Speed Art MuseumAbout Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum is an art museum in Louisville, Kentucky, founded in 1927. It holds a permanent collection of roughly 12,000 objects and serves as the largest and oldest art museum in Kentucky.
Galleries present European, American, African and contemporary art alongside decorative arts and photography, with rotating temporary exhibitions and installations. The museum also programs education activities, film screenings and public events and includes outdoor sculpture and visitor amenities added during the recent expansion.
Established through the philanthropy of Hattie Bishop Speed in 1927, the museum opened to display her collection and support art education in Louisville. The institution underwent multiple changes over the decades and completed a major renovation and expansion that reopened in 2016 to modernize gallery space and visitor facilities.
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the museum sits within the city and is accessible from central Louisville and surrounding neighborhoods. It functions as a municipal cultural attraction serving the Louisville metropolitan area.
- Founding and expansion: Founded in 1927 and significantly expanded with a major renovation that reopened the museum in 2016.
- Collection size: Houses a collection of roughly 12,000 works spanning European, American and non-Western art, alongside contemporary exhibitions and decorative arts.
What to See#
- 1927 building: The museum’s original 1927 building houses a number of the permanent collection galleries and retains its historic facade and interior galleries dating to the founding era.
- 2016 expansion: A major expansion and renovation completed in 2016 added new gallery space, education facilities and a dedicated space for temporary exhibitions, significantly increasing the museum’s public footprint.
Best Time to Visit Speed Art Museum
Open most days except Monday; check the Speed's website for special exhibitions and late openings.
Weather & Climate near Speed Art Museum
Speed Art Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1148 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -4° - 5° | -4° | 82 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -3° - 9° | 0° | 82 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 2° - 14° | 6° | 111 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 7° - 21° | 14° | 108 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 13° - 26° | 19° | 119 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 18° - 30° | 24° | 98 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 20° - 32° | 26° | 111 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 31° | 25° | 94 mm | - | - | 2.4 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 15° - 28° | 21° | 77 mm | - | - | 2.5 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 21° | 15° | 72 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 3° - 14° | 7° | 96 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -2° - 8° | 0° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Speed Art Museum
The Speed sits just south of downtown Louisville near the intersection of South 3rd Street and Eastern Parkway. It is a short drive or rideshare from central downtown; limited on-site parking and nearby street parking are available. The museum is also reachable by local bus routes (check TARC schedules) and is within walking distance from portions of the university and hospital districts.
Tips for Visiting Speed Art Museum
- Time your visit for the museum's late‑week openings and special exhibitions-local evenings often have talks or events with fewer crowds.
- Start on the second floor galleries and descend; the Speed's rehang rewards a chronological or thematic walk depending on appetite.
- The Sculpture Garden and outdoor works often go unnoticed; they're worth a short detour in good weather.