Louisville Waterfront Park - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

Waterfront Park Hours 6 am – 11 pm, daily Adventure Playground Hours Currently closed due to COVID-19. Splash Park Hours (in season) Currently closed due to COVID-19. Big Four Bridge Hours Open 24/7 Restroom Hours (in season) 9 am – 9 pm daily

502-574-3768

Free

lat: 38.2607389 long: -85.7426013

Louisville Waterfront Park is both a non-profit organization and a public park in Louisville, Kentucky. Bordering the Ohio River, we are not only a destination but the front door to the city.

We connect people to the river and are devoted to preserving and growing a space that can be enjoyed by the community forever.

Once a wasteland of scrap yards and abandoned industrial buildings, Waterfront Park is now a vibrant 85-acre green space that welcomes over 2.2 million visitors each year. We are home to some of Louisville’s most exciting celebrations, such as the Fourth of July at Waterfront Park, Forecastle Festival, and WFPK Waterfront Wednesdays. If big crowds aren’t your thing, there is plenty of space to take a walk, ride your bike, do some yoga, or enjoy a breathtaking view of the city from the Big Four Bridge.

As the most utilized urban park in Louisville, Waterfront is where we come together to celebrate our unique sense of community. We are a non-profit, public park made possible by the generosity of our supporters. Your donations help us maintain and expand Waterfront Park for the entire community to enjoy.

Waterfront Wednesday Free Concert

Waterfront Wednesday Free Concert

Waterfront Wednesday

Waterfront Wednesday

Waterfront Wednesday from the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge

Waterfront Wednesday from the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge

Forecastle Festival

Forecastle Festival

Waterfront Park in the Fall

Waterfront Park in the Fall

Abraham Lincoln Statue at Waterfront Park

Abraham Lincoln Statue at Waterfront Park

Abraham Lincoln Statue by Sculptor Ed Hamilton

Abraham Lincoln Statue by Sculptor Ed Hamilton

Thunder Over Louisville Fireworks Show

Thunder Over Louisville Fireworks Show

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Sheraton Louisville Riverside

Sheraton Louisville Riverside

Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel, West Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, IN, USA
Distance: 0.65 Away

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OVRDRIVE

OVRDRIVE

OVRDRIVE: Racing Sims, Axe Throwing, VR, Rage Room - Corporate, Group & Team Building Events, West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Distance: 0.76 Away

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Clark County, Indiana

Clark County, Indiana

305 Southern Indiana Avenue, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130, USA
Distance: 0.80 Away

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Southern Indiana Visitor Center

Southern Indiana Visitor Center

305 Southern Indiana Ave, Jeffersonville, IN 47130, USA
Distance: 0.80 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Schimpff’s Confectionery

Schimpff’s Confectionery

Schimpff's Confectionery, Spring Street, Jeffersonville, IN, USA
Distance: 0.82 Away

Food and Drinks

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York Statue on the Louisville Belvedere

York Statue on the Louisville Belvedere

York Statue on the Louisville Belvedere
Distance: 0.85 Away

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Mint Julep Experiences

Mint Julep Experiences

Mint Julep Experiences - Louisville, West Liberty Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Distance: 0.86 Away

Food and Drinks Guided Tours

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Geraldine’s Kitchen

Geraldine’s Kitchen

Geraldine's Kitchen, Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN, USA
Distance: 0.92 Away

Food and Drinks

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Muhammad Ali Center

Muhammad Ali Center

Muhammad Ali Center, North 6th Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Distance: 0.95 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Fourth Street Live!

Fourth Street Live!

411 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Distance: 0.98 Away

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Kentucky Science Center

Kentucky Science Center

Kentucky Science Center, West Main Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.11 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, West Main Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.19 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Sign Up for the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience Newsletter

Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive the Lewis and Clark Travel Experience newsletter provided by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. You can revoke your consent at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Instagram Feed

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota