It’s been 13 years since preservationists and art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown opened their first 21c Museum Hotel. It operates inside a renovated 19th-century warehouse space in Louisville, Kentucky. Its two-story contemporary art gallery immediately set this hotel apart. Free and open daily, the gallery offers guided tours on Wednesdays and Fridays. These 21st-century art exhibits rotate among 21c properties every six to eight months. This art museum hotel brand has jumped into the boutique hotel scene in a big way, seamlessly blending art and luxury.

Art meets luxury in the 2-story art gallery lobby at the 21c in Louisville. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

There’s also a 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, KY; Cincinnati; Bentonville, Arkansas; Durham, North Carolina; Oklahoma City; and Nashville. More hotels are slated for Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis.

Each property features complimentary Wi-Fi and a chef-driven restaurant. Environmentally friendly toiletries are also aluminum, alcohol, paraben, baking soda, and residue-free.

A flock of four-foot-tall recycled plastic penguins reminds visitors about environmental conservation. Upon request, they migrate throughout the hotel. Penguins have hidden behind shower curtains and ‘greeted’ guests at the elevator.

I stayed at and visited several 21c Museum Hotels. Come along to discover what I found:

A New Concept Begins: Art Museum Hotel in Louisville

This flagship 91-room property is located in Louisville’s Museum Row. Near the restaurant entrance, a massive gold statue of David stands.

A massive David statue sits in front of 21c Louisville. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

Red Penguins flock from the roof line to the gift shop and wine refrigerator. One penguin stood just outside my window.

Recycled penguins appear and disappear throughout the hotel. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

A black-and-white video installation mirrored each guest’s movements near the elevators on the main floor. In the white upstairs hallway, a long mural depicted black figures at sunset.

In my Luxury King room, a rubber ducky smiled from the shower. I also found a fluffy robe and bathmat, and I enjoyed one of the strongest hotel showers ever.

The rooms are spacious and welcoming at 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

Neutral colors filled the bedroom, and a colorful painting hung above the bed. Upholstered chairs and a desk created a comfortable workspace. There was also a coffee maker and a mini-bar. Surprisingly, only four hangers occupied the nicely sized closet.

The Original 21c Gallery in Louisville

After admiring antique architecture along Main Street in Louisville, I explored the hotel’s Labor&Materials art exhibit. Its goal was to “explore industry evolution in the 21st century.” Hand-forged branding irons featured 21st-century symbols, including the Playboy Bunny and the design for a Rolling Stones album cover.

This enormous sculpture anchored gallery space at 21c Museum Hotel Louisville. Photo by Lisa Waterman Gray

A photo series called Carpoolers depicted everyday life in Monterrey, Mexico. Massive paintings, life-sized figures, and fabric art were also displayed. In addition, an enormous metal art piece hung near the stairs.

Browse the art gallery at 21c hotels. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

Dinner and Turn Down Service in Louisville

The hotel restaurant, PROOF, had a funky vibe with unique chandeliers and a buffalo head near the door. It was packed at 7 PM on a Tuesday. A 20-page bar menu offered quartinos of wine or 1 ½ glasses.

Proof on Main in 21c Louisville. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

I enjoyed a dinner salad while admiring a risotto bowl and a large burger with fries. The kitchen kindly provided a sample of the restaurant’s smoked Kentucky catfish dip. Creamy and mild, it arrived with spicy hot sauce and house-made cracker crisp.

After refreshing espresso, horchata, and strawberry/rhubarb gelati and sorbet I returned to my room. Turn-down service included very low light and Fair Trade chocolates.

Music City’s 21c Museum Hotel

Opened in spring 2017, the 21c Museum Hotel in Nashville’s bustling urban core offers guests walkable access to small music venues and big museums. Despite a $40 fee, valet parking is recommended on this narrow one-way street.

Turquoise Penguins decorate this urban hotel. Photo courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Nashville

Occasional Turquoise Penguins punctuated this dramatic hotel environment. Art decorated the front desk wall inside the two-story, white lobby. That’s where I learned I could tour the gallery while sipping spirits from the bar.

Nearby, a fictional animal resembled a taxidermy deer covered with feathers and leather. The elevator hallway showcased massive photographs. There was also an oil-based woodcut print and a pigment print on metallic paper. A glass ‘box’ as tall as my nose displayed bright green salvaged plastic items.

A black metal stairway led to the lower gallery level. Called The SuperNatural, this large exhibition included bird images created from soot on paper, digitally manipulated photo portraits, and massive images of jungle foliage.

Each art exhibition fills gallery space on two floors. Photo courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Nashville

Dramatic Accommodations in Nashville

Upstairs, gray-black hall walls made it tough to see. The ceiling lights were turned on and created visual light ‘squares’ from floor to ceiling.

Lighting is unique in the 21c Art Museum Hotels. Photo courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

The drama continued in my Luxury King guest room. The low-ceiling entryway featured a black wall and a wood pillar. It opened into the bedroom area, where ceiling height soared. Striking zebra-stripe drapes and sheers covered massive windows.

A white chandelier above the desk table and love seat resembled dozens of long paper strips. Black hexagonal floor tiles and large white wall tiles filled the bathroom. Recessed lights framed the mirror.

Dinner in the Bar in Nashville

Inside the bar at Gray & Dudley, three-story windows illuminated dark upholstery and wood. An outdoor planter full of large ferns added green beauty. The adjacent restaurant had a lower ceiling, creamy walls, and an open kitchen.

Guests will find art near the restaurant. Photo courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Nashville

I ordered a 6-ounce glass of wine. Then, I savored the Duck Fried Rice appetizer with fried egg. It was smoky, creamy, and savory, with chewy duck bits. The dessert menu included five desserts and a handful of digestifs.

A hot shower and a comfortable bed capped off my pleasant stay.

If you enjoy contemporary art, accommodations, and urban excitement, book a stay at a 21c Museum Hotel. For more information, see each city’s tourism websites, such as VisitMusicCity.com (Nashville) and GoToLouisville.com (Louisville). Be sure to follow along on Wander for more about our favorite luxury hotels.