LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby Museum broke ground in 1984 and it was a long time coming for the community known as the capital of horse racing.
The museum opened on Apr. 27, 1985 after 16 years of planning, 14 months of construction and infinite anticipation.
Dressed to the nines, famous faces alongside Louisville locals shuffled into the museum.
It was an elite event and the first of the new attraction’s opening ceremonies.
“Tomorrow morning it's the public's turn with an eleven o’clock ribbon cutting ceremony and if there's any kind of a sure bet at Churchill Downs it's that the new derby museum will be the number one tourist attraction."
The museum was dedicated to James Graham Brown – the hotel and horseman who provided funding for the new museum, requesting it be a bigger and better tribute to the fastest two minutes in sports.
On the 5th anniversary of the museum, former WHAS-TV anchor Melissa Swan got a look inside at the multiple levels of exhibits.
“Take a trip back in time to Derbies captured on film since 1918," she said.
Since then, the motivation behind the museum's dedicated staff hasn't wavered.
"Today's mission is about the same as it was – it is to engage, educate and excite everyone about the extraordinary experience that is the Kentucky Derby," Patrick Armstrong, president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Museum, said.
A look inside at today's displays show the building is still a treasure trove of Derby's most memorable moments.
“To be the storytellers, to be the legacy, to be the deliverer of the history of such an amazing event is a real privilege for us to do that and we bring Kentucky Derby every day here at the Derby Museum," Armstrong said.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
RELATED VIDEOS