St. James Court/St. James Court Art Show

Around the turn of the 20th century, one of Louisville's most prestigious places to live was St. James Court. It borders: Magnolia Ave. to the north, Hill St. to the south, 4th and 6th Sts. to the east and west respectively. It's story is simple. The closure of the Southern Exposition in 1887 (see post dated 8/11/13) opened up a giant chunk of land - prime real estate - in the heart of the city. William Slaughter and his company bought up a great deal of it and developed a magnificent Victorian neighborhood with stately homes, ample trees, a long esplanade with fountain, and stone lions guarding its entrances. In 1904, Frederick Law Olmsted's Central Park opened immediately to its north, adding to the environment. It was architectural and urban planning gold then and remains so today. In 1957, the St. James Court community held its first art show. The event has grown and grown over the years and now welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from across the city, state, nation, and globe. Here are some pictures from this year's show (10/4-6)...

 

This year's St. James Court Art Show poster.