LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory recently completed its renovated museum experience—the museum’s first gallery renovation in nearly 15 years.
The Bat Vault is now a 638-square-foot gallery, more than double its original size. Guests can enter the area and marvel at more than 3,000 original bat models designed by some of the game’s most legendary players. Some of the models on display are more than 100 years old. The Bat Vault experience is now included with general admission to the museum.
“We call the Bat Vault our ‘Fort Knox of baseball bats,’ and we are thrilled to now treat all of our guests to the stories, history, and spectacle that comes with the vault,” says Deana Lockman, executive director of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. “The museum is all about creating unforgettable experiences, and these renovations will undoubtedly add to the one-of-a-kind experience we offer.”
Hold A Piece of History, the permanent exhibit where guests can hold game-used bats, has received a massive overhaul, touting more photo opportunities for guests to show off their finest batting stance while holding a legendary piece of lumber.
Throughout the gallery, the museum’s iconic player sculptures are also now positioned with a photo-op background for guests to capture the memory of standing alongside greats like Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams.
Another highlight of the renovation is a 200-square-foot space for temporary exhibits. Kicking off in the space is West Main’s Marvel: The Big Bat. In the new exhibit, guests discover the story of how Hillerich & Bradsby Co. (owner and operator of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory) moved to West Main in 1995, the installation of the iconic Big Bat, and the impact the museum has had on the development of downtown Louisville.
The gallery renovation was designed by JRA, part of RWS Entertainment Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Louisville’s Schaefer Construction serving as the general contractor for the build-out. Fabrication was done by 1220 Exhibits of Nashville, Tenn.
The museum hosted an unveiling event on April 5, during which representatives of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory gave remarks and a new Bat Vault model was added to the collection in honor of the ceremony.
