museum brings the diverse history of Louisville to residents and visitors.
Refine and promote a vision for the Museum campus. The Museum respects the past while planning for the future.
Goals accepted July 17, 2019.
Museum timeline
Community members and volunteers first wanted a historical museum in 1979. This came one year after Louisville's 100th anniversary in 1978. Their goal was to preserve the city's history and culture.
Here is how the Museum grew over time:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Louisville City Council creates the Historical Commission to lead historic preservation. |
| 1984 | The first artifacts are donated. The Louisville Historical Commission becomes a nonprofit 501(c)(3). |
| 1986 | The Louisville Historical Museum opens in the Tomeo House, a historic miner's house on Main Street. |
| 1989 | The Jacoe Store at 1001 Main joins the campus and becomes the main Museum building. |
| 1999 | The first paid professional staff member is hired part-time as Museum Coordinator. |
| 2001 | The Jordinelli House and Summer Kitchen are moved to the Museum campus. |
| 2002 | The City forms the Historic Preservation Commission to address preservation issues. |
| 2008 | Louisville voters approve a dedicated city tax for historic preservation. This creates the City's Historic Preservation Fund. |
| 2010 | The Museum joins the Library to form the Department of Library & Museum Services. |
| 2012 | The Museum Coordinator becomes a full-time position. Some hours support the Planning Department and historic building research. |
| 2014 | A replica of the original downtown is installed in the Jordinelli House and opened to the public. |
| 2015 | The Museum adds a Museum Technician position and increases public hours. |
| 2016 | The Museum celebrates its 30th anniversary. |
| 2019 | The Museum adds two more Museum Technician positions and opens five days a week. |