View as a webpage  /  Share

Visit the Museum | Register for an Event | History at Home | Membership

The Museum will be closed all day, Tuesday November 11, Thursday November 27, and Friday November 28 for the Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving Day holidays.

Explore the Museum from the palm of your hand with Bloomberg Connects

The Museum recently launched a virtual interactive guide on Bloomberg Connects. Bloomberg Connects is a free mobile app that provides a platform for thousands of arts and culture guides from museums across the globe. Download the app on your phone or visit the Bloomberg Connects website for a self-guided experience while visiting the Museum or explore our exhibits and buildings from the comfort of your home. Find historical photos, objects from our collection, and additional information and interpretation about Louisville’s past anytime, anywhere!

Michael “Buddy” Ferrera (right) stands with his Platoon Leader in Vietnam, circa 1965.

November 11 is Veterans' Day

This Veterans’ Day, the Museum recognizes the dedication and sacrifice of all of those who have served in the nation’s Armed Forces. The Museum possesses dozens of objects and photographs related to Louisville residents’ military service, spanning from the Spanish-American War to the Vietnam War. These items reflect the experiences and service of many different women and men who served the nation in various roles during different eras in our nation’s history.

Catch an airing of “Our Boys and Girls in the Armed Service” on Channel 8 this Veterans’ Day holiday. L.C. “Bun” Graves, a long-time Louisville resident, compiled and edited the footage in the film. Graves filmed service women and men with their families whenever they returned to Louisville on leave during World War II. The film captures precious family moments and offers fascinating footage of historic Louisville homes and buildings. “Our Boys and Girls” is also always available on the Museum’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@LouisvilleMuseum.

Become a member of the Historical Museum Advisory Board

City Council is looking for residents to serve on the City's various boards and commissions, including the Historical Museum Advisory Board (HMAB). The primary role of HMAB is to advise the Louisville City Council on matters relating to the Museum and Louisville history. Board members help establish criteria for the Museum’s collection, preservation, and display of historical artifacts, documents, and structures. The Commission has seven members, each appointed by the City Council for a four-year term. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of all odd-numbered months. Becoming a member of HMAB is an excellent way to become active in city government and promote public awareness of local history. Interested in joining?

Apply by November 3.

Learn how World War I impacted life in Louisville

The Great War of 1914-1918 changed the world. Learn how this conflict affected people, coal, agriculture, and mining in Boulder County and the Louisville area. Join the City’s Ranger Naturalist and Louisville Historical Museum staff for a walking tour of Open Space areas that show traces from Louisville’s contributions to the war effort. The tour leaves from Kerr Gardens. Please leave pets at home for all Open Space events. Leashed service pets permitted.

View The Half-Life of Memory and explore the story of Rocky Flats

The Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant employed thousands of people in the Denver metro area, including Louisville. This documentary explores the legacy of the Cold War and the enduring impact of radioactive toxins on people and the environment. Meet director Jeff Gipe and featured panelists with different connections to Rocky Flats for a Q&A session afterwards. 

Give the gift of history this holiday season!

Starting November 29, on Small Business Saturday, find unique holiday gifts for the history buff in your life at the Museum’s Holiday Mart! Through the end of December, the Museum will be selling mugs, puzzles, tote bags, Louisville Miners merch, and more. Additionally, you can purchase a museum membership and give your friends and loved ones access to special events and our quarterly publication The Louisville Historian. Can't make it to the Museum in person? Order from the online Museum Shop by December 7 to receive your museum merch before Christmas! Proceeds go to the Louisville History Foundation to support Museum activities and events. 

Membership

Join or Renew Today!

We love our members! Members can renew online, via mail, or in person. As a reminder, if paying by check, please make your membership check out to the Louisville Historical Museum and remember to make any monetary donations separately to the Louisville History Foundation. Thank you for your support!

Not a member yet? Join today with the perfect membership type for you. The Historical Museum offers individual, family, and business memberships, as well as gift memberships so that you can give someone who loves Louisville and history full access to all that the Museum has to offer.

Museum members receive the Louisville Historian in the mail four times each year. You can also make a donation directly to the Louisville History Foundation to support the work the Museum does and special projects.

Thank You, Business Members

740 Front

Alternating Current Press
ARC Thrift Stores

Ariel IT Services
Atomic Forge
Berkelhammer Tree Experts, Inc.
Bolder Insurance
Coal Creek Collision Center
Cory Nickerson - 8z Real Estate
Creative Framing & Art Gallery
DAJ Design, Inc.
Deep End Solutions

E & L Team at RE/MAX Elevate

Ferguson's Family Plumbing and Drain

Fingerplay Studios

Gstalder Louisville Law Group

Hofgard & Associates, P.C.
Louisville Cyclery
Louisville Tire & Auto Care

Moxie Bread Co.
Origin CPA Group
Paul's Coffee & Tea
Pine Street Plaza

Premier Members Credit Union
Seward Mechanical Systems
Society of Italian Americans
Stewart Architecture
Ters Family Dentistry

The Pink House Co.
The Singing Cook

Historic Photo Feature

On April 6, 1918, Louisville residents hosted a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the United States' entrance into World War I and to garner support for the national Liberty Loan Drive. The Liberty Loan Drive encouraged citizens to support the war effort through the purchase of war bonds. This photo shows participants in the parade holding signs and waving American flags. A group of women are dressed in their distinctive Red Cross uniforms.

President Woodrow Wilson had maintained a policy of neutrality since the beginning of the war in 1914. By 1917, Germany's targeting of passenger ships in Europe and the interception of the Zimmermann telegram (which revealed a German plan to propose an alliance with Mexico) convinced the US government and much of the American public that the country's participation in the war was necessary. Louisville residents had plenty of cause to rally support for the conflict, as many of their friends and family served in the war effort, both domestically and abroad.