The History of Louisville’s Peterson Dumesnil House + 5 FREE Ways to Enjoy It!

Longtime Crescent Hill residents are likely familiar with the 4,500-square-foot Victorian Italianate abode known as the Peterson Dumesnil House. Built in 1869, this former summer home of tobacco trader Joseph Peterson was designated a Louisville landmark in 1976. The property is now owned by The Peterson-Dumesnil House Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Peek into its history and find out all the ways you can enjoy the estate and its grounds. (Hint: Many of them are free!)

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The Peterson Dumesnil House is a beautifully restored building with ornate columns, a grand staircase winding up three stories, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an iconic cupola that offers 360-degree views of the property’s surrounding garden and grounds.

But what sets this historic home apart from others in Derby City is that it’s open for community use. In addition to renting the house as an event venue, neighbors regularly utilize its grounds for walks, yoga, picnics, and the like — free of charge and without reservations.

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This offering isn’t new, but it’s a relatively little-known fact. Tony Kamber, President of the Peterson Dumesnil House Foundation Board of Directors, wishes more people were aware of it. A longtime resident of the area, Tony has been a regular at the house since his childhood. “I came here with my great-aunt all the time,” he says. “Lo and behold, I never thought I’d get married here and end up being the president.”

Tony adds that he has been the foundation’s president for eight years, and since day one, he has been trying to spread the word about the property being open to the public. After all, creating community space is part of the foundation’s mission to preserve the Peterson Dumesnil House as a landmark. He aims for the home to provide the neighborhood with a sense of historical identity and serve as a gathering place for Crescent Hill. He seeks to find economically viable uses for the estate, and to maintain it for future generations.

Renting out the house for weddings and other events helps fund the property’s care and maintenance, which includes 24-hour, onsite caretakers and security. The space offers different area and layout options, including the landscaped garden, which is commonly used for wedding ceremonies. There’s also a large lawn, which boasts enough space for large tented events, the interior of the home itself, and a large wraparound front porch. There are even 200 available parking spaces just behind the house.

The income generated from these events, as well as funding from grants and donations, keeps the property maintained so Louisvillians and visitors can use it for a myriad of other purposes.

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5 FREE Ways to Enjoy the Peterson Dumesnil House

1. Have a picnic, hold a book club, or practice yoga on the sprawling property. The house sits on 1.4 acres, so there is ample space for multiple groups to sit out amongst the trees and gaze upon the home’s architecture. It’s dog-friendly, too!
2. Take a daytime walk and observe the 60+ types of plants and flowers. Don’t miss the massive Ginkgo tree, which measures 30 feet around and is said to be one of the oldest in the region. If you’re visiting in autumn, be sure to enter the annual leaf-dropping contest. The person who correctly guesses the date the ginkgo tree drops its leaves wins a prize.
3. Take a stroll after sunset on the new lighted walking path alongside the house. (The property doesn’t have official hours of operation—just be respectful of the grounds and neighbors!)
4. Have a photoshoot. Both amateur and professional photographers are welcome to shoot pics for everything from holiday cards to senior photos on the exterior areas of the house and property. The interior can be used, too, though there is a $100 hourly fee to cover staffing.
5. Attend an event. The house is the site of various public events, including the annual 4th of July Festival and the ​​Concert Under the Cupola Series. The summertime concerts are a series of free, family-friendly events featuring local bands performing on the home’s front porch or lawn. Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs to enjoy live music by bands like North Bayly Project and the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra. The annual Crescent Hill Garden Tour, which features multiple residential gardens in the area, also includes tours of the Peterson Dumesnil House, as does the 4th of July Festival. It is held on the first Saturday of every June.

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Tony urges guests to check the events calendar before visiting, in case there are other events taking place. Personal tours of the home’s interior are also available by request. Individuals or groups can email Tony at [email protected]. As long as someone from the foundation is available, they’re happy to accommodate.

“If you like what you see, donate something,” Tony suggests. All donations go to maintaining the house and grounds, which includes equipment maintenance, groundskeeping, housekeeping, painting, and the on-site caretaker. We’re open to the public, and you should come to visit,” he says, adding that the Peterson Dumesnil House is not the foundation’s property — it’s the community’s home.

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