Let the “Happy Birthdays” begin.
The iconic steamboat Belle of Louisville turns 110 today. We’re celebrating the occasion with a look back at some of Louisville’s other landmarks to see how they compare.
Churchill Downs | The current grandstand was constructed in 1895, making the iconic twin spires just 19 years old when the Belle first set sail.
Architect Joseph Baldez added the spires late in the design process to give the building a “striking appearance.”
Photo from the Detroit Publishing Co. via Library of Congress
Brown Hotel | The most famous hotel in Louisville opened in 1923. The Belle had been in service for a decade — under a different name. It was then called “Idlewild,” ferrying passengers along the Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers.
Sherman Minton opening | Idlewild was renamed Avalon in 1948 and finally The Belle of Louisville in 1962. The Sherman Minton bridge opened the same year. Now, the Belle is celebrating its 110th and the Sherman Minton repairs are finally finished.
