5 Larger-Than-Life Attractions You'll Only Find In Louisville, KY
By Sarah McCosham|Published September 12, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Kentucky might not have the “big” reputation of, say, Texas, but that doesn’t mean our state isn’t legendary in its own right. In fact, not only is Kentucky home to the biggest underground cavern system in the world, but our biggest city sports several massive monoliths that will make you do a double take. From the world’s largest baseball bat (and glove) to the 26-foot-long triceratops at the science center, here are five larger-than-life attractions you’ll only find in Louisville, Kentucky:
In a state that's world-famous for bourbon and city that's home to Whiskey Row, it's only appropriate that there'd be a massive lowball glass in Louisville, Kentucky.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, 528 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Located at 6th and Main in Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience's "On the Rocks" glass is a 6-by-6-foot cylinder that totals 53 gallons. For perspective, if the glass were actually filled with bourbon, it would hold 1,264 gallons -- 23 full barrels -- of liquid gold!
Speaking of spirits, located in the center of the city's Bourbon District, the Barrel is an oversized art piece that symbolizes the state's spirited past -- and present.
North Fourth Street & West Main Street, N Fourth St & W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Comprised of five rings made of Corten steel and black powder-coated aluminum, the installation is nearly nine times the size of a typical 53-gallon barrel.
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From bourbon to prehistoric beasts, this beautiful triceratops arrived at the Kentucky Science Center in 1979; she was craned into place over the flood wall, near what's now the Yarmuth Garden. She's 10 feet tall, 26 feet long, and weighs roughly 5,000 pounds.
Kentucky Science Center, 727 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Over 40 years later, freshly painted and refurbished, the dinosaur was lifted into place atop the West Washington Street pedway elevator -- a perch that makes it much more prominent in the Louisville skyline.
From this perch, she (yes -- we're calling her a she) is visible to museum guests as well as passing drivers on I-64, welcoming visitors to the city and encouraging everyone to Do Science!
Located at the Louisville Slugger Museum, the 120-foot-tall baseball bat weighs 34 tons and is made of hollow carbon steel, making it the world's largest.
The best part? Guests can climb on, crawl through, and slide down this whimsical monolith!
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In fact, did you know there was another larger-than-life bat gracing the Louisville skyline? The Caufield's Novelty vampire bat is 30 feet tall, 15 feet wide, and weighs 1,500 pounds. It's on the outside of the novelty shop.
Caufield's Novelty, 1006 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Caufield's has been a local favorite since the 1920s for folks looking for a unique Halloween costume or festive New Year’s Eve party favor. While a bat might seem a bit odd, it's not: in a state that's world-famous for its underground caverns and caves, a vampire bat makes perfect sense!
The bat (built in-house) joined the party in 2004, and we can only hope he's big enough to signal *the* Batman in the event of a city-wide disaster. We're confident he'd be up for the task.
Did you know Louisville, Kentucky, was home to these massive roadside attractions? Our cityscape is iconic, and these amazing attractions make is wholly, wonderfully unique.
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