ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune Louisville Stoneware was founded in 1815. It originally made pitchers, churns and stoneware crocks.

 Louisville Stoneware’s signature blue and white designs are every bit as iconic as the Twin Spires, Louisville Slugger and Muhammad Ali. But these icons are youngsters compared to the nearly 200-year-old stoneware company.

Founded in 1815 by Jacob Lewis, the company was originally called Lewis Pottery Co. Lewis sold salt-glazed pitchers, churns and stoneware crocks to store food and liquids.

The company went through a series of owners and name changes until 1938, when it was bought by John B. Taylor and renamed Louisville Stoneware.

ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune Louisville-themed items, like these KFC and U of L items, are popular.		ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  Derby-themed items are a favorite.

 The company nearly closed in 1969 when Taylor decided to retire, but was saved by engineer John Robertson, who bought the company. Robertson was ready to close up shop in 1997, but Christy Brown took it over.

Brown instituted the making of presidential home plates, even presenting one to Ronald Reagan. She is also credited with introducing many celebrities to Louisville Stoneware, including Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Julia Child.

ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  Owner Christy Brown started making plates of presidential homesteads for the presidents, including Ronald Regan.		ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  Brown introduced celebrities and dignitaries, like Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Julia Child, to Louisville Stoneware.

 Photos of celebrities and their custom pieces adorn the walls of the stoneware museum.

Celebrity garden guru and Kentucky native Jon Carloftis has a line of stoneware birdhouses and feeders at Louisville Stoneware. A line of garden pots are set to debut this spring.

ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  Celebrity garden guru Jon Carloftis has a line of birdhouses and feeders.

 Louisville Stoneware’s line has expanded to include many ready-to-order designs and an endless number of custom designs. Its location at 731 Brent St. includes a retail store, factory and museum. Open six days a week, guided and unguided tours of the factory and museum are available.

ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  The museum traces Louisville Stoneware's history and designs from 1815 to today.

 Louisville Stoneware also has a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio that lets people of all ages to choose a basic piece of pottery and paint a design. The pieces are glazed and fired and shipped to the owner in about a week.

ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune  The Paint-Your-Own-Pottery studio allows guests to paint their own creations, then have it glazed and fired.		ASHLEY MEDLEY | Voice-Tribune Items from the studio are shipped in about a week.

 Small pieces are $20. Large pieces start at $25.

Emily Blanford, director of tours, said the bachelor button (or cornflower) design is still the company’s most popular.

Mark your calendars
Louisville Stoneware will hold a preview party on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m., to unveil artist Ngoc Phan’s latest stoneware piece, which will be awarded to the winner of this year’s Triple Crown of Running.

Phan has been with Louisville Stoneware for more than 30 years. He has created pieces for the White House and Buckingham Palace.

Store hours
Louisville Stoneware is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are held daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Tours are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3.50 for children under 12.

Visit ­louisvillestoneware.com or call 582-1900.

Check out the Out & About blog to see where to go when you’re out & about this weekend.