I'm usually game for anything while traveling but as a non-boxing fan I was literally dragged to the Muhammad Ali Center during my last trip to Louisville.  Don't worry, it was much better than expected, and I'd go so far to recommend this facility to even those who, like myself, are not the least bit sports inclined.

Know Before You Go
The Muhummad Ali Center is located in an impressive facility in downtown Louisville.  Convenient, affordable parking is available either directly under the center or across the street at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.  We opted for the latter, since we had been there earlier the day and for some reason been let out of the garage without being charged.  This time, we paid around $4.00 for our two-hour visit.

Center hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Adults cost $9.00 and children $4.00.  Various discounts are available, including $1.00 off for anyone who can show a ticket stub from another Museum Row participant (Louisville Science Center, KentuckyShow!, Glassworks, etc.)  Students, even graduate ones like my husband, save $4.00.

If you are in Lousville for a short time and wish to squeeze in multiple attractions in a day, I recommend visiting this one last.  This is not because the museum is poor, but simply because it does not seem to get crowded.  We visited at 2:00 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in October and had the place virtually to ourselves.

Our Experience
The Muhammad Ali Center explores the fascinating, complex, and often controversial life of Muhammad Ali.  Visitors are encouraged to start their self-guided tour by viewing a fifteen minute or so introductory film before wending their way through a series of print and multimedia exhibits following Ali from his roots as Cassius Clay through his boxing career and into the present.  Through its displays, the museum attempts to educate about Ali as well as to inspire visitors to honor six core values: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, spirituality and giving. 

This museum, like many others, offers a dizzying array of printed material.  It would probably take a full day to read every word of every display.  Because my boxing attention span is not that long, we skimmed the less interesting displays and focused our time on what we considered to be most interesting.  These included a series of displays on religion, the Vietnam War, and other cultural events which impacted Ali's life.  Particularly unique was a display about Ali's love of poetry with a coordinating video featuring some of his most famous rhymes.  Even if his poems were mostly rather boastful, I found it refreshing to see an athlete take such an interest in the written word.

One exhibit which is "not to be missed" is a film projected onto a boxing ring on a lower floor.  It is viewable from the floors above - just lean over the railing and watch.  This video detailed Ali's boxing career and, amazingly, managed to keep me riveted throughout.  Another exceptional film details Ali's lighting of the torch at the 1996 Olympics.  The video is accompanied by color-changing torch lights and - perhaps coolest of all - the actual torch used in the opening ceremony is on display in the next room.

All but the most sports-loving or precocious children will be bored out of their skulls at this reading and film-focused facility.  However, there are a couple of nods to interactivity, including a boxing simulation (with gloves) and some computer games.

Shops and Facilities
The Muhammad Ali Center offers a very nice gift shop with logo souvenirs, art prints and craft items.  There are also event facilities which I assume are quite extensive - the exhibit space seems to fill only a small portion of this giant building.

Outside the museum there is a very nice area with fountains and an amphitheater.  We climbed to the top for some interesting views and generally enjoyed the peace and quite on a chilly October day. 
 
Overall . . .
The Muhammad Ali Center is something different.  It feels more reverent than a typical museum, probably because of the Ali family's close involvement.  I like the fact that it covers a wide array of topics while somehow tying them all in to the central theme of boxing as a metaphor for life.  If you like a history lesson with your sports, the Muhammad Ali Center is a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon in Louisville.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples