Cherokee Triangle is a thriving urban neighborhood with a rich heritage. The tree-lined streets, stone fences and brick alleys add to the character of this early city suburb. The historic district looks very much today as it did fifty, seventy-five and even one hundred years ago.

Real estate partners James Henning and Joshua Speed created the nucleus for the Cherokee Triangle Historic Landmark District when they purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land in 1869. Henning and Speed began subdivision of the land into house lots in 1870 and the first house was completed in 1871.

As with the rest of the city, the Ohio River greatly influenced the siting of the new suburb. Before the days of flood control measures, the river was prone to regular flooding of low-lying areas. Henning and Speed sought out land on "the Hill" (now known collectively as the Highlands), one of the highest spots near the city, for land speculation.

Cherokee Road, originally called Upper Broadway, was designated the main thoroughfare of the suburb. Only affluent Louisvillians could afford to move to the new development. It was a necessity for residents to own horses and carriages for transportation.

As gaslines and public transportation options were expanded, the neighborhood stretched eastward from Broadway. The development of Cherokee Park on 325 acres bounded by Grinstead Drive, Cherokee Parkway and Lexington Road created an anchor for the southern boundary of the district. The Frederick Law Olmsted park, one of more than one hundred Olmsted and successor firm commissions in Louisville, is regarded as a priceless amenity to the neighborhood.

The hundreds of buildings in the neighborhood reflect the evolution of American tastes and aspirations. With some exceptions, it is possible to trace the popularity of architectural styles by traveling east from Broadway on Cherokee Road. The Italianate style of the 1870s is succeeded by exotic revivals, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Shingle-style, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, Tudor Revival, Beaux Arts, Prairie-Craftsman inspired, and Italian Renaissance. Many of the houses were designed by local and nationally-recognized architects, such as Joseph & Joseph, Arthur Loomis, E.T. Hutchings.

The neighborhood boasts an Andrew Carnegie public library building, now reconfigured as office space, and numerous churches. The use of quality building materials, attention to detail and thoughtful design for the buildings, streets and alleys has contributed to the continuing importance of this traditional neighborhood to the residential fabric of the city.

The Castleman Statue

Perhaps most familiar of all landmarks in Cherokee Triangle is the large bronze sculpture of General John Breckinridge Castleman standing sentry over Cherokee Parkway at its intersection with Cherokee Road. A veteran of both Civil and Spanish American Wars, Castleman lived on an estate across Bardstown Road. He is generally considered the father of Louisville's park system, especially the Olmsted parks.


As Parks Commissioner, General Castleman was responsible in 1890 for bringing Frederick Law Olmsted to Louisville to personally work on the design of Cherokee Park. (This was one of the last commissions Olmsted worked on before entering an institution, according to John Cullinane in his publication, Walking Thru Louisville.) Castleman and Caroline frequently rode through the neighborhood on their way to inspect the new park. Castleman and Caroline were sculpted by New York sculptor R. Hinton Perry. In her work The Cherokee Area, a History, Anne S. Karem comments that the "Castleman" statue, dedicated in 1913, is "one of the few in the country erected to a living person." Purportedly, this bronze work is the only equestrian statue for which the horse posed!

According to Cullinane, "Legend has it that Caroline...changes her stance at midnight, New Year's Eve."

What are you doing next December 31? Shall we meet at "the Castleman" and see if this legend or superstition is true?

Association / Upcoming / Triangle Tips / Home

Questions or comments about this site: webmaster@cherokeetriangle.org.