Whiskey Row, Louisville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whiskey Row Historic District
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A portion of Louisville's historic Whiskey Row on West Main Street
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1852–1905 |
| Architectural style | Revivalist, Chicago School |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000385 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 2010 |
Whiskey Row is a famous block of buildings in Louisville, Kentucky. It stretches from 101 to 133 West Main Street. This area was once very important for the bourbon business.
The buildings you see there were built between 1852 and 1905. They show off different styles of architecture. These include the Revivalist and Chicago School styles. Many have cool cast-iron fronts.
In 1857, these buildings were used to store whiskey barrels. These barrels came from nearby factories. Whiskey Row became a busy center for selling and moving these products. Many companies had their offices here. Kentucky became a top producer of spirits.
In 2011, Whiskey Row was almost torn down. It was on a list of endangered historic places. But the city, local builders, and people who wanted to save old buildings worked together. They made a plan to protect Whiskey Row.
Fire at Whiskey Row
On July 6, 2015, a fire damaged three buildings on Whiskey Row. These were at 111–115 West Main Street. The fire started by accident in a basement. Workers were fixing up the building at the time.
They were using tools to remove old metal pipes. Sparks or hot pieces from their work likely fell. These hot pieces then started to smolder. The fire slowly grew from the basement. It spread up through one building. Then it moved to two other buildings next door.
Luckily, the buildings were empty. No one was hurt in the fire. The people working on the project promised to keep rebuilding. They wanted to finish the renovations.
Whiskey Row Today
Today, the buildings on Whiskey Row have been fully renovated. One building, at 119 West Main Street, is now the Old Forester Distillery. This was its original home back in the 1880s.
Other buildings have been turned into luxury apartments. You can also find new restaurants there. Many different retail shops have opened too.
When the entire project is finished, this block will be very lively. It will have a distillery where tourists can visit. There will also be two fancy hotels. A large shopping area will be part of the plan too. Whiskey Row is now a mix of history and new life.
Images for kids
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Front of the House of Weller, located at 121 W. Main Street
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Front and western side of the Trade Mart Building, located at 131 W. Main Street
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Front of the buildings in the J.T.S. Brown and Son's Complex, located at 105-109 E. Main Street
