Louisville. It is the largest city in Kentucky that has been settled for nearly 250 years.
Some argue it is a city that gets forgotten about compared to bigger ones in the United States. However, there is plenty of rich Louisville discoveries for you to discover.
What is the history of Louisville, KY? What are the most important things that you need to know? Our local roofing experts have put together this guide for you!
History of Louisville, KY
If we are going to talk about the history of a city, we need to know how it got started. This city has existed for centuries but it was not properly settled until 1778.
This was done by Colonel George Rogers Clark. At the time, he was in the middle of leading a troop against the British in the American Revolution. Once that was settled, he would help make Louisville into what it is today.
One question some of you may have is how the city came up with the name Louisville. Well, like a lot of things in life, it was named after someone important to human history.
This person happened to be King Louis XVI in France. That king had a special place in the American’s hearts during the Revolutionary War.
The reason was that the French ended up assisting the Americans in defeating the British and helping the Americans gain their independence. At the time, those French troops were under the command of King Louis XVI.
Kentucky Derby
Arguably the most famous thing to come from Louisville is the Kentucky Derby. This is a horse race that has been going on for 149 years at the time of writing, dating back to 1875.
This is one of the biggest horse races in America. The reason is that a field of up to 20 horses compete to win the first leg of the illustrious Triple Crown. The other two legs are the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes respectively.
It is also the longest continuously running sporting event in the country. That means that the race still went on even through rougher periods such as World War II and recently COVID-19.
However, many legendary horses started to make their mark in this city. Some of the best of all time such as Secretariat raced here, along with recent Triple Crown winners American Pharaoh and Justify.
The Kentucky Derby is a sporting event that people from all over the country and even all over the world travel to watch in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.
Louisville Slugger
The Kentucky Derby is not the only thing in sports to make its mark in Louisville. The bat company Louisville Slugger has been impacting baseball for decades.
This company dates as far back as the late 1800s. The original owner did not seem sold on turning his company into one that makes baseball bats.
However, Louisville Slugger made their real mark in 1905, when Honus Wagner decided to endorse them. This was historical, as at the time, no other athlete had a signed contract to endorse a sporting equipment company.
Since then, Louisville Slugger has made baseball bats for professional players all the way down to Little League. Teaming up with Wilson Sporting Goods, they have provided a product to make the game more accessible to the future generation.
As a celebration of the company’s accomplishments and manufacturing process, there is even a Louisville Slugger Museum located in this city. This allows baseball fans to discover the history of this company, see what greats used Louisville Slugger bats, learn more about how a baseball bat is made, and more.
Muhammad Ali
Louisville had its share of notable people that grew up in the city. However, arguably the most notable person to reside in Louisville was Muhammad Ali.
He is in the conversation as one of the greatest boxers ever. He was born in Louisville in 1942, right in the middle of World War II. Despite this and racial segregation challenges growing up, he did spend his entire childhood in Louisville.
Ali eventually went on to become a professional boxer and established himself as one of the best boxers in the world by the late 1960s.
However, there was a big issue looming in America. The Vietnam War was occurring at the time, and the Americans needed more soldiers. That resulted in a draft happening.
Ali ended up getting drafted to the United States Army. Despite this, he refused to participate in the war and was jailed instead. During this time, he was stripped of his title.
He ended up causing a lot of controversy, citing religious beliefs and civil rights in his own country as two main reasons why he refused the call. Ali ended up being a major civil rights activist, speaking to thousands of people across the country during the Vietnam War.
Now, Louisville has honored their own resident by naming their airport after Muhammad Ali.
Learn More About Louisville
These are just a few things you should know about the history of Louisville, KY. It is important to know the city’s origins, such as when it was settled and how the city got its name.
Also, events like the Kentucky Derby and companies like Louisville Slugger are what help keep the city thriving today. On top of this, Louisville wants to remember what their own residents achieve with acts like naming their airport after Muhammad Ali.
Your roofs and gutters can help keep the home’s foundation Louisville going. Get a quote from us today on this.
SHARE:
