Louisville Metro Government District Mystery Cache

The listed coordinates will take you to a map of the Louisville Metro Government District.  From here you will start your mini tour of Louisville’s Civic Center.  Your journey to the cache and back to the starting location will cover about 6 short city blocks. Although this cache is recommended for children please use caution and closely supervise them as this is a busy area especially during normal work hours.  Lets get started...
Nearby you will see a light colored obelisk monument at the busy corner of 5th and Jefferson Streets. Head towards this monument.

The Jefferson County World War II Memorial is a 30 foot high marble monolith topped by a flame finial.  The Louisville War Mothers group initiated this memorial just after the end of the war to honor those who served.

Question #1
A =  The number of large bronze plaques containing Soldier’s names from Jefferson County who gave their lives for our country plus 1.

While facing the obelisk if you look to your left you will see a statue of a US Soldier.  Proceed to the front of this statue.  

The Kentucky Medal of Honor Statue was the first of its kind in the US when it was dedicated in 2001.  The memorial recognizes 56 Kentucky Soldiers who have received the Medal of Honor which is our nation’s highest decoration for battlefield bravery.

Question #2

B = Number of Jefferson County Medal of Honor recipients from WW I.

Looking west on Jefferson Street and you will see a large bronze bell statue with figures on top of it.  Proceed down the sidewalk to a point in between the statue and the steps coming down from the nearby building.  
Along the way if you look across Jefferson Street you will see a small city park.  Jefferson Square Park contains memorials for Louisville's fallen police officers and firemen.   Beyond the small park you will see the old jail that was built in 1905.  It now houses the city Planning commission, Criminal Justice offices and government archival records.  To the right of the old jail just across 6th street is the new city Corrections building.

The large bell shape statue honoring the county namesake Thomas Jefferson, who is located at the top of the bell, was donated to the City of Louisville in 1909 by Isaac Bernheim and his brother Bernard.   Isaac made his fortune in the Bourbon business and later became a philanthropist.  His best civic deed by far was purchasing and donating the almost 15,000 acre Bernheim Forest just south of Louisville to a private foundation for use by the public.

Question #3
C = Number of human like figures (angels count) on the cast Iron bell.

Jefferson County Courthouse - 1933

The steps behind you ascend to the old Jefferson county courthouse

The Jefferson County Courthouse was completed in 1842 in the Greek revival style. For many years this building was the focal point for county government.  It also has seen its share of civil unrest activities including slavery, Black Monday, and prohibition as well as a serving as a rallying point for World War I and II patriotic support.  The building housed the Kentucky State Legislature during a short period of time that confederate forces had taken control of the Frankfort State Capital building during the Civil War.  A fire in 1905 did major damage to the courthouse.  It was quickly restored with some modifications.  The building is now called Metro Hall. It houses the Mayor’s office, County Clerk records and Deeds archives.   The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Behind the old courthouse is Metro Hall Annex which houses Human Resources and the Fiscal Court building which houses the County Clerk, PVA, and Sheriff’s offices.

Question #4
D = Number of panes in the window just above front doors of old courthouse minus 3.

From here look down the street (west) and you will see a large white statue on the corner of 6th and Jefferson.  Proceed to the front of that statue. 

King Louis XVI may be best known for his relationship with Queen Marie-Antoinette and the French Revolution, but his help was instrumental in the outcome of the American Revolution.  As a way of honoring him for providing supplies and soldiers to the war, a Virginia settlement was named “Louisville” and chartered by the Virginia Legislature in 1780.  

Unfortunately for King Louis, France’s economy collapse brought on by the country's support of the American Revolution and high food prices due to drought, ultimately ended in its own revolution and the Kings and Queens beheading.

Louisville’s early days were influenced by French immigrants and settlers.  A large contingent of French settled in the Shippingport area, but after the flood of 1832 Portland became the center of the French community in Louisville.  

 As a tribute to Louisville's French connection, Montpellier, which is Louisville's sister city in France, presented this statue of King Louis XVI to the city of Louisville.  This historic 12 foot high 9 ton marble statue which had originally been unveiled in Montpellier was commissioned by the kings’ family in the early 1820’s making it one of the oldest statues to grace the streets of Kentucky.

Question #5
E = Last digit of the year the monument was dedicated.

Louisville City Hall - 1913

If you look over your left shoulder while facing the statue you will see the front of City Hall across 6th street.

This 3 story structure with a distinctive clock tower has an assortment of delicate columns and other architectural features that are reminiscent of buildings like Doge’s Palace in Venice Italy.  It was built from limestone quarried near Salem Indiana and completed in 1873.  The city of Louisville with pride of its accomplishments and an eye to the new Millennium incorporated features in the building of local significance.   The roofline pediment above the entrance doors contains a relief of a steam locomotive and the city seal with the inscription “Progress 1871”.   The building also contains statuary heads of animals that were very important to Louisville’s development from its agricultural roots.  The original clock tower burned in 1875 and was replaced in 1876.  City Hall now houses the offices and chambers of the City Metro Council.   This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. 

Question #6
F = Total number of animal heads on the front of the building.

Cross 6th street and head west on Jefferson Street.  Just past City Hall you will see a building with large columns.

The Louisville City Hall Annex was built in 1909.  The original City Hall plans called for a larger building than what was actually completed in 1873.  The problem was at the time the old city jail sat on the land which is now occupied by the City Hall Annex.  It wasn’t until a new jail built at the corner of Liberty and 6th street was completed in 1905 that city hall could finally be expanded.    Thirty two years had passed since the completion of City Hall phase one.   By this time there were new architects and city administrators in charge.  It was decided by the new leadership to build a different architectural style structure.  So that’s how Louisville ended up with a city hall with an older section built in the Italianate style and a newer section built in the Greco Roman style.  This building currently houses Metro Finance and Internal Audit offices. City Hall Annex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. 

Question #7
G = Number of Iron light poles in front of the Annex plus 3.

Louisville Fire Department Headquarters - 1921

Head west on Jefferson to the front of a red stone building. 

Louisville’s Steam Engine Company #2 Firehouse was built in 1891 and served as the fire department headquarters until 1936.  It originally had a bell tower on left front corner but was later removed.    In 1937 the old firehouse was converted to offices and became part of the Louisville City Hall complex.  It was named the Sinking Funds building because it was used for city tax collectors offices.  It still houses the Metro Revenue Commission.  This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. 

Question #8
H = Number of Fire hats on the old Firehouse.

Now plug in all the information you collected on your journey into the following coordinates and this will lead you to the cache.   N38 1G.ABC  W085 4D.EFH     The checksum = 38

You are looking for a whizbang hidden a short distance from Jefferson Street.   Remember to bring a writing instrument to sign the log and please replace cache as found hidden away from inquisitive eyes.