Country Estates of River Road

Country Estates of River Road

by | Sep 26, 2016 | Historic Districts

Country Estates of River Road

Country Estates of River Road

The Historic District consists of 21 large estates, or ‘country places’, designed between 1875 and 1938, and mainly from 1905 to 1916, stretching in a line along the Ohio River bottom lands and the steeply-rising river bluffs behind them. The properties are contiguous for three miles along River Road between Longview Ln. & Wolf Pen Branch Rd.

Architectural styles include Federal, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Craftsman, and Eclectic. Each estate has a name or title, some of those names are Boxhill, Rockledge, Glen Entry, Winkworth, Bushy Park-Melcombe, Lincliff, Allenwood, Drumanard, Ashbourne, Robinswood, Cobble Court, The Avish, & Nitta Yuma.

Prominent historic entrance gates along River Rd. and Wolf Pen Branch Rd. mark the access to six of the estates and to the Glenview neighborhood. Other estates are accessed from the narrow lanes leading back from the river including Longview Ln., Glenview Ave., and Avish Lane.

These significant works of landscape architecture are second in scope only to the Hudson River valley in New York.

Located along ‘Scenic Byway’ River Rd. and Wolf Pen Branch Rd. from Longview Ln. to Brownsboro Rd.

National Register

advertisment

GALLERY

Boxhill

3200 Boxhill Ln.

Melcombe

Glenview Ave.

Nitta Yuma @ Harrods Creek

Wolf Pen Branch Rd. directly across the street from the Drumanard Estate.

Drumanard Estate

6401 Wolf Pen Branch Rd.. the old Fitzhugh property.

Mockingbird Valley

Mockingbird Valley

by | Sep 18, 2016 | Historic Districts, Neighborhoods

Mockingbird Valley

Mockingbird Valley

The historic, rural, and wealthy, enclave in the suburban east end is highlighted by landscape preservation and protection of the dramatic topography; rolling hills, high bluffs, & valley streams. Unique characterists are natural stone outcroppings, towering hardwood tree canopies, and walls and bridges made of native materials.

After the first European settlers arrived in the late 1700s, American Indians were removed, and farmers attracted by the fertile land built the area’s first homes. Later, successful businessmen built seasonal homes as early as 1905, when the interurban railroad was created along the Ohio River, larger tracts of land with larger homes were built.

Subdivisions in the immediate neighborhood were ahead of their time in the early 1900s with deed restrictions and regulations limiting things such as building materials, setbacks and sidewalks.

The Olmsted Brothers firm had a hand in the design of the Indian Hills neighborhood to the east, which also features deep setbacks, curvilinear streets and elements of surprise.

Many of the homes; man-made walls; bridges; and columns in the neighborhood are made of locally available materials including brick and stone.

The area has more private roads than any other neighborhood in the city.

Rock Hill (c. 1840) is the oldest surviving residence, built on the bluff above the river.

The Mockingbird Valley Historic District became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

www.mockingbirdvalley.org
www.rollingfieldsky.org

advertisment

GALLERY

Mockingbird Valley

West Main Street

West Main Street

by | Sep 12, 2016 | Cool Districts, Historic Districts, Preservation Districts

West Main Street

West Main Street

Fort Nelson, built in 1781, was the second on-shore fort in what is now Louisville, in response to continuing attacks from Native Americans and the threat of British attacks during the Revolutionary War. The fort was constructed between today’s Main St. and the river, with a main gate near Seventh St.

Starting in the 1850s, many taller buildings with decorative cast-iron façades were built, making it the largest collection of cast iron façades in the U.S., rivaled only by New York’s SoHo neighborhood and Portland, Oregon.

The development of the area was aided by its proximity to the river and the Falls of the Ohio. Steamboat traffic stopped to unload passengers and cargo. Warehouses for manufacturing and storing goods, including tobacco and whiskey, where built in the area.

With the growth of railroads, and a decline in river traffic, commercial activities moved south along 4th St. and came to center around Broadway.

The 1970s brought the beginning of revitalization of Main St. with the new Galt House Hotel and Riverfront Plaza.

The St. Charles Hotel, opened in 1869, still stands today at the S.E. corner of Main & 7th. it is one of the oldest buildings on W. Main. St. Actors Theatre in the 300 block of W. Main is another one.

The West Main District, one of the five districts downtown, includes the 800-600 blocks of W. Main and the southern side of the 500 block, and includes Museum Row, ten tourist attractions within four walkable blocks.

The Main Street Visitors Center is located at 627 West Main Street.
Hours are seasonal: Monday through Friday, 11 am to 3 pm, weather permitting.

Main Street Association
Louisville Downtown Partnership
Louisville Historic Preservation & Urban Design

advertisment

GALLERY

500 block W. Main St.

South side of street.

600 block W. Main St.

South side of street.

600 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

600 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

600 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

700 block W. Main St.

South side of street.

730 W. Main St.

Coal hole covers.

700 block W. Main St.

Louisville Leadership Center

700 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

800 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

800 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

800 block W. Main St.

North side of street.

Fort Nelson

In 1778 Major George Roger Clark brought 150 soldiers and 80 settlers from Redstone, Pennsylvania, down the Ohio River to Corn Island. A month later, Clark took the soldiers to fight the British in the American Revolution. The families left behind established Fort Nelson, the first permanent settlement at the site of Louisville and Clark is recognized as the founder.