The Illinois Holocaust Museum is hosting an exhibition about the "Negro Motorist Green Book" published during America's Jim Crow era from the 1930s to the 1960s. The Green Book, published by Victor Hugo Green, was an annual guidebook for African American travelers looking for nondiscriminating gas stations, restaurants, lodging establishments and other accommodations during the … Continue reading Illinois Holocaust Museum near Chicago hosts Negro Motorist Green Book exhibition
Tag: Negro Motorist Green Book
“Interactive metaverse exhibit” coming to Springfield involves Negro Motorist Green Book
In May, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including one to Springfield for an "interactive metaverse exhibit" that would focus on "the lived experiences of Black Americans traveling or living in communities along Route 66 throughout its history." Last week, … Continue reading “Interactive metaverse exhibit” coming to Springfield involves Negro Motorist Green Book
Key organization launches Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, along with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, a few days ago announced they are launching a Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program as part of the highway's centennial celebrations culminating in 2026. According to a news release from the partnership: The Road Ahead was awarded a $250,000 grant … Continue reading Key organization launches Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program
Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
A forthcoming exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library in Flagstaff will undertake a deeper dive into the minority communities that have populated and affected the highway. "The Shades of Route 66 in Arizona: Celebrating Diversity along Arizona’s Historic Route 66" exhibit, according to a news release from the university, "will explore, document and share … Continue reading Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
Green Book sites make the list of Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
Businesses that were listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book from 1936 to 1967, including several on or near Route 66, made Landmarks Illinois' annual Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. This year, Landmarks Illinois listed nine sites it considered as endangered. "The purpose of the list is to focus attention on sites threatened by … Continue reading Green Book sites make the list of Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
The Route 66 Bloomington-Normal, Illinois page on Facebook recently posted an interesting, if obscure, historical item for Black History Month -- the Chat 'n Chew restaurant and grocery in Normal. Here's the post, with Terri Ryburn of Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague Super Service station) in Normal supplying the photo: https://www.facebook.com/Route66BN/posts/153881979883693 A 2017 article, titled "Jim … Continue reading Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, recently produced a segment about the amazing history of Alberta's Hotel, an establishment in that Route 66 city that catered to African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Alberta's Hotel was listed in the annual Negro Motorist Green Book travel guide. Both perished during the mid-1960s, about the time the United … Continue reading The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Workers on Tuesday began tearing down the long-closed Cactus Motor Lodge, aka Cactus RV Park, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to make way for an auto parts store. O'Reilly Auto Parts, based in Springfield, Missouri, plans to build a store there later this year. O'Reilly purchased the property in late 2018 but was delayed in developing … Continue reading Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Library of Congress puts Negro Motorist Green Book interviews online, including Threatt Filling Station’s
The Library of Congress recently posted online photographs and taped interviews of the owners of surviving African American businesses for Candacy Taylor's Negro Motorist Green Book research. One of the interviewees is Allen Threatt of the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. The collection, found here, includes interview subjects from Miami, Florida; … Continue reading Library of Congress puts Negro Motorist Green Book interviews online, including Threatt Filling Station’s
Cash register from Threatt Filling Station to be part of Smithsonian exhibition
The original cash register used in the historic Threatt Filling Station on Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma, is on display as part of the Smithsonian's "The Negro Motorist Green Book" exhibition at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. According to The Luther Register, the cash register is on loan during a three-year national tour … Continue reading Cash register from Threatt Filling Station to be part of Smithsonian exhibition