See a Louisville Slugger Made and Fossil Hunt

Visit Louisville, KY to search for fossils at Falls of the Ohio State Park or learn about bat construction at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

FALLS OF THE OHIO STATE PARK

Fossil hunting at The Falls of the Ohio State Park is just across the river from downtown Louisville in Clarksville, Ind. We stopped here on our way into town.

The 390-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world.

*Pictured: Visitor Center at the Falls of the Ohio State Park*

Interpretive Center

Closed for the day when we were there. According to the website, the center features 3,000 square feet of immersive exhibits, the Falls of the Ohio Orientation, wildlife and river viewing rooms, a gift shop, restrooms, and water fountains.

August through October provides the best accessibility to the 220 acres of fossil beds, as the river is at its lowest level during this period.

We were there in early spring, so we only had the rocky shoreline to explore.

My son climbing logs as we headed to the fossils. — *Climbing logs*

Heading down

The trailhead is away from the interpretive center towards the river. Some logs had piled up along the walkway which added some fun for my son to cross over.

You can also gain a view of the Louisville skyline along this walk framed by the dam and railroad bridge. The creation of a dam and lock opened up this area to fossil hunting. Before the dam and lock this was a hard area to navigate for the boats hence the name the Falls of the Ohio.

Also, be careful as you step to not fall into the water which can be fast moving from the dam release.

Finding Fossils

At the start of the walk, there are more information boards to learn about the area.

I had trouble pulling up the information on the fossils which can be found on the website.

Although on our own we were able to locate them.

First coming across a sponge-like fossil -- NOTE: Prohibited on the fossil beds is fossil collecting but park staff encourages everyone to search for them. — *First coming across a sponge-like fossil — NOTE: Prohibited on the fossil beds is fossil collecting but park staff encourages everyone to search for them.*

The fossils are found along the rocky shoreline of the Ohio River. The first fossil looked like a sponge to me.

The next was a circular piece of fossilized coral.

Then we came across a fossilized rock.

Next, I saw an impression on the rock but was not sure what it was. They say that some fossils go away as the water flows over them, but new ones come into view so you could come back here again and see different ones the next time.

A fossilized clam shell was easy to spot and nearby was a crumbled one.

*Corral impression in the rocky terrain along the river.*

Lastly, the further I walked I came to a large impression of coral.

My son was ready to have dinner, so we headed out.

Details

Admission: $9 – Ages 12 & Up; $7-Ages 5-11; Free- Under 5. Parking $2

Drive: We took Interstate 64 east from St. Louis then took Exit 121 and went west on Interstate 265 then took Exit 7 for Interstate 65 going south towards Louisville. Next, we took Exit 1 and made a right onto Stansifer Avenue.

Then a left onto S. Clark Boulevard and next a right onto Indiana’s Historical Parkway and another right onto Winbourne Avenue. Next, make another right driving behind The Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center to a large lot.

Hours: Park Grounds- 7 a.m. – 11 p.m., Daily. Interpretive Center- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday- Saturday; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday

Address: 201 W Riverside Dr #1, Clarksville, IN 47129

*Photo of the cabin from the state park website.*

Nearby: George Rogers Clark Homesite

If you drive a little further north along the river you can visit the George Rogers Clark Homesite. We didn’t have time to do it, but if want to learn more about the exploration of Lewis and Clark check it out.

Address: 1021 Harrison Ave, Clarksville, IN 47129

Check out the restaurant’s webpage for more information.

DINNER: Mussel & Burger Bar

For dinner, we walked from the hotel to the Mussel & Burger Bar. They have a Bourbon beer, which fits what Kentucky is known for, along with a variety of burgers and then my son’s favorite mussels. We also liked their pommes frites.

Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday; 11 a.m.- 9.p., Monday, Thursday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday

Address: 113 S 7th St, Louisville, KY 40202

After dinner, we decided to walk around the area.

Nearby: 21c Museum Hotel Louisville

If you are into artwork you can walk through the 21c Museum Hotel which has art pieces on display throughout the hotel lobby.

*Painting of former Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg*

In the museum, we saw paintings such as one of former Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A screen allows you to even become a part of a work.

A machine creates pulsating smoke.

These are a few of the what we saw at the hotel.

Out front of the museum is the golden 30-foot Statue of David modeled after the original in Florence Italy created by Michelangelo.

Address: 700 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

ADDED ATTRACTION: Kentucky Science Center

You can also check out the outdoor area in front of the Kentucky Science Center. My son liked seeing his reflection on a multi-mirrored wall. We did not have time to tour this museum but it is close to the hotel and Louisville Slugger Museum.

Address: 727 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

HOTEL: Townplace Suites

We stayed the night at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Louisville Downtown. The hotel has a pool and a stay includes breakfast. They charge for parking, but I paid for it as part of my stay. Most of all it is within walking distance of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, numerous restaurants, and sites.

Address: 801 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM

After breakfast the next morning, we headed for the Louisville Slugger Museum. Since our checkout time was noon we had plenty of time to see the museum and still use the hotel’s parking lot.

At the museum, you can go through the factory where world-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats, used by MLB star players, are made.

Outside the Museum

Along Eighth Street going north to Main Street you can see through windows how the baseballs are constructed.

*Andrew below the largest Louisville Slugger bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum*

Outside of the museum is the world’s largest bat. This is always a great photo-op with your kid.

Look also for the Walk of Fame.

Courtyard Area

Then we entered the courtyard area of the museum. We didn’t have time to do the tour since we had an afternoon tour at Mammoth Cave, and we were stopping by Lincoln’s birthplace on the way.

You can check out baseball memorabilia outside the tour area and the gift shop has plenty of baseball bats and other souvenirs to buy.

We saw bats used by baseball players Adam Duvall and Will Smith.

The Bat Vault includes bats used by the greats such as Albert Pujols.

Through a window, I saw the piles of wood being shaped into bats.

*Large glove in the courtyard at the museum*

A large glove that you can crawl around.

Also, I came across a display of the different shapes a log goes through as it becomes a Louisville Slugger.

Gift Shop

You can spend a lot of time in the gift shop. My son came across a Savanah Banana bat that he loved.

One can also create their own personalized bat.

If you are into baseball this is definitely a stop to make when you are in Louisville!

Details:

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday- Saturday; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday

Admission: $23, Adults; $22, Seniors 60 Plus; $15 Kids 6-12; Free, Kids 5 and Under. You do receive a free souvenir mini-bat.

Address: 800 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

*View of the birthplace memorial on the grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park*

ROAD TRIP STOP: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

We are also going to Mammoth Cave National Park, so we stopped at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace.

It is about an hour’s drive south of Louisville and an hour’s north of Mammoth Cave so it is basically at the halfway point.

Lincoln was born here on Feb. 12, 1809.

Inside the visitor's center, you can learn about where lincoln was born in Kentucky. — *Inside the visitor’s center, you can learn about where Lincoln was born in Kentucky.*

There is a visitor’s center along with a Memorial Building that houses a symbolic log cabin constructed in the 1840s the period when Lincoln was born.

In the visitor’s center, you can learn about his birth and his time in Kentucky as a young boy.

On display is Lincoln’s Bible.

This fieldstone marked where Lincoln's brother was buried. — *This fieldstone marked where Lincoln’s brother was buried.*

You can see a fieldstone that marked the grave of Thomas Lincoln, Jr., Lincoln’s brother who was born in 1812, but only lived a few days.

My son enjoyed playing with Lincoln Logs in the center.

*Many stairs lead up to the memorial that houses the Lincoln Cabin.*

Next, we went to the memorial building to see the cabin. Behind the visitor’s center is an ADA-compliant path.

*My son standing in front of the Lincoln cabin.*

Going inside you can see a recreation of the cabin he was born.

A small trail leads to the nearby Sinking Spring which also has a small waterfall and cave.

Up from the spring is the historic Nancy Lincoln Inn which was once where people would stay when visiting the site.

Details

Hours Eastern Time Zone: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Daily

Admission: Free

Address: 2995 Lincoln Farm Rd, Hodgenville, KY 42748

*Trails can be found at the Picnic Grounds.*

LUNCH: Picnic Grounds

We picked up barbecue at Arrowhead BBQ and had it at the picnic grounds across from the birthplace. Restrooms and a short trail are also located here.

NEARBY: Abraham Lincoln’s Boyhood Home at Knob Creek

About 10 miles from the birthplace is the boyhood home at Knob Creek.

The Lincoln family lived on 30 acres of the 228-acre Knob Creek Farm from the time Abraham was two and a half until he was almost eight years old.

The family left Knob Creek and Kentucky in December 1816 moving to Spencer County, Indiana where you can visit another boyhood home.

Here you can see the Lincoln Tavern which is a one-and-a-half-story log building, constructed in 1933. Built to serve motorists stopping by the site and to exhibit Lincoln memorabilia. The second historic building is a single pen log cabin, reconstructed in 1931-33 (from ca. 1800 logs) that replicates Lincoln’s boyhood home.

Hours Eastern Time Zone: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday- Thursday; Closed, Tuesday-Wednesday

Address: 7120 Bardstown Rd, Hodgenville, KY 42748