Almsted Brothers Building
The Almsted Brothers Building is a National Register of Historic Places listed building in downtown Louisville, designed by Joseph & Joseph in the Beaux-Arts style.
Photo: Publichall , CC BY-SA 3.0
City guide
architecture in Louisville.
41 buildings worth a detour, each with what to look for. Open them on the map, or walk them with the iPhone app, which collects each one you photograph.
Landmarks
The buildings that define the city's architecture.
Board of Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Board of Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South stands in Old Louisville, designed by architect Brinton B. Davis in the Neoclassical style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Brown Hotel
The Brown Hotel opened in 1923 on West Broadway in downtown Louisville, a 16-story brick and terra-cotta tower designed by Preston J. Bradshaw in the Colonial Revival style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: The original uploader was Derek.cashman at English Wikipedia. , CC BY-SA 3.0
Cathedral of the Assumption
The Cathedral of the Assumption, in downtown Louisville, was built in 1852 in the Gothic Revival style by the firm Luckett and Farley. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: en:User:Bedford , Public domain
Landmark
Chestnut Street Methodist Church
Chestnut Street Methodist Church, in downtown Louisville, was designed by Gideon Shryock, a historically significant Kentucky architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
First Christian Church
First Christian Church in Old Louisville is a Beaux-Arts church completed in 1910 and designed by William J. Dodd, a notable Louisville architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel , CC BY-SA 4.0
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Heyburn Building
The Heyburn Building is a Neoclassical structure designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, a major and historically significant American architecture firm. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: W.marsh , CC BY-SA 3.0
Holy Name Church Rectory, Convent and School
Holy Name Church Rectory, Convent and School is a National Register of Historic Places listed complex in Old Louisville, built in 1902 in the Neoclassical style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Humana Building
The Humana Building is a downtown Louisville skyscraper designed by Michael Graves, a historically significant postmodern architect. It is widely cited as a defining postmodern skyscraper, expressing its postmodern design through its exterior massing and facade.
Jefferson Branch Louisville Free Public Library
The Jefferson Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library is a Beaux-Arts building in Louisville. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: w.marsh , CC BY 2.0
Landward House
Landward House is a National Register of Historic Places listed building in Old Louisville, designed by the firm Luckett and Farley in the Renaissance Revival style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Louisville Free Public Library, Western Colored Branch
The Louisville Free Public Library, Western Colored Branch, is a Beaux-Arts library building designed by William J. Dodd, a notable Louisville architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a named public library branch by a notable architect.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Louisville Metro Hall
Louisville Metro Hall is a Greek Revival civic building completed in 1842, with Gideon Shryock and Albert Fink both named as architects. Shryock was one of Kentucky's earliest and most significant Greek Revival architects, and the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Louisville Trust Building
The Louisville Trust Building is a downtown building designed in the Chicago School style by William J. Dodd, a documented Louisville architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Publichall , CC BY-SA 3.0
Memorial Auditorium
Memorial Auditorium is a Beaux-Arts civic auditorium in Old Louisville designed by the firm Carrère and Hastings, a nationally significant Beaux-Arts practice. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Old Bank of Louisville
The Old Bank of Louisville is a downtown Greek Revival bank building completed in 1837. It carries the highest tier of federal recognition, designated a National Historic Landmark in addition to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Seelbach Hotel
The Seelbach Hotel opened in 1905, designed by Frank Mills Andrews, a prominent early-20th-century hotel architect, in the Beaux-Arts style with an ornate terra-cotta and masonry facade on a prominent downtown corner. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: local louisville , CC BY 2.0
St. Boniface's Catholic Church
St. Boniface's Catholic Church is a National Register of Historic Places listed church in downtown Louisville, built in 1899 in the Gothic Revival style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Rectory, and School
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Rectory, and School is a National Register of Historic Places listed complex built in 1853 in the Romanesque Revival style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. Peter's German Evangelical Church
St. Peter's German Evangelical Church is a National Register of Historic Places listed church designed by architect Arthur Loomis in the Gothic Revival style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. Vincent DePaul Church, Rectory, School, St. Ursula Home and Convent
St. Vincent DePaul Church, Rectory, School, St. Ursula Home and Convent is a National Register of Historic Places listed complex built in 1884 in the Renaissance Revival style.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Landmark
The Louisville Palace
The Louisville Palace opened in 1928, designed by John Eberson, a historically significant theater architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: The original uploader was Stevietheman at English Wikipedia. , CC BY-SA 2.5
Union Station
Union Station opened in 1891 as Louisville's passenger railroad depot, built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style with a rock-faced stone facade and a corner tower. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Jack Boucher , Public domain
Notable buildings
Worth a stop when you're nearby.
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Temple
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Temple was built in 1931 in the Neoclassical style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Andrew Jameson , CC BY-SA 3.0
Gene Snyder United States Courthouse
The Gene Snyder United States Courthouse is a Neoclassical building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Jefferson County Jail
The Jefferson County Jail is a Chicago School building in downtown Louisville. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building stands in Old Louisville and is built in the Beaux-Arts style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Louisville City Hall
Louisville City Hall, in downtown Louisville, serves as the seat of city government. Its style has been attributed variously as Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, and Beaux-Arts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: The original uploader was Bedford at English Wikipedia. , Public domain
Sears, Roebuck and Company Store
The Sears, Roebuck and Company Store is an Art Deco building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: C. Bedford Crenshaw, aka Bedford at en.wikipedia , Attribution
Starks Building
The Starks Building is a Beaux-Arts building in downtown Louisville designed by Daniel Burnham. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: W.marsh , CC BY-SA 3.0
Hidden gems
Fine buildings that fewer people seek out.
Landmark
Central Colored School
The Central Colored School is a historic school building in Old Louisville, designed by architect John Bailey McElfatrick. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is a Federal-style building in downtown Louisville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Andrew Jameson , CC BY-SA 3.0
College Street Presbyterian Church
College Street Presbyterian Church is a Greek Revival building in Old Louisville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Elks Athletic Club
The Elks Athletic Club is a Neoclassical building designed by Joseph & Joseph, a prominent Louisville architecture firm, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
First Lutheran Church
First Lutheran Church is a Gothic Revival building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
German Bank Building
The German Bank Building is a Beaux-Arts building in downtown Louisville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, School, and Rectory
St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, School, and Rectory is a Spanish Baroque complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: TheCatalyst31 , CC0
Tyler Hotel
The Tyler Hotel is a downtown Louisville building combining Chicago School and Beaux-Arts styles, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Landmark
William J. Dodd Residence
The William J. Dodd Residence in Old Louisville was designed by and served as the home of William J. Dodd, a notable Louisville architect. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
