Portland Museum

Portland Museum Groundbreaking on Louisville's First Children's Museum called AHOY! 

WE ARE GROWING! The Portland Museum, a cornerstone of cultural heritage and education in Louisville’s West End, is set to break ground on its latest project: AHOY – Adventure House of You. This innovative children’s museum, scheduled groundbreaking ceremony on October 5th, 2024, represents a significant step forward for the Portland neighborhood and a new chapter in the museum’s mission to serve the community. Our campus is expanding its footprint to serve more families!

This year, your donation will be matched! The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation has generously pledged a matching gift of $10,000 to help break down barriers!
 

YOUR GIFT CAN HELP US MAKE LOUISVILLE'S CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL!!

“The opportunity for children in west Louisville to have easy access to a creative space where they can dream and explore is vital,” says Kacie Chase, President of the Portland Museum board, “AHOY will not only provide this space but will also offer a new way for people across Louisville to connect with the rich history and vibrant future of the West End.” 

We want to make sure that we break down all the barriers. For this year's Give for Good campaign, we're making waves by focusing on accessibility, ensuring that every visitor to our museum can dive into the adventure. With your support, we're turning imagination into reality—starting with a one-of-a-kind ADA-accessible ramp that welcomes you into the museum through the mouth of a whimsical fish, making each step a part of the journey.

But that's just the beginning. Your donations will also fund a magical time-travel elevator, transforming a simple ride into an unforgettable experience through the ages. And for those who need a serene space, we're creating a sensory room where visitors can relax and find peace alongside large-scale sleeping bison, offering comfort and calm. For families in need, we aim to offer free memberships to ensure that nothing stands as a barrier.

We need YOUR HELP to activate the most exciting part of our campus... 

Louisville's FIRST Children's Museum

AHOY was created through collaboration between the museum’s leadership, local professionals, and the community. Danny Seim, AHOY Children's Museum Director, and Executive Director Katy Delahanty worked closely to ensure the project reflects Portland's values. The Catfish Club, a group of West End youth, played a key role in shaping AHOY’s design. “We wanted AHOY to be a museum for children, by children,” Seim says. “Their ideas helped us create a place that is not only fun and educational but also deeply connected to the community it serves.”

Join us in building a museum where accessibility meets creativity—because everyone deserves to be part of the story!AHOY Children's Museum Catfish Club! Advises on all the fun design work while enjoying free programming! AHOY Children's Museum ADA Accessible Fish Ramp with AHOY Children's Museum Architectural Designs by Wolfgang & Hite, award-winning tour of Portland collaboration with the Filson Historical Society, and letter-pressed poster at our annual Portland Art & Heritage Fair!Our Lighthouse building is where education and artist residencies happen! Each residency will give programming to both Portland Museum and AHOY Children's MuseumOur Henrietta Helm Scholarship in support of BIPOC students at UofL's Teacher Residency Program, our exhibit space where we have rotating art exhibitions, and a photo of 200 kites donated to our Museum's collections!