08.23.2024

Today’s Forecast

87º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:05 a.m. | Sunset 8:24 p.m.
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Welcome to the Expo

This 19th century Exposition really lit up Louisville

The Exposition center covered the ~5 blocks of 4th and 6th streets between Park Avenue and Hill Street. | Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

The Kentucky State Fair has been an annual tradition for 120 years, but it wasn’t Louisville’s first flagship summer event.

Almost two decades before the first Kentucky State Fair, the neighborhood that is now Old Louisville was home to the Southern Exposition, a showcase of industry, art, and technology that took place annually in the 1880s.

The first Southern Expo was held in 1883 as a way to put Louisville, and the rest of the South, on the map when it came to industry and trade. The 100-day show was so successful it returned each year through 1887.

A stereoscopic image of an art gallery at the southern exposition — Artists from around the world were featured in the Expo’s galleries — here’s an illustrated catalog of the 1884 gallery.
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Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

It’s electric, boogie woogie woogie

The main two-story building that hosted the Exposition stood where St. James + Belgravia courts are today. It was over 500,000 sqft and contained interior courts, exhibits, vendors, and more — you could even mail a letter or get a haircut.

One of the biggest technological marvels featured at the Exposition was electric lighting. We take electric lights for granted today, but they were a sparkling new toy in the 1880s. Thomas Edison’s company — he lived in Louisville, by the way — manufactured 4,600 electric lamps to light the exhibition grounds + main building, making it the first successful nighttime exposition in the country.

A stereoscopic image of a gallery hall filled with vendors — Remind anyone of the Kentucky State Fair exhibition halls?
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Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

Legacy

The final Southern Exposition was held in 1887, at which point the main building was torn down and the land subdivided into walking courts. Today, this area is home to the largest contiguous collection of Victorian homes in the United States.

Materials from the old Expo building were used to construct the Amphitheatre Auditorium at the corner of 4th and Hill Streets in 1889. When it was built, it was the second-largest stage in the United States, just behind the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Asked

Admission to the Southern Expo for adults was 50 cents. How much is that in today’s money?

A. $5
B. $15
C. $20
D. $40

Admit one

Events

Friday, Aug. 23

Bonsai Weekend | Friday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Aug. 25 | Times vary | Waterfront Botanical Gardens | $0-$15 | See bonsai displays and demonstrations, plus children’s programming and food from Renshoku Ramen.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Rick Bell Historic Walking Tours | Saturday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 29 | Times vary | Waterfront Park | Free | Join a Louisville author and historian for a walk from the Belle of Louisville to the Abraham Lincoln statue.
Brew at the Zoo | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 5-9 p.m. | Louisville Zoo | $125 | Eat food, sip tasty beverages, and join in animal encounters + zookeeper talks while you listen to live music or a silent disco near the tigers and orangutans.

Sunday, Aug. 25

Afro Beats Brunch | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Vernon Lanes | $25-$35 | Enjoy a brunch filled with Afro Beats music, food, and good vibes.
Disney Family Friendly Silent Disco | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m. | 3rd Turn Brewing | $5-$10 | Bring the kids for Disney hits on the red channel, kids bops on green, and throwback jams for the parents on blue.

Tuesday, Aug. 27

Inspire Featuring Jill Wright | Tuesday, Aug. 27 | 8:30-10 a.m. | The Arterburn | $30 | Hear an uplifting talk from the assistant to the president at Mercy Academy.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville

News Notes

Number

$10.5 million. That’s how much Kelly Craft, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, paid for a country ham at the Kentucky State Fair. The record-breaking proceeds from the ham will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs. (WHAS11)

Biz

Quoth the Raven — “Limon y Sal.” The Brownsboro road Mexican restaurant will open a second location in the former Raven building in St. Matthews. The new location will add a second floor for private events and offer the same menu as the original — but with a new brunch menu. (Louisville Business First)

Watch

If you say his name three times, he’ll appear — on screen. Caufield’s Novelty is partnering with Georgetown Drive-in to bring “Beetlejuice” to the big screen every weekend in September, along with other special spooky events. See the full schedule, including pictures with Jason Voorhees on Friday, Sept. 13.

Plan Ahead

The Kentucky Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America is hosting a Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 26, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Mercury Ballroom. See live music from The Juice Box Heroes + performances by CirqueLouis. Tickets are available now, $40 for general admission, $75 for VIP.

Award

It’s official — comedian Cory Miller has been named the semi-pro “Funniest Person in Louisville” at The Caravan. Bonita Elery was the runner up, and Lena Beamish won third place. Nathan Alexander won the amateur category, with Matthew Buck in second and Lynn Benson in third.

Eat

It may be getting cooler, but it’s still ice cream weather. Dairy Del has added a pumpkin pie flurry to its menu, just in time for the first whispers of fall. If you’re looking to get the jump on the autumn season, be sure to check out our fall weather outlook.

Festival

The Kentucky State Fair only lasts 10 days, but it takes year-round planning to pull off. Each year, the fun is made possible by hundreds of people behind the scenes. Check out these insider pro-tips from the fair’s creative director, historian, and more.

Sports

Do you have your red outfit picked out yet? Louisville football opens its season one week from tomorrow. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Giveaway

Feeling lucky? Our Fly Away Friday Giveaway, in partnership with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), is live through Monday, Sept. 2. LOUtoday readers have a chance to win two round-trip airline tickets out of SDF — enter here.*

Drink

7 Brew is hosting a Swag Day on Saturday, Aug. 24, in celebration of its newest location at 5000 Maple Spring Dr. Swing by, buy a large drink, and score a free t-shirt.*

Older Adults

Age 55+? Want to find a rewarding new venture post-retirement? Here are several opportunities to volunteer in our community. (Perks include feeling accomplished, fit, and connected.)*

Drink

ICYMI, it’s National Water Quality Month. Did you know? Louisville Water has two of the top 19 water treatment plants in the country. Even more refreshing: You can fill up an 8 oz. water bottle 23 times with award-winning Louisville Pure Tap® for just a penny.*

Finance

Good news: Rates are expected to go down soon. Compare fixed-rate loans and HELOCs to find your best way to borrow — calculate your payment.*

Development

The Exposition Center gets a facelift

New renovations announced for the Kentucky Expo Center

The Exposition Center will increase its Class A space by over 70%. | Photo by Kentucky Venues.

The Kentucky Exposition Center is getting an upgrade — what else do you expect from the home of the Kentucky State Fair?

Kentucky Venues officials broke ground on Thursday on a multi-phase project to renovate the site of the Kentucky State Fair, among other events, with construction starting in 2025.

Phase I of the project will construct a new 350,000-sqft “multi-purpose building,” which will be capable of hosting livestock competitions, equine events, trade shows, and sporting events. The new building will be directly east of Broadbent Arena.

Phase II of the renovation will redevelop the West Wing, West Hall, and Pavilion into a single, 249,000-sqft building. This phase also bumps the food + beverage operations to 40,000 sqft — that makes room for a whole lot of corndogs.

Additionally, Kentucky Venues will redesign + renovate two entrance gates that are each 50+ years old.

Bonus: See more renderings on our Instagram.

The Buy

The Buy 8.23.24 (Affiliate)

REI’s Labor Day sale is here. It runs until Monday, Sept. 2 + includes deals like:

⛺ $60 off the REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Tent

☀️ 25% off the ENO SingleNest hammock

🥾 20% off the Danner Mountain 600 insulated hiking boots

More REI deals worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Declan

From the editor

I’m seeing double. The double-images in today’s article about the Southern Exposition are stereoscopic. You can use this tool to see them in 3D, as they were meant to be viewed.

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