Last updated on February 29, 2024.

While driving to Nashville from Chicago, my friend Manoli and I decided to break up the drive with a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

As baseball fans, we wanted to learn about the famous bat, in production since the 1880s. It’s located in the West Main District in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and is open daily. (Note: the museum has made some renovations and improvements since my visit. Some things in this entry may not be available anymore. I’ll visit again and update when I have a chance.)

 

The Building

The building hits you right off the bat (pun intended). A 120-foot replica of Babe Ruth’s 34 inch Louisville Slugger bat rest on the building in front of the entrance. It’s the world’s largest baseball bat and weighs 68,000 lbs.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Next door, Kentucky Mirror & Plate Glass joins in the fun with an image of a huge baseball breaking a window on the side of their building. Shards of glass are even depicted flying off the window.

Kentucky Mirror & Plate Glass in Louisville, Kentucky
Kentucky Mirror & Plate Glass

Inside, a huge baseball glove sculpted out of Kentucky limestone is on display. It weighs 17 tons and is titled “Play Ball”.

Play Ball at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Play Ball

 

Factory Tours

Tours of the factory and museum admission costs US$22 for adults (as of January 2024), and you can purchase tickets online in advance. It’s a great value for everything you get to see and do. During the factory tour, you get to see the entire bat making process. At the end of the tour, you’re given a souvenir mini Louisville Slugger bat.

The museum features exhibits on how the bat has been used throughout the history of baseball. We ended up having a little too much fun with the mannequins.

Fun at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Fun at the Louisville Slugger Museum
Manoli arguing with an umpire at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Manoli arguing with an umpire
Distracting a batter at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Distracting a batter
In the broadcast booth at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
In the broadcast booth

 

Signature Wall

Another highlight is the Signature Wall, which features the signature of every professional baseball player who signed a contract with Louisville Slugger. A special section commemorates players and managers elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Signature Wall at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Signature Wall
Hall of Fame signatures at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Hall of Fame signatures

 

More Attractions

Other attractions include: a collection of famous bats used by some of the greatest baseball players in history; a batting cage and pitching simulation; and Hold a Piece of History, which gives you the chance to hold a bat used by a legendary player. When Manoli and I visited, not all of these attractions were available, but we were able to see bats used by our Chicago White Sox in their 2005 World Series run. We also got to see the pink bat used by Ken Griffey Jr. on Mother’s Day in 2006.

Bats used by the 2005 Chicago White Sox at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Bats used by the 2005 Chicago White Sox
Pink bat used by Ken Griffey Jr. at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky
Pink bat used by Ken Griffey Jr.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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