The Filson Historical Society

10/14/2026

10/07/2026

Enter for your chance to win this amazing piece of American history: https://filsonhistorical.com/raffle

10/05/2026

Sign up for FREE here: https://ow.ly/li3Y50ZUFcn

Within a decade and a half after gaining her freedom from slavery in the early 1830s, Amy Dorsey Moulden (circa 1800-1855) used the legal channels available to her to marry Charles Moulden, purchase her enslaved children Louisa and Harrison, and buy property on Walnut Street in Louisville. In 1855, she left a will arranging for the purchase of the freedom of her son George and her grandson James.

We know about these critical events of Amy Moulden’s life due to the availability of Jefferson County Clerk’s Office (JCCO) records. Her name, both as an enslaved person and as a free woman of color, appears in estate inventories, marriage records, deed books, tax records, and a will book. The Filson is partnering with the JCCO to make these records more accessible so people can find their ancestors and stories.

To learn more about Amy Moulden’s remarkable story and how to research your own family history, join us at Family History Day at the Filson on October 17 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

10/02/2026

Join us at the Filson on Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 pm for an exploration of the architecture of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, digitally reconstructed in 3D by Architectural Associate Andrew Mateja with the use of original architectural blueprints and historical photographs. Register here: https://ow.ly/Wxqo50ZTFiZ

Mateja’s virtual reconstruction features interiors and exteriors of not just the monumental Gothic Tudor Revival sanatorium that opened 100 years ago, but also older and newer structures long since demolished. Mateja will talk about his reconstruction process, revealing long-forgotten architectural details and design features, and offering new insight into one of America’s most recognizable tuberculosis hospitals.

As part of the event, Luckett & Farley has generously offered to display a selection of the original architectural drawings for the 1926 sanatorium building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

10/01/2026

Your last chance to get tickets! https://ow.ly/eLMC50ZTx5m

Tonight, discover the extraordinary untold lives and diverse communities that shaped the 19th-century American West. Challenge the myth of American expansion, notions of what the American West was, who created it, and who is allowed to claim it as home.

Uncover the real history with acclaimed historian Megan Kate Nelson as she brings her book, The Westerners, to Louisville for the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series. Reserve your seats today for an unmissable evening at Actors Theatre.

10/01/2026

09/28/2026

"Centering diverse communities in a history of the 19th-century American West challenges popular notions of what the region was and is, who created it, and who is allowed to claim it as home." - Megan Kate Nelson, Ph.D.

Uncover the real history of the American West with acclaimed historian Megan Kate Nelson as she brings her book, The Westerners, to Louisville for the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series. Discover the extraordinary untold lives that shaped the frontier and challenge the myth of American expansion. Reserve your seats today for an unmissable evening at Actors Theatre. https://ow.ly/2Vv850ZJsFx

09/25/2026

Adopt this artifact! https://filsonhistorical.org/adopt-an-artifact/whitework-quilt/

09/23/2026

Register here for FREE: https://ow.ly/kZNB50ZQhMS

October is Family History Month! Join us at the Filson for a free community event exploring personal, family, and local history. Guests will have opportunities to explore historical resources curated by Collections staff, connect with community organizations at the Resources Fair, enjoy brief presentations on topics related to research resources and avenues, and participate in activities for a variety of ages.

09/21/2026

Designing houses in high school? Most of us doodle on a piece of paper, but to Stratton Hammon, doodles weren't going to cut it. By 17, he had already designed houses and been featured in the paper. Later on, during the Great Depression, he would sell house designs just like this one to magazines to stay afloat and garnered national recognition at the same time.