On October 3, 1993, Derby City was Demolition City.
On that day, workers imploded the ~70-year-old Belknap building in a nationally-televised MTV special. Now, 31 years later, let’s take a look at this blast from the past.
Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company
Located where the Humana plaza is today, the building was part of the Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1840, the Louisville-based company was a leading national manufacturer of metal tools like hammers, nails, and pocket knives. The company ceased operations in 1985.
If the Belknap name sounds familiar, here’s why:
- The University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus was named after the company’s founder, William R. Belknap.
- Louisville’s Belknap Neighborhood — located west of Bardstown Road near Bellarmine University — was also named after the family.
Bonus: The company has been revived in recent years by a fourth-generation member of the family.
The nine-story building was connected to other Belknap properties in downtown Louisville by a series of underground tunnels. Originally a part of the campus, Humana’s Waterside Building on Main Street — located directly next door to the imploded building — still bears the Belknap name on its exterior.
Demolition day
When Humana purchased the property and announced an intention to demolish it, MTV and Warner Bros. got involved to promote the 1993 action movie, “Demolition Man.”
Here are some more fun facts about that memorable day, 31 years later:
- Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock were on site to promote the movie with a special broadcast on MTV. Called “Countdown to Demolition,” the program was hosted by Dan Cortese.
- As part of the promotion, Warner Bros. provided extra explosives to give the implosion a dramatic, fiery effect.
- Afterward, bricks from the building became something of a collector’s item.
- The Ohio River was filled with boats of onlookers setting sail for the best view.
