Welcome

Thanks for joining our mailing list! Here’s what is happening at the Filson:

Current Exhibits

Kentucky Unsettled: The Erasure of Native Homeland explores how competing Native, colonial, and American interests shaped property ownership in the Commonwealth. (Carriage House exhibit)

Bustles To Blue Jeans: Highlights from the Filson’s Fashion Archive (Bingham Gallery) The Filson’s clothing collection contains over 5,000 objects from as early as the 1810s worn for every occasion. This April, we’re opening the closets wide with this new exhibit. We’ll be showing off some of our most unusual, storied, and beautiful garments.

Upcoming Events

Rooted in Strength: The Black Family and Its Connection to the Black Experience

Date: November 18, 2025

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: The Filson Historical Society (In Person and Virtual options)

The Black Homecoming exhibit is generously sponsored by Stock Yards Bank & Trust. In conjunction with the Black Homecoming: Kentucky Kinship in Photography exhibit, the Filson proudly presents a special panel moderated by Zakia Holland from the Play Cousins Collective. This insightful roundtable discussion will explore the critical role of the Black family as the […]

Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution

Date: November 22, 2025

Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: The Filson Historical Society (In Person Only)

Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution

Founding Father Thomas Jefferson had a strong but little-known connection with the constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He had personal and politically motivated influence on the 1792 charter and secretly wrote some controversial state resolutions. Author Denis Fleming draws on firsthand accounts from Jefferson, John Breckinridge, and the rarely used papers of George Nicholas, […]

Interested in helping the Filson’s mission to collect, preserve, and share

the history and culture of the Ohio Valley Region?

Background is image of museum storage at the Filson Historical Society. Text reads "Become a Member"

Background image of child sitting on small carriage with a goat pull them. Words read "Become a Volunteer"

Visit the Filson

The Filson will be closed November 21st, 27th, and 28th for staff meetings and the holidays.

Open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm

The Filson is closed to the public the 3rd Friday of every month.

1310 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40208
(502) 635-5083

Plan Your Visit to the Filson! To register or purchase tickets for our events, please visit our Events Page.

The Research Library is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30pm; we are closed on the third Friday of each month. Appointments are not required, but feel free to reserve a seat online – learn more here. We also provide remote research services; please complete our research request form online here.

Join the Filson's Email List

Enter your email and be among the first to know about Filson events and news!