City history
Tracing the evolution of Louisville from its 18th-century frontier beginnings to a modern metropolitan hub on the Ohio River.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Named in honor of King Louis XVI of France"
No specific indigenous name for the exact site is reliably documented; Louisville was the first name established upon the settlement's founding in 1778.
Named for King Louis XVI
Established during the American Revolutionary War period.
Chapter two
The widespread adoption of standard time by railroad companies allowed Louisville to synchronize its local time with the Eastern Standard Time zone.
The passage of the Uniform Time Act standardized the observance of daylight saving time across the United States, including Louisville.
Chapter three
Settlers established the town on the site of a former Shawnee village along the banks of the Ohio River.
The completion of the canal improved navigation through the Falls of the Ohio, greatly impacting regional commerce and river schedules.
The transition from horse-drawn cars to an electric streetcar system revolutionized urban mobility and city growth.
The opening of this center established a major cultural anchor dedicated to the legacy of the legendary heavyweight champion.