What makes the Louisville Kentucky Science Center so special is the way it presents past and future in a dusty but shiny wall – a place where I ask each time whether I am a museum or a laboratory for over-ambited hobby scientists. The building itself originates from the 1930s, originally an urban swimming pool, which was remodelled into today's science centre in 1990; the old tiles tell about an era in which “water and wastewater technology” was still a sexy word.
When I stroll through the broad corridors, you can immediately feel that the city of Louisville Metro Township has emptied a little of her soul here – the exhibits are not only shiny plastic models, but real, slightly dusty relics from the regional industry, which you can find only in dusty archives. I don't understand the hype about interactive touch screens, but the huge planetarium that once served as a cinema is really great if you're honest.
A short walk to the nearby Riverfront lets you admire the skyline of Jefferson County in the background while jumping on the bus 70 or the new Streetcar line – both of which runs right outside the door, so no stress to look for the car. And when you take the bike, there are well-marked paths that connect the center with the historic West Main District.
For those looking for a bit of nerd romance, the Louisville Kentucky Science Center offers attractions the ideal setting to fall in love with science without having to wear a lab hat.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Louisville Kentucky Science Center, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop after the Science Center is a short sprint over the bridge after Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forestwhere I almost felt like a lost botanist who suddenly landed in a huge living laboratory. The forest is not just a walk, it is a real research area – trees that know more about climate change than some politicians. I made a picnic there on one of the many wooden platforms, while a squirrel cheefully wanted to steal my nuts; that was almost the highlight because I could hardly see anything else except the usual hiking trails.
A bit further south, almost in the heart of the Bourbon country, lies the Woodford Reserve Distillery. I don't understand the hype about whiskey, but what I drank there was actually better than what I pulled out of the bottle at home – and that says what. The tour is a bit like a showroom for schnapps, just that here the guides actually know something about the mash. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't come on Friday night, then the terrain becomes the battlefield of tourists with empty glasses.
A short trip to Versailles leads to My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The mansion that is sung in the hymn is a bit cheesy, but the story behind it is real. I read a little about the plantation time and wondered why I volunteered to visit a museum for old furniture. The park has a small lake where ducks swim – this is the only thing that prevented me from moving on immediately.
If you have enough of historic houses, the Falls of the Ohio State Park next. The place is famous for its fossils, and I have actually raised some ancient fish bones from the riverbed – no joke. The look over the Ohio is not spectacular, but the water has something soothing that reminds me that I don't have to hang around in the lab all the time. The car park is small, so better be there early, otherwise you have to park at the edge and enjoy the footpath over the gravel.
A bit further east, almost in the middle of Kentucky, this is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. I was there because I thought it was a quiet place to meditate, and was instead greeted by a group of people who just tried a Shaker vocal concert. The buildings are made of wood that is so old that it is almost a museum of art. I have eaten a piece of apple cake that was better than anything I find in most of the city's cafés – and that's a compliment.
For those who seek the adventure, this is Red River Gorge A must. I spent a few hours on the rock walls that are so steep that you feel the earth would swallow you. The trails are well marked, but the weather can change quickly, so better pack an umbrella – this is not just a tip, that is a survival guide. The parking lot is huge, but on weekends it fills itself faster than a concert hall.
If you want to see a bit more of the surroundings after the Louisville Kentucky Science Center, these excursions offer a mix of nature, history and a bit of alcohol that completes the whole experience. The Louisville Kentucky Science Center Sights in the area are definitely worth a detour because they show that Kentucky has more to offer than just horse races and Bourbon.
This guide invites you to discover the Louisville Kentucky Science Center – and I promise you that I have more than just the usual tourist clichés. When I first stepped through the glass doors, I was immediately tied by the huge, rotating globe in the entrance area, which the museum lovingly calls “Science on a Sphere”; The thing is not only a chic photo motif, but it projects real weather data, ocean currents and even the flying routes of birds – a bit annoying, but damn impressive if you have not dealt with climate models beforehand.
A short detour to Human body-Exhibit lets you suddenly think about your own existence – not because the skeleton model is snoring in the background, but because the interactive stations show you how the heart really beats when you drink too much cola. I put my hand on a sensor there and immediately got a bright flash feedback that almost made me believe I landed in a futuristic gym. Practical: Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the car park becomes a battlefield.
Go on Space Gallery, where a real lunar rock flower lies in a showcase and waits for someone to say “wow, that’s real”. I had a conversation there with a young Astronomy fan who told me that the museum is testing a new VR program that sends you to a virtual moon landing. I was skeptical, but the whole thing was done so well that I almost felt like losing my shoes – a real one Kick for anyone interested in the universe without buying a telescope.
A little less spectacular, but surprisingly instructive is that Energy zone. Here there is a huge wind wheel model that actually runs when you pull a lever, and a solar panel that generates enough power to operate the light over the next exhibition area. I met an older gentleman who has been working in the energy industry since the 70s and told me that he doesn't understand the hype about renewable energies, but the interactive experiment here has a bit thrilled him – no joke, that was almost already heartwarming.
The Waterworks-Station is a bit like a huge aquarium, only that you not only watch here, but also play with the currents. I tried to steer the water with a small paddle, and the result was a chaotic but fascinating pattern that reminded me of my childhood in the swimming pool. By the way, there is a sign here that explains how important clean water is for the city of Louisville – a bit of propaganda, but hey, this is finally a museum.
An absolute highlight for me remains Imagination Lab. There you can create your own small models with 3‐D printers, from dinosaurs to futuristic vehicles. I printed a tiny robot that was not much more than a piece of plastic, but the feeling of creating something own was really satisfying. And yes, the lab is sometimes full, so better come early if you don't want to stand in the snake.
In conclusion, a short note to the Louisville Kentucky Science Center Sights: The entire building is an architectural statement that combines old industrial arms with modern design. So, if you're on the way to Jefferson the next time, take a look at the sign at the entrance – it's not just a hint, but almost a promise that you'll find more than just dusty exhibits here. And if you still visit the souvenir shop to buy a T-shirt with a stylized atom, you have the full package: a bit of knowledge, a bit of fun and a bit the feeling of being a real scientist, at least for a day.
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