The Magnolia House in Greensboro has been officially included in the National Register of Historic Places, a recognition bestowed by the National Park Service. The property, dating back to 1889, is noted for its role as a Green Book resource.
First published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green, a postal carrier, “The Negro Motorist Green Book” served as a crucial guide during the Jim Crow era. At a time when discriminatory “Whites Only” policies complicated travel for Black individuals, the “Green Book” offered reliable information on safe places for lodging and dining.
Between the mid-1950s and 1961, The Historic Magnolia House appeared in six editions of the Green Book. It served as a haven for numerous prominent figures of the 20th century, such as Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, and Jackie Robinson. Natalie Miller, CEO of Magnolia House, emphasizes its importance.
“The history of the Negro traveler, that is a story that runs much deeper than Jim Crow, and it is a story that needs to be celebrated,” she says. “And it needs to be elevated, so people understand that history truly.”
The National Park Service’s initiative also opens doors for over 300 other documented North Carolina sites to seek similar honors.
Miller highlights that Project 327 is in progress, aiming to establish a statewide “Green Book” Trail Marker Program and inspire other states to adopt similar initiatives.
