Plan Your Visit
Walk into the Ferguson Mansion in Old Louisville, take a tour of the building, see what's on exhibit, or settle into the research library. There is no admission fee. There never has been.
Hours
Monday through Friday, 9 AM–4:30 PM.
Closed the third Friday of each month, and on federal holidays.
The research library follows the same schedule. Weekend visits are available for pre-arranged group tours.
Address & directions
Old Louisville, three blocks south of Central Park, between Ormsby and Ouerbacker.
Open in Google MapsParking
Free on-site parking in lots on the north and south of the building, plus the lot at the northeast corner of Ormsby and Third. Bicycle parking is available at the front entrance. Accessible parking spaces are reserved on the south side of the building.
Accessibility
The Ferguson Mansion is fully ADA accessible. Elevators serve all public floors. Accessible parking, restrooms, and entry are available; please ask at the front desk for assistance with any specific accommodation.
Photography & research
Personal photography of the exhibits and grounds is welcome. Digital photography of research-room materials is free for personal academic use. Reproduction-grade scans and licensing are available on request.
On View
Four galleries spread across the Mansion and the Carriage House. New exhibits open throughout the year.
Through August 7, 2026
Highlights from the Filson’s Fashion Archive
Bingham Gallery
Unusual, storied, and beautiful garments drawn from a five-thousand-piece clothing and textile collection that begins in the 1810s and reaches into the present day.
Ongoing
Carriage House
For more than two centuries, African American Louisvillians have shaped the city’s social, political, and cultural fabric. This exhibit celebrates the resilience, creativity, and enduring impact of the Black experience in forming the River City’s identity.
Opens May 29, 2026
Textiles & Handwork of the Ohio Valley
Nash Gallery
Two and a half centuries of textile arts from the Ohio Valley, including rare early-nineteenth-century whitework quilts.
Opens September 18, 2026
Louisville Ballet 75th Anniversary
Bingham Gallery
A celebration of three-quarters of a century of dance in Louisville, drawn from the Ballet’s archive and the Filson’s collections.
What to expect
The Filson occupies the Ferguson Mansion, designed in 1901 by the Louisville architectural firm Cobb & Dodd — the same firm that designed the Seelbach Hotel and the Kentucky State Capitol. Plan an hour to walk the exhibits, longer if you intend to use the research room.
