Frazier History Museum — Attraction in Louisville

The Frazier History Museum (formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum and, more recently, the Frazier International History Museum) is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier.[1] There are traveling exhibitions on display that are on loan from various sources. In addition, a number of costumed interpreters are employed, who perform daily historical interpretations as well as live demonstrations. Educational, cultural and entertainment activities are hosted at the museum throughout the day and evening. The museum is an affiliate in the Smithsonian Affiliations program.[2] The museum has a Rooftop Garden and Loft event space that are often rented for weddings or corporate events.[3]

The Frazier History Museum has announced that the museum will explore and develop the concept of a new and expanded bourbon experience that will include a visitor center and, in partnership with the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA), will serve as an official starting point to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.

The facilities include 75,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of exhibition space over three floors, as well as two areas for interpretations, a 120-seat auditorium, and various displays (including multimedia, interactive and audio-visual). The Frazier Museum Store is on the first floor in the front of the museum, that offers local Kentucky gifts.[4]

The museum formerly (May 2004 – January 2015) displayed British Royal Armouries artifacts, making them the only place in the world outside Great Britain to permanently house and display...

Really nice museum. They tell you to start from the third floor and make your way down. Third floor has a big Lewis and Clark exhibit with lots of history, some sound effects like your in the woods and a big waterfall video projected onto the wall to show where they ended their trip at the Pacific ocean. It's good for adults and children. Several hands on sections for kids to enjoy. Informative and very nicely put together. Peaceful. Had some Lewis and Clark artifacts but mostly replica stuff and historical markers along with stuffed animals they would have seen on their journey. A big keel boat replica as well.

Also on the third floor is a history of prohibition complete with a speak easy area, a bar setup, a booth where you can sit next to Al Capone while watching video segments on related history. Pretty cool area.

Second floor has the toy soldier collection along with the first floor area. Pretty large collection donated to the museum. Interesting items here. Most of the second floor was under construction when I went. Guess it will be a bourbon historical exhibit that they hope to open in 2018.

First floor has a small number of items as well including a stuffed bison. They have live historical presentations throughout the day but I missed the three they had the day I was there. Parking is close by and $6 for the entire day. Easy to walk really close from that lot which is manned by an attendant and is located under the overpass.

Very nice museum. Somewhat small in size but it's will put together and taken care of. Spent about 90 mins...

I've lived in Louisville my whole life, but this museum wasn't opened until I was in high school, so it wasn't a part of our field trip agendas through my education like the other local museums. I had only once been on the premises for a private event. We corrected that yesterday when we took my father to visit for a belated birthday outing. The staff was kind enough to comp his ticket as a birthday treat.

I know now that I should have gone to visit Frazier sooner! The facility itself is well-kept, sunny, and organized well to maximize the space and make it seem larger than its footprint. There was just the right amount to see between the three floors that it didn't get boring, and we were able to pass a few happy hours milling about the various exhibits. I appreciated the inclusion of stories and exhibits from native voices and from former slaves, so that their presentation of history isn't entirely whitewashed. The interactive exhibits were entertaining - especially the barrel-building station - and I liked that more modern yet important elements of the city's history, like Ear X-Tacy, were included.

Quite possibly the best part... was the gift shop! You guys, how did I miss out on this excellent spot to buy gifts for family & out-of-town friends? You can hit the shop without having to go through the ticketed museum, but I'd recommend doing both. I'll be back again for future exhibits and will hope to catch the bourbon...