WHO WE ARE

MISSION:
To ENGAGE, EDUCATE, and EXCITE EVERYONE
about the extraordinary experience that is the Kentucky Derby!

The Kentucky Derby Museum is one of the premiere attractions in the Louisville region, celebrating the tradition, history, hospitality and pride of the world-renowned event that is the Kentucky Derby. Each year, the Museum welcomes over 230,000 visitors. 

With a general admission ticket, visitors can enjoy two floors of family-friendly interactive exhibits, a 30-minute guided historic walking tour at Churchill Downs Racetrack, and get their heart racing and emotions soaring watching the Museum’s signature 18-minute movie, “The Greatest Race” on a 360°, 4K high resolution screen. 

Guests can grab breakfast and lunch at Derby Cafe Express and enjoy a mint julep or cocktail at the full bar. Another highlight is seeing the Museum’s Resident Thoroughbred and Pony in a new stable area. Upgraded tour options take visitors to some of the most exclusive spots inside Churchill Downs and to the sights and sounds of the backside. 

In October 2018, the Kentucky Derby Museum completed a $6.5 million renovation and expansion project, adding and renovating 16,000 square feet. It is the largest expansion of the Museum’s footprint since the building was constructed in 1985. 

The new second floor exhibit space houses two new impressive exhibits featuring the legacy, possessions, trophies, and history of two Hall of Famers: legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Bill Shoemaker. 

With the new renovation, the Kentucky Derby Museum can accommodate group and corporate events of over 2,000 people. From a casual business meeting to a glamorous wedding reception, the Kentucky Derby Museum offers guests three new unique spaces that bring the thrill of horseracing to any occasion.