Kentucky is a place that celebrates and honors its history, and no place shines brighter than Louisville. A city that’s become synonymous with some of Kentucky’s most legendary icons, Derby City is a place with a fascinating history. And if you’re into the glitz and glam of the Gilded Age, you’ll be positively dazzled by this Bluegrass town. The glory of the Gilded Age shines bright at several historic sites in Louisville, offering a glimpse into this beguiling bygone era. For an authentic slice of Old Kentucky, take a day trip down to Louisville to visit these historic sites.

You don’t have to build a time machine to step back in time here in Kentucky; you just have to wander the streets of Louisville.

Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy/Flickr

All over the city, there are neighborhoods full of beautiful buildings and pristine palaces that glimmer as brightly today as they did over a hundred years ago.

Historic Louisville/Facebook This is Louisville’s Union Station, dedicated in 1891. The total cost of the structure was $310,056, and at the time it was the largest station in the South. Union Station, Louisville, KY 40210, USA

Belgravia Court is perhaps the best-known “Old Louisville” neighborhood, featuring some truly inspired historic houses.

Historic Louisville/Facebook Belgravia Court, Belgravia Ct, Louisville, KY 40208, USA

At the center of town, Louisville City Hall is a vision; this historic building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Completed in 1873 to house the city government, the structure is located at 601 West Jefferson Street in the center of the city’s civic district. It’s a magnificent monolith that represents peak Gilded Age architecture.

Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy/Facebook Louisville City Hall, CITY OF LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 215 S Mill St, Louisville, OH 44641, USA

A place that needs no introduction, The Brown Hotel is, of course, is revered for its Georgian-Revival style and Gilded Age glamour.

The Brown Hotel/Facebook The Brown Hotel, 335 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, USA

The hotel opened in 1923 and has treated guests and visitors to a luxurious experience for nearly a century. Today, it remains one of the most legendary places to stay in the Bluegrass… and the South!

The Brown Hotel/Facebook

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum never fails to impress. Surrounded by a beautiful courtyard neighborhood at the center of the largest collection of Victorian Homes in the country, this stunning home, known as “Conrad’s Castle,” featured all the latest innovations of the day, including interior plumbing and electric lighting.

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum/Facebook Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, 1402 St James Ct, Louisville, KY 40208, USA

The interior of this home is as awe-inspiring as the exterior. Known for its handsome woodwork and parquet floors, vaulted archways and elaborate stone designs, the home incorporated no less than seven types of hardwoods and intricate stained glass windows in the interior design, making it one of the most stunning homes in Old Louisville.

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum/Facebook

Today, the home has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to reflect the opulence of the Edwardian Age. The Conrad-Caldwell House operates as a museum and is available for rentals, too, making it a popular spot for weddings and other special events.

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum/Facebook

The past is all around us, and it is a thing of beauty. Take a stroll down one of these historic streets in Louisville, Kentucky, and prepare to be blown away!

Historic Louisville/Facebook

What are your favorite historic houses and neighborhoods in Louisville? Share them with us in the comments below!

Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy/Flickr

Historic Louisville/Facebook

This is Louisville’s Union Station, dedicated in 1891. The total cost of the structure was $310,056, and at the time it was the largest station in the South.

Union Station, Louisville, KY 40210, USA

Belgravia Court, Belgravia Ct, Louisville, KY 40208, USA

Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy/Facebook

Louisville City Hall, CITY OF LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 215 S Mill St, Louisville, OH 44641, USA

The Brown Hotel/Facebook

The Brown Hotel, 335 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, USA

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum/Facebook

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, 1402 St James Ct, Louisville, KY 40208, USA

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