Peterson Avenue Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Peterson Avenue Hill
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Looking down from the top of the hill
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1902 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001614 |
| Added to NRHP | 1980 |
Peterson Avenue Hill is a special street in Louisville, Kentucky. It is one of the very few streets left in the city that is still paved with bricks. Many people in Louisville know it as the most famous brick street or alley.
Contents
What is Peterson Avenue Hill Like?
The part of Peterson Avenue Hill that is made of bricks goes up a very steep slope. Imagine a ramp that goes up about 15 degrees! This makes it quite a challenging climb.
How Big is the Brick Part?
Originally, the brick section of the street was about 740 feet long. That's like two and a half football fields! However, some of the top part, about 137 feet, has been covered with asphalt. So, today, the brick part is about 603 feet long and 30 feet wide.
Special Bricks and How They're Laid
The hill is paved with a special type of brick called vitrified bricks. These bricks are made to be very strong and resistant to water. They are laid out in a unique way, at angles, on top of a sand base. This angled pattern is not found on any other brick street in Louisville. It's a clever design that helps cars and people get better grip, especially when the weather is wet or rainy. The sides of the hill are also lined with strong stone curbs.
The Story of Peterson Avenue Hill
Peterson Avenue was created a long time ago, in the late 1800s. This happened when a large property, known as the Peterson-Dumesnil estate, was divided up. The area around it, called Crescent Hill, then became a neighborhood with many homes.
Why is it Called Peterson Avenue?
The street gets its name from Joseph Peterson. He was a very rich tobacco merchant who built the famous Peterson-Dumesnil House around 1869 or 1870. In 1902, the city of Louisville decided that the avenue needed to be paved.
Why Bricks Were Used
At that time, bricks were a very popular choice for paving streets. Louisville had many places that made bricks, so they were easy to get and not too expensive. Bricks were also a big improvement over older street surfaces like clay, gravel, or macadam. They made for a much smoother and more durable road.
A Place for Car Tests
Peterson Avenue Hill has a fun story connected to the early days of cars! People used to say that car dealers would brag that their new cars could drive up Peterson Hill in high gear. Many cars were actually tested on this very hill to prove how powerful they were. Even the fire department used Peterson Hill to test their brand-new fire engines!
A Local Landmark
Because of its unique design and interesting history, Peterson Avenue Hill was officially named a local landmark in June 1979. This means it's a special place that the city wants to protect and remember.
Images for kids
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Looking down from the top of the hill
