It’s well-known that there’s tons of history in Kentucky, but the individual cities here don’t get enough credit. Many people think the only Louisville first is the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. In addition to the most famous horse race in the world, we have plenty of other things from Louisville! Louisville is nothing if not innovative, ad there are lots of inventions from Louisville. The city has a lengthy history of producing some of the nation’s (and the world’s) most important items and traditions. Here’s a list of twelve of the things that we’re proud to say are Louisville firsts:
1. Did you know we were the first American city to use secret ballots during elections?
Anonymity for voters was first adopted in Australia, and in 1888, Louisville became the first American city to adopt the practice. Anonymity for voters greatly cut down on the frequency of fraud, which was quite prevalent in the voting process prior to the secret ballot system.
2. Two sisters from the city pioneered the "Happy Birthday" song.
In 1893, sisters Patty Hill, a kindergarten principal, and Mildred J. Hill, a pianist and composer, made history. They created the song now known as "Happy Birthday" as a variation of a song called "Good Morning." The song was intended to be easy for schoolchildren to sing, and, sure enough, it's now sung annually at birthday celebrations all over the globe.
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3. Louisville was the first city in Kentucky to adopt urban planning.
This was a time when the population of cities was booming. Committees had to be formed to deal with zoning and city planning, so that the growth didn't get out of control. This strategy was later adopted in many other cities.
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4. Louisville built the first bridge made exclusively for cars to cross the Ohio River.
People may complain about being stuck in traffic on these bridges that span the river today - we all know what a pain it is to be caught in a jam! However, if it weren't for that very first bridge, we'd still be crossing the river in boats.
5. Louisville was home to the first licensed female steamboat master.
This Louisville first is unproven, so it's not clear if the claim is true. According to legend, the high-fives exchanged by the team during a practice in 1978 were the first high-fives in history.
8. The country’s first hand transplant was done at Louisville’s Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center in 1999.
This one's been life-changing for a number of people! The patient, Matthew Scott, lost his hand in a fireworks accident and received a transplant in 1999. Just a few years later, he was given the honor of pressing the button to set off the fireworks for Thunder Over Louisville, the biggest fireworks display in the country.
9. Louisville was the first city to produce an enamel bathtub.
This one's maybe not quite a noble thing that Louisville did first. The team was known as the Louisville Grays. They joined the National Baseball League in 1876. Their 1877 season was looking like a winning year, and the team was on top of the league... until they experienced a suspicious seven-game losing streak. The run of bad luck was later revealed to be a series of intentional losses in exchange for money. The team was forced to disband in 1878.
This invention from Louisville is now a world-renowned cocktail. It was first served up by a private Pendennis Club in Louisville during the 19th century. In 2015, it was declared the official cocktail of Louisville.
12. Louisville produced the first (and so far, only) female Governor of Kentucky.
Martha Layne Collins served as Governor from 1983 to 1987. Collins was actually in consideration as a potential running mate for Walter Mondale during his 1984 presidential campaign. Geraldine Ferraro was eventually chosen for the position, but Collins still had an illustrious career. Interestingly enough, she first gained fame as the Kentucky Derby Festival Queen in 1959!
Were you surprised by anything on this list? Which of these firsts do you think was most important in history? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Things Louisville Did First
Lisa Sammons|June 04, 2023
What are some more inventions from Louisville?
A surprising number of things from Louisville ended up making history. Here are a few more notable Louisville firsts:
This is a big one: the first U.S. library to allow African Americans as patrons was built in Louisville in 1908.
The world's first fully underground zipline is in Mega Cavern in Louisville.
The first flavored chewing gum was produced in Louisville in the late 1800s.
What are some fun facts about Louisville?
Louisville is so underrated - it's a town that really has an incredible history, and not just in horse racing! Here are some great fun facts about Louisville history:
Louisville was founded back in 1778 - it's one of the nation's oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Churchill Downs, originally called Louisville Jockey Club, was founded by explorer William Clark's grandson, Meriweather Lewis Clark, Jr. The track opened up in 1874 and first hosted the Kentucky Derby in 1875.
Jefferson Memorial Park is the largest municipal urban forest in the country, with more than 6,000 acres of land.
