The American Pearl is part of the Frazier History Museumâs âCool Kentuckyâ exhibit. | Photo via Frazier History Museum
Itâs a beaut, LOU, itâs a beaut. This holiday season weâre unwrapping a few presents you wonât find under a tree or in a store. From commissioned artworks to museum donations and historical artifacts, check out these four gifts given to Louisville through the years.
Tori Murden McClureâs rowboat | On December 3, 1999, Tori Murden McClure completed an epic 3,300-mile Transatlantic rowboat journey after 81 days at sea. The feat made her the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 2020, the former Spalding University president loaned the Frazier History Museum her motor-less, sail-less plywood boat the American Pearl, but last December she donated the boat to the museumâs permanent collection on the 25th anniversary of her journey. Bonus: The Frazier also has skis and apparel from McClureâs 1989 South Pole trek.
Hoganâs Fountain at Cherokee Park.
Photo by LOUtoday
Hoganâs Fountain | This Cherokee Park landmark was gifted to the city in 1904 by prominent merchants Mr. and Mrs. William J. Hogan, who commissioned the artwork for $7,000 in 1903. The Vermont granite fountain adorned with a bronze sculpture of the Greek god Pan was created by Louisville artist Enid Yandell. Bonus: In May 2023, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy funded a $350,000 restoration of the historic fountain.
Itâs not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Louisville. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
đ Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
đČ Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
đ Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see whatâs inside.
đȘ Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
đĄ Say goodbye to tangled wires â this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Happy holidays, Louisville. Our team is taking a few days to celebrate the season with their loved ones, but weâll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, Dec. 30. In the meantime, peruse our snowiest archives.
}})
