City: Louisville, KY

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (502) 585-3200

Address: 500 South Fourth St.

Description: No trip to Louisville would be complete without an obligatory stop at the fabled Seelbach Hotel. Built in 1905 by Bavarian brothers Otto and Louis Seelbach, this hotel has always been the overnight place for Kentucky’s movers and shakers. And even if you’re not staying here, there are other ways to enjoy it, such as stopping by for a drink in the Old Seelbach Bar or enjoying an elegant dinner in the Oakroom. Or, just come in off the street and enjoy the view in the majestic lobby, with its restored skylight and original murals depicting early Kentucky history. Then, take the stairs down to the basement and view the Rathskeller, the only room in the world made from Rookwood pottery. With its painted arches and vaulted ceiling, it was meant to replicate the beer-hall cellars of the Seelbachs’ native Germany. Finish with a peek inside the Blackjack Room on the mezzanine level, the enclosed alcove in the Oakroom frequented by Al Capone on his many trips to the Derby City during the hotel’s heyday in the 1920s. Secret panels in the wall allowed for a quick getaway to tunnels below the hotel when the police raided. If you want to learn more about the Seelbach, hotel historian Larry Johnson arranges informative guided tours on request. Call (502) 585-3200 x1091 for more information.