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Images of America: Kentucky
Old Louisville
On August 1, 1883, the eyes of the nation turned to Kentucky as thousands crowded the lanes of Louisville's Southern Extension. Tugging a silken cord, Pres. Chester Arthur set the machinery in motion for an event that changed the town forever. Touted at home and abroad as the "100 Days that Louisville Opened Its Doors to the World," the occasion was the inauguration of the Southern Exposition, an early world's fair with a wide variety of mechanical, scientific, and cultural displays showcasing the latest advances in the cotton industry. In the first 88 days, an astounding 770,048 visitors came; as a result, tremendous growth occurred, and the city's first suburb eventually sprang up on the site, populating the new neighborhood with fine residences. Known as Old Louisville today, it counts as one of the country's largest historic preservation districts, with hundreds of magnificent structures providing a glimpse into a fascinating Victorian past.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2010
About the author
David Domine
14 books91 followersDavid Dominé has called Kentucky home since moving to Louisville in 1993. Over the years, his adopted state has provided him an unending supply of artistic inspiration, so it’s not surprising that - from local hauntings to bourbon recipes - Kentucky spirits frequently come alive in his narratives. In addition to writing travel pieces for local and national publications, he has also published books on Victorian architecture, regional cooking, folklore, and haunted history. David has an MA in German Literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MA in Spanish Literature from the University of Louisville. He also completed studies in literary translation at the Karl-Franzens Universität in Graz, Austria, and received an MFA in Writing from Spalding University. When he’s not writing, he teaches language and literature classes at the university. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s usually cooking or eating. His current projects include the forthcoming novel Peter Paul’s Kitchen and a true-crime book about the bizarre 2009 murder of drag queen Jamie Carroll and the subsequent trials of alleged killers Jeffery Mundt and Joseph Banis.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 10, 2015
A picture tells a thousand words, but a carefully researched and captioned picture can unlock history and capture the imagination. David Dominé and Ronald Lew Harris are wordsmiths of the first order with a wonderfully selective sense of artistic photography.
I've seen many of the homes and buildings depicted in Old Louisville (Images of America) firsthand, but as an outsider from California, I failed to appreciate their historicity. Dominé and Harris have provided the back-stories to these monuments, multiplying both my appreciation for their place in history and the beauty of their architecture. The authors journey from the earlier Victorian and Edwardian structures, sprinkle their pages with the eclectic Italianate mansion and Gothic Church, and wander from world famous Churchill Downs to Louisville's picturesque St. James Court.
The book is well written and lavishly illustrated with pictures and art from private and public collections of both buildings and personalities. Old Louisville will captivate anyone with an interest in art, architecture, photography, or history.
I've seen many of the homes and buildings depicted in Old Louisville (Images of America) firsthand, but as an outsider from California, I failed to appreciate their historicity. Dominé and Harris have provided the back-stories to these monuments, multiplying both my appreciation for their place in history and the beauty of their architecture. The authors journey from the earlier Victorian and Edwardian structures, sprinkle their pages with the eclectic Italianate mansion and Gothic Church, and wander from world famous Churchill Downs to Louisville's picturesque St. James Court.
The book is well written and lavishly illustrated with pictures and art from private and public collections of both buildings and personalities. Old Louisville will captivate anyone with an interest in art, architecture, photography, or history.
July 11, 2023
i love this little series of books, and what you learn... who knew KY is on an active fault line... oy vey
July 29, 2016
Great history of this beautiful part of Louisville. I love the stories and images of houses, although I'm always a little sad to read the stories of the beautiful houses that were razed to make way for parking lots. Also, it's amazing to see just how rural this area was not so long ago, relatively.
September 14, 2016
Fascinating history of one of Americas oldest neighborhoods- especially liked the details of the Conrad-Caldwell House. We had our wedding there!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews