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Portland Museum (Louisville) facts for kids

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Portland Museum
PortlandLouMuseum.jpg
Portland Museum in 2008
Established 1978
Location 2308 Portland Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40212
Type History, Art

The Portland Museum is a cool place in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a history and art museum located in the Portland neighborhood. You can learn all about how Portland used to be its own town in the early 1800s. It also shows how it became part of Louisville after the Portland Canal was built.

The museum is made up of three buildings. These include Beech Grove, an old mansion from the 1800s. There's also the former Portland Bridge Baptist Mission Building. Plus, there's the AHOY House, which is a renovated Victorian property. The museum is also working to fix up the historic 1812 Squire Earick House.

Discovering the Museum's Past

The Portland Museum started thanks to seven teachers. They were from the old Roosevelt Elementary School. They received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

How the Collection Grew

At first, the museum's collection was mostly scrapbooks. These scrapbooks came from families who lived in the area. Over time, the collection grew a lot. Now it includes many different artifacts, paintings, and other cool items. These items were donated by local residents.

Finding a Permanent Home

When Roosevelt Elementary School closed in 1980, the museum moved. It first went to the Brown School. Finally, in 1983, the museum found its current home.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many interesting exhibits. They show off famous people who lived in the Portland neighborhood.

Art and Sports Legends

One exhibit features paintings by the famous artist John James Audubon. In 2014, the museum added a special collection. It has items donated by former football star Paul Hornung. The museum also has a room where students can learn about printing books.

A New Space for Kids: AHOY House

As part of a new project in Portland, the museum got another building in 2020. It's a Victorian home right next to the museum. They are turning it into a fun, interactive space for children called AHOY. Danny Seim, a musician from the band Menomena, helps lead this exciting AHOY project.

See also

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Portland Museum (Louisville) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.