Trip Planner: USA / Kentucky / Louisville / Museums / The Speed Art Museum

The Speed Art Museum, Louisville

(130+ reviews on the web)

Art Museum Museum

The Speed Art Museum, originally known as the J. B. Speed Memorial Museum, is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum. It was founded in 1925 by Hattie Bishop Speed as a memorial to her husband, James Breckinridge Speed, a prominent Louisville businessman and philanthropist.

The Speed Art Museum recently reopened its doors after a three-year expansion project. The new 60,000-square-foot North Building creates one of the finest experiential art museums in the country and doubles the overall square footage and nearly triple the gallery space from the existing wing. The expansion creates a state-of-the-art space for larger special exhibitions, new contemporary art galleries, a family education welcome center, indoor/outdoor café, museum shop, theater, and a multifunctional pavilion for performances, lectures and entertaining. Additionally, the new Elizabeth P. and Frederick K. Cressman Art Park and public Piazza was created for the display of sculpture that will engage University of Louisville students and faculty and museum visitors.

Use our Louisville itinerary planner to arrange your visit to The Speed Art Museum and other attractions in Louisville.
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Reviews

TripAdvisor

522travelers

My husband and I spent five and a half hours at the Speed on a recent Saturday. I almost hated to leave the gift shop to explore the museum because it's a museum in itself and has a color-changing cou... more »
jeffsorrels

Good parking in garage beside it . Very open and clean with good exhibits. Highly recommend if your in the Louisville area. more »
creativetravelmadrid

yes, we were there 3 hours! the renovation is quite impressive. I loved the addition of the Kentucky art and history in the basement....really informative. the new, modern galleries are filled with in... more »

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Melanie Smith

Outstanding. 1 St time I have since the reopening. 1st.time for my oldest grandson 11th grade.Is artistic and is a designer. Art Sparks is amazing.

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Jander Concepcion

Great selection of local and international art, great experience end the also have awesome rotation of special exhibitions, thanks to how well funded the museum is entrance is free on Sundays, overall a must if you are in the area and enjoy art.

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Velocirap toe

Great place to cruise around especially on Sunday when it's free and you're an art lover!

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Cam Tu Pham

Best rooms to go in first are the Egyptian room, the decorative wood room shipped from England, and tapestry room. Other rooms can be boring.

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J'Larko Jones

I love it here. Bonus: Ice cold A/C

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