About Old Louisville

The Louisville Bourbon Inn is proud to be part of Historic Old Louisville, the third-largest National Historic Preservation District in the United States, and the largest district featuring almost exclusively Victorian architecture. Our Mansion sits right beside the neighborhood’s centerpiece, Central Park, designed by the legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Old Louisville was not developed until the 1870s, nearly a century after the city of Louisville was founded. Originally known as the Southern Extension, the neighborhood quickly became home to Louisville’s wealthiest citizens, who built grand Victorian mansions in a variety of styles—from Gothic Revival to Richardsonian Romanesque.

During the late 1800s, Fourth Street was one of the most vibrant areas of the city. Central Park hosted concerts, balloon launches, and, most notably, the Southern Exposition from 1883 to 1887. The Southern Exposition was a massive industrial fair that brought more than one million visitors to Louisville. In 1883, Thomas Edison, a former Louisville resident, personally oversaw the installation of 4,800 incandescent light bulbs to debut his newest invention at the Exposition, bringing international fame and attention to Louisville.

Today, the streets of Old Louisville remain rich with history, architectural beauty, and cultural significance. Staying at the Louisville Bourbon Inn places you in the heart of this extraordinary neighborhood—where every corner has a story to tell.