Old Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

YMCA Building

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

1. YMCA Building Marker

Inscription. This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
of the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 38° 14.764′ N, 85° 45.376′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Old Louisville. It is at the intersection of West Broadway (U.S. 150) and South 3rd Street (Kentucky Route 1020), on the right when traveling west on West Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Louisville KY 40203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Weissinger-Gaulbert Apartments (within shouting distance of

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

this marker); Sit-in Demonstration Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Sit-in Demonstration Site (about 600 feet away); J. Graham Brown (about 600 feet away); Sit-In Demonstration Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Murray Atkins Walls (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Presbyterian Theological Seminary (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Unitarian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Louisville Free Public Library (was about 800 feet away but has been confirmed missing); George Denison Prentice (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding YMCA Building. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

By early 1911, the YMCA building committee had selected the local firm of McDonald & Dodd to design the new building. Associated with them was the firm of Shattuck and Hussey of Chicago, which had supervised the construction of numerous YMCA buildings in the United States and other countries.

The first plans submitted were considered too costly and revisions had to be made. In August,
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

2. YMCA Building Marker
1911 the final plans for a seven-story building, costing about $340,000 were approved. Razing of the houses on the site began in late 1911. On August 28, 1912, the cornerstone was laid by James E. Hardy, a past president of the YMCA and the only surviving charter member of the original chapter.

In September 1913, the building was completed and a four-day opening celebration was held. …

Also see . . . Y.M.C.A. Building (PDF). National Register nomination for the building, which was listed in 1977. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Y.M.C.A. Building Postcard image. Click for full size.

Heverin News Co. via Springfield College Archives and Special Collections (CC BY-NC-S)

3. Y.M.C.A. Building Postcard

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 871 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.