Louisville's first children's museum breaks ground in Portland neighborhood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A ceremonial groundbreaking was held for Louisville's first dedicated children's museum on Saturday at an annual festival.

The Portland Art and Heritage Fair featured local vendors, live music, and a ceremony marking the progress on AHOY: Adventure House of You. Portland Museum has worked on the project that will offer an immersive and interactive experience for children.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, and the first phase is slated to be completed in late 2026. Katy Delahanty, executive director of Portland Museum, said the innovative museum will shape the future of thousands of children.

June Apple, an eighth grader at Western Middle School, performed at the fair with the Louisville Leopard Percussionist. Apple believes the museum is important for the neighborhood and city.

"We have so many museums, but this children's museum in particular, especially it being the first, it's going to be so important because it's going to represent all the arts and diversity," Apple said. "It's a neighborhood that needs to be represented more because of all the diversity and arts that are in it. It's so wonderful."

Danny Seim is the director of AHOY. The creation of AHOY is led by a collaborative effort between Portland Museum, local professionals and the community.

"My favorite thing that is going to be incorporated in this children's museum is going to be a fish tunnel where it breaks your mind from the traditional exhibit space that the Portland Museum is and you walk into the mouth of it and you're transported into an entirely different environment," Delahanty said.

The project will transform a Victorian house into the core of AHOY, featuring a glass atrium that will connect to the Portland Museum.

Louisville Metro Councilwoman Donna Purvis, D-5, said to the crowd on Saturday it's a proud moment to have a museum dedicated to the dreams and ideals of children.

"People will not have to travel I-65 north to go to the children's museum in Indianapolis, they can come to the museum right here in their own city," Purvis said.

The museum has raised $2 million toward the project. The project is expected to cost $4 million. To donate, click here.

"Diversity and arts can be enjoyed in Louisville," Apple said. "From a young age, children being able to see that is so amazing. And that's why it's so great a children's museum is being built."

To learn more about the Portland Art & Heritage Fair, click here. To read more about the Portland Museum, click here.

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