On our last day in Louisville, KY we decided to take in some sights downtown. One of my favorite stops of the entire trip turned out to be our visit to the 21c Museum Hotel. Curious about what a museum hotel looks like? Keep reading to find out more!

So what exactly is 21c Museum Hotel? Here is a short description from their website:

21c Museum Hotel is a multi-venue contemporary art museum, an award-winning 91-room boutique hotel, and home to acclaimed Proof on Main restaurant, led by executive chef Mike Wajda.

Basically, this place has it all. If you’re looking to stay at one of the swankiest spots in the city, eat a fabulous meal and check out amazing modern art then you really don’t need to look any further. If you’re like us and just want to stop by the building to explore, it’s totally free and entirely worth your time.

Here’s a few photos and details from our visit:

As soon as you walk into the lobby you can spot a spacious art exhibit and open halls directing you to other museum areas. This first space had a number of interesting pieces with exquisite detail.

A dark room off to the side showcased a moving image display that was one of my favorites.

Walking further into the museum to the downstairs area you are immediately greeted with giant, bold prints.

We were all transfixed by this timepiece setup.

The use of color and light seemed to be a common theme throughout the main space.

There were also tons of side rooms to explore including this amazing black light room.

And this interactive space that incorporated moving text and motion capture.

My favorite piece at 21c was actually this outdoor steam installation that could be seen through the windows of the hotel and was completely memorizing to watch.

In addition to the museum, 21c’s lobby also connects you to the popular restaurant Proof on Main. It was too early to grab a bite when we visited but the friendly bartender let me explore with my camera. The decor was wild and absolutely charming.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit bummed out that I didn’t get a chance to try out the food. Always a reason to go back 🙂