LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nothing exemplifies Kentucky more than the annual Kentucky Derby. It's a bucket-list event for thousands of people around the world each year. Some come for the fashion, others for the party, the people-watching or the horses.
From spectators climbing the Infield’s flagpole, to a skydiver surprising 100,000 fans with a parachute landing into the Infield crowd, Kentucky Derby Museum visitors can explore the wild stories and unique culture of the Kentucky Derby at a new exhibit called Welcome to Derbyville.
What You Need To Know
- Welcome to Derbyville is a new temporary exhibit at the Kentucky Derby Museum
- The exhibit runs through fall of 2022
- It features stories, artifacts and more focused on the culture of the Kentucky Derby
A ribbon cutting was held Friday morning to celebrate the opening of the exhibit, located in the Museum's Matt Winn Gallery. That second-floor gallery is used for rotating exhibits, and Welcome to Derbyville is set to run through fall of 2022.
In a news release, Derby Museum officials said the concept was born from the idea that on most Derby Days, Churchill Downs transforms into the state's third largest city, drawing its temporary residents into a cultural experience like no other sporting event.
The new exhibit explores the 147-acre city – Derbyville – and who comes to stay and why. The unique culture of the Kentucky Derby is brought to life for visitors through pictures, videos, artwork and artifacts, plus interactive components where visitors can write down and share their own Derbyville stories.
Additionally, the exhibit takes a deep dive into journalist Hunter S. Thompson and artist Ralph Steadman's raucous commentary, "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved," featuring some familiar and new artifacts from their notable trip to the 1970 Kentucky Derby.
You can find more information on the Derby Museum, or even plan your visit, on their website.
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