The Kentucky Derby, also known as the Race for the Roses, is attended by approximately 160,000 people every year. The Kentucky Derby Museum, located adjacent to Churchill Downs, is open seven days a week year round and will give you a behind the scenes look at the Kentucky Derby minus the crowds. Visit the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

If you would like to see what the hoopla of the Kentucky Derby is all about without the throngs of people, you should definitely visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Not only will you have access to two floors of interactive exhibits detailing the history of the Kentucky Derby, you will also get a 30 minute walking tour of Churchill Downs and you will get a view a 360 degree media experience called “The Greatest Race”.

Is The Museum Kid-Friendly?

The Kentucky Derby Museum is kid-friendly. In fact, there are so many interactive exhibits, your kids will love the Kentucky Derby Museum. The 360 degree media experience was a highlight. You actually feel as if you were attending the Kentucky Derby.

In addition, there is a interactive exhibit where you sit on a horse replica and virtually race as if you were in the Kentucky Derby. My son enjoyed racing my husband in his own Kentucky Derby.

You can pretend you are the race commentator in another interactive exhibit. Practice calling the race, the horse’s positions, and announcing the big winner!

Upstairs, there is a replica of the starting gate. Brady, my son, felt as if he was a jockey in the starting gate ready to race.

We learned a jockey can weigh no more than 126 pounds to include all his gear. There is a scale upstairs to weigh yourself and compare it to the jockeys who will be racing. Needless to say, none of us would ever qualify to be a horse jockey in the Kentucky Derby.

The Walking Tour

Admission to the museum includes a walking tour of Churchill Downs. This experience was what I enjoyed most. The history of the Derby can be felt as you walk the grounds.

The tour includes an up close look at the paddock area where the horses wait for their race.

As you walk the grounds, you see signage of the thoroughbreds who have won in the past to include triple crown winners such as Secretariat and Justify.

Walk through the post paddock area as if you are a jockey on the horses leaving the paddock and passing the stands on their way to the starting gate.

Get a look the finish line and the track.

Stand where the winner of the Kentucky Derby will have the blanket of 554 roses laid on his back!

In summary

Get a behind the scenes look at the famous Race for the Roses by touring the Kentucky Derby Museum. It was a great experience for both adults and children alike. I truly felt as if we were a part of the history of the Derby by seeing the many winning horses names above our heads. To top of your experience, make sure to stop into the cafe and have a Mint Julep–the official drink of the Kentucky Derby!

Will you be visiting Louisville? Check out my other articles on must see attractions while in Louisville, Kentucky:

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Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation from the Kentucky Derby Museum for this review. I paid full price to tour the facility. The opinions presented in this review are honest and real.

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