With a rich history dating to its early role as a trading center along the Ohio River, Louisville contains a remarkable collection of historic structures and older neighborhoods. As was seen in many other cities across the country, 1960s era urban renewal and highway construction projects pushed residents and investment out of Louisville’s historic core. In recent years, however, many areas of downtown and nearby neighborhoods are re-emerging as hubs of vitality and energy. Much of this activity is occurring in repurposed historic buildings and along blocks of older, smaller structures. The challenge – and opportunity – for Louisville in coming years is to support the continued, incremental revitalization of the heart of the city, while also encouraging new construction and investment.

The Trust's work in Louisville is a key part of our work to bring preservation to city-scale. By creating an urban laboratory in Louisville to test creative approaches to preservation issues and opportunities, the work of the National Trust and our local partners are seeking to create a sustainable preservation model for others cities across the nation.