This House With No Walls In Kentucky Has A Fascinating Story
By Andrea Limke|Published October 28, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
So many like to poke fun at Kentucky that visitors often find themselves scratching their heads in confusion over how we do things in the Bluegrass State. We prefer to think of ourselves as unique and eccentric here in Kentucky, and one example of these characteristics is the Heigold House Facade in Louisville. This “house with no walls” has been through a lot and has a fascinating story, and now sits as a roadside historic attraction in Kentucky’s largest city.
In the 19th Century, a neighborhood east of downtown Louisville called The Point, was a thriving community filled with mansions built by the wealthy. A German immigrant and stonemason named Christian Heigold completed his house in 1853 and it is basically all that remains from that era and The Point.
Heigold adorned the home with American icons, honoring the country that afforded him an opportunity. In fact, a bust of our 15th President, James Buchanan (shown below) is the only known standing monument to the leader.
The Point was home to mostly immigrant families, who unfortunately were not always welcomed into the city's community. The character of the neighborhood changed over the years, also because it frequently flooded thanks to its low-lying position near the river and a newly diverted creek. The area continued to deteriorate and was practically obliterated during the Great Flood of 1937.
The facade of the Heigold House stood strong and even managed to escape demolish when a dump was expanded to the property. Finally, in 2007, the 70,000-pound structure was moved to its current location, as luxury condos were planned for its former property.
And now this unique piece of Kentucky history sits in the middle of a roundabout on Frankfort Avenue, in an area of Louisville that has seen extensive change over the years. It seems only appropriate that a home originally built to honor both the spirit of America and all of its residents is now positioned in a spirited part of Louisville.
You can visit the Facade for yourself, although some argue its location can make that difficult. There is designated parking along River Road, about a half mile away, and on a nice day, you can even walk from scenic Waterfront Park and all the action happening there.
The Heigold House Facade is definitely a head-scratching sight in Kentucky with an interesting story to go along with it. If you find yourself in this area of Louisville soon, stop by and take a look at this house with no walls for yourself.
The Heigold Facade was obviously built to last and we hope this unique Kentucky landmark is around for years to come. Have you been to this house with no walls? Did you know the story behind it? Let us know in the comments!
The Heigold Facade is located at River Road and Frankfort Avenue in Louisville.
For more head-scratching roadside attractions in Kentucky, check out our previous article here.
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