Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville Derby Clock: Jefferson Races, Taylor Cheers (Gone)
A large animated clock, built for the 1976 Bicentennial, resembles a horse track surrounding a grandstand of cheering fans. At various hours of the day the race is run. The miniature figures are all Kentucky celebrities: jockeys include President Thomas Jefferson and Daniel Boone, fans include President Zachary Taylor and filmmaker D.W. Griffith. The city spent over $1 million restoring the clock, but couldn't keep it running. It was moved into storage July 2015.
Theater Square
- Directions:
- Theater Square. Downtown, on 4th St. just north of Broadway.
- Hours:
- Moved into storage July 2015.
- Status:
- Gone
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Visitor Tips and News About Louisville Derby Clock: Jefferson Races, Taylor Cheers
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The clock is worth a stop and runs at 12:00 and 6:00 PM. It's across the street from the Brown Hotel, where the "Hot Brown" was created.
[Jessica, 05/29/2013]
The clock has been repainted, fully restored and is now totally functional and on public display in Theatre Square.
[Boris Miner, 09/23/2012]June 2013: Photo added.
Designed and built by local sculptor Barney Bright in 1976, the 40-foot tall mechanical clock sat on fourth street in Louisville, Kentucky. Every day at noon, a crowd would gather to watch the mechanical figures of George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, the Belle of Louisville, King Louis XVI and Thomas Jefferson race on horses around the track. After 30 years, the clock's workings rusted out and it was all but abandoned, and relocated to Kentucky Kingdom. Now a group of local townspeople have retrieved the clock, moving it to Bowman's Field and beginning restoration work. When it's finished, they hope to find a prominent site to display the restored beauty.
The photo is of a fundraising pin display in a local store.
[Steph Mineart, 05/23/2005]
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June 2013: Photo added.