Historic Black Hotels, Inns & Green Book Landmarks You Can Still Visit
During the Jim Crow era, traveling while Black in America often meant uncertainty, danger, and exclusion. African American travelers routinely faced discrimination and were frequently denied access to hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and even public restrooms. In response to these challenges, Harlem postal worker Victor Hugo Green created The Negro Motorist Green Book in 1936 — a groundbreaking travel guide that helped Black Americans safely navigate a segregated country.
For more than three decades, the Green Book became an essential travel companion, listing trusted hotels, tourist homes, restaurants, barber shops, nightclubs, and businesses that welcomed African American travelers during one of the most difficult periods in American history.
At its peak, thousands of properties across the United States appeared in the Green Book. Yet historians and preservation experts estimate that fewer than 20% of these original sites still stand today, with many lost to urban renewal, neglect, demolition, and changing city landscapes.
Fortunately, a remarkable number of historic Green Book hotels, motels, inns, and guest houses have survived. Some have been lovingly restored and continue operating as boutique hotels or bed and breakfasts, allowing travelers to sleep in spaces once frequented by civil rights leaders, musicians, athletes, and cultural icons. Others have been preserved as museums and historic landmarks that help tell the story of Black resilience, entrepreneurship, and freedom of movement in America.
From the beautifully restored Historic Magnolia House in North Carolina to the legendary Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans and the historic A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, these surviving Green Book properties offer more than overnight accommodations — they offer a rare opportunity to experience living Black history.
Whether you’re planning a heritage road trip, looking for meaningful cultural travel experiences, or simply curious about the lasting legacy of the Green Book, these original properties provide a powerful window into an important chapter of African American travel history.
Historic Magnolia House, Greensboro, NC | BOOK
One of America’s most important surviving Green Book hotels, The Historic Magnolia House in Greensboro, North Carolina stands as a powerful reminder of Black resilience, entrepreneurship, and hospitality during the Jim Crow era. Originally built in 1889 as a private Victorian-Italianate residence, the property was transformed into a hotel for African American travelers in 1949 by Arthur and Louise Gist, becoming one of the few safe overnight accommodations for Black travelers between Atlanta and Richmond during segregation. It later earned a coveted listing — and star recommendation — in six editions of The Negro Motorist Green Book, making it one of the South’s most celebrated safe havens for Black travelers.
During its Green Book heyday, Magnolia House hosted an extraordinary list of Black cultural icons, entertainers, athletes, and civil rights figures, including James Brown, Ray Charles, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Ike & Tina Turner, and reportedly even Martin Luther King Jr.. At a time when Black travelers were routinely denied lodging, Magnolia House provided not just a place to sleep, but a place of dignity, safety, and community.
After decades of decline, the property was painstakingly restored and today once again welcomes visitors as a living piece of Black travel history. Guests can stay overnight in thoughtfully restored rooms, attend cultural programming, enjoy dining experiences, and immerse themselves in the story of one of the few surviving Green Book hotels still operating in the United States. Often described as “The House That Soul Built,” Magnolia House offers travelers a rare opportunity to sleep where generations of Black excellence once found refuge during segregation.
Why Visit Today:
- One of America’s few surviving operational Green Book hotels
- Historic Black travel landmark from the Jim Crow era
- Beautifully restored Victorian-Italianate architecture
- Rich connection to Black music, sports, and civil rights history
- Authentic heritage travel experience in Greensboro, North Carolina
Dew Drop Inn, New Orleans, LA | BOOK
One of the most legendary surviving Green Book properties in America, the Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans stands at the crossroads of Black travel history, music history, and civil rights-era hospitality. Originally founded in 1939 by Black entrepreneur and barber Frank Painia, the Dew Drop Inn began as a neighborhood barbershop and restaurant before evolving into one of the South’s most influential Black-owned hotels, music venues, and safe havens for African American travelers during segregation. Listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, the property became an essential stop for Black travelers navigating the Jim Crow South and a trusted sanctuary in an era when many hotels barred African Americans.
Often referred to as “the South’s swankiest spot,” the Dew Drop Inn became a cornerstone of the famed Chitlin’ Circuit, hosting some of the most influential Black entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Legendary performers including Ray Charles, Little Richard, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Ike & Tina Turner, and Fats Domino performed, socialized, and often stayed at the hotel. It was also known for breaking racial and social barriers, serving as one of New Orleans’ rare integrated entertainment spaces during segregation and even hosting groundbreaking drag performances and cultural gatherings.
After decades of decline, damage from Hurricane Katrina, and years of abandonment, the Dew Drop Inn underwent an ambitious multi-million-dollar restoration and triumphantly reopened in 2024 as a reimagined boutique hotel, live music venue, restaurant, and cultural gathering space. Today, visitors can once again stay overnight in one of America’s most historically significant surviving Green Book hotels while experiencing live music and the enduring spirit of Black entrepreneurship and New Orleans culture.
Why Visit or Stay Here Today:
- One of America’s few surviving and operating Green Book hotels
- Legendary stop on the historic Chitlin’ Circuit
- Deep ties to Black music, culture, and civil rights-era travel
- Beautifully restored boutique hotel and live music venue
- Historic Black-owned hospitality landmark in New Orleans
Historic Hampton House, Miami | VISIT
One of the most iconic surviving Green Book properties in America, the Historic Hampton House in Miami stands as a powerful symbol of Black excellence, civil rights history, and cultural resilience during segregation. Originally opened in 1954 as the Booker T. Washington Hotel, the property was later reimagined as the Hampton House Motel, becoming one of the premier destinations for African American travelers visiting South Florida during the Jim Crow era. Listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, the Hampton House served as a luxurious and welcoming refuge for Black entertainers, athletes, activists, and travelers who were routinely barred from Miami Beach’s segregated hotels.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Hampton House evolved into one of the most glamorous Black social hubs in the country. Legendary figures including Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Sammy Davis Jr., Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Jackie Robinson, Lena Horne, and Aretha Franklin walked its halls. In 1964, the motel famously hosted a historic celebration after Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion — a moment immortalized in the iconic photograph featuring Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke.
Often called the “social center of Black Miami,” Hampton House represented far more than lodging. It became a gathering place where music, politics, sports, and civil rights intersected. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. frequently stayed at the property and reportedly worked on portions of his “I Have a Dream” speech while visiting Miami. For many Black travelers, Hampton House offered not only comfort and luxury but also dignity and belonging in a city still divided by segregation.
Like many historic Black landmarks, Hampton House eventually fell into decline and sat vacant for years. Yet thanks to determined preservation efforts and community advocacy, the property underwent an extensive restoration and triumphantly reopened in 2015 as a museum, cultural center, archive, and event venue dedicated to preserving African American history in Miami.
Today, while visitors can no longer book overnight stays, the Historic Hampton House remains one of the nation’s most meaningful surviving Green Book landmarks. Guests can tour exhibits, view restored mid-century architecture, attend cultural programming, and stand in spaces once occupied by some of the most influential Black figures in American history. For travelers interested in civil rights tourism, Black history, or Miami’s hidden cultural heritage, Hampton House offers an unforgettable journey into a vital chapter of African American travel history.
Why Visit Today:
- One of America’s most historically significant surviving Green Book properties
- Hosted Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, MLK Jr., Sammy Davis Jr., and other legends
- Site of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1964 championship celebration
- Beautifully restored mid-century modern landmark and museum
- Essential stop for Black history and civil rights tourism in Miami
Historical Note:
Although the Historic Hampton House no longer operates as a hotel, its careful restoration as a museum and cultural center ensures that one of America’s most important Green Book landmarks continues educating and inspiring future generations.
➜ Learn more about: Explore more about the Historic Hampton House, in Miami
Shearer Cottage, Martha’s Vineyard | VISIT
One of the most historically significant surviving African American inns in the United States, Shearer Cottage on Martha’s Vineyard stands as a remarkable symbol of Black leisure, entrepreneurship, and community during an era of segregation. Founded in the early 20th century by Charles Shearer, the son of an enslaved woman and a Black Civil War veteran, and his wife Henrietta Shearer, the cottage became one of the first welcoming accommodations for African American vacationers visiting Martha’s Vineyard when discrimination severely limited where Black travelers could stay.
Long before Oak Bluffs became known as a beloved summer destination for generations of Black families, professionals, artists, and political leaders, Shearer Cottage helped lay the foundation for what would become one of America’s most iconic Black vacation communities. During the segregation era, the property offered African American travelers something increasingly rare: a safe, dignified, and welcoming place to relax by the sea.
Importantly, Shearer Cottage was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, making it one of the rare surviving lodging properties directly connected to the historic travel guide that helped Black Americans navigate a segregated America. The inn became especially popular among prominent Black educators, intellectuals, business leaders, and entertainers seeking respite from discrimination elsewhere. Over time, Martha’s Vineyard — particularly Oak Bluffs — evolved into a cherished cultural haven for Black middle- and upper-class vacationers, with Shearer Cottage playing a foundational role in that story.
Unlike many Green Book properties lost to demolition or urban renewal, Shearer Cottage remains standing today and continues to represent an enduring legacy of African American hospitality and leisure travel. While the property has evolved over the years and is no longer widely operated as a traditional inn in the same way it once was, its historic importance to Black travel history remains immeasurable.
For travelers exploring Martha’s Vineyard’s rich African American heritage, Shearer Cottage offers a meaningful connection to a time when Black travelers built their own spaces of comfort, dignity, and belonging in the face of exclusion. Today, a visit to Oak Bluffs and the surrounding Martha’s Vineyard community provides a living glimpse into one of America’s oldest and most celebrated Black vacation traditions.
Why Visit Today:
- One of the few surviving Green Book-listed lodging properties in the United States
- Foundational part of Martha’s Vineyard’s historic Black vacation community
- Deep ties to African American leisure travel and cultural history
- Important landmark in Oak Bluffs’ Black heritage story
- Meaningful stop for heritage travel and Black history tourism
Historical Note:
Shearer Cottage is widely recognized as one of the oldest African American-owned inns associated with Martha’s Vineyard’s Black summer community and was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book. Although no longer operating as a traditional bed and breakfast in the same way it once did, its preservation and historical significance continue to make it one of the most important surviving landmarks of Black travel history in America.
➜ Learn more about: Shearer Cottage
A.G. Gaston Motel, Brimingham, Alabama
One of the most historically significant surviving Green Book properties in America, the A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama stands as a powerful symbol of Black entrepreneurship, civil rights activism, and resilience during segregation. Opened in 1954 by legendary Black businessman Arthur George (A.G.) Gaston, the motel provided first-class, air-conditioned lodging and dining for African American travelers who were routinely denied accommodations throughout the Jim Crow South. Listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, it quickly became one of the South’s premier Black-owned hospitality destinations.
The motel’s importance extended far beyond overnight stays. During the pivotal 1963 Birmingham Campaign (Project C), the A.G. Gaston Motel became the strategic headquarters for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Ralph Abernathy, and other civil rights leaders. Inside the now-famous Room 30 — known as the “War Room” — plans were developed to challenge segregation across Birmingham and confront racial injustice through coordinated protests and direct action.
Because of its central role in the movement, the motel became a target. On May 11, 1963, a bomb thrown from a moving car damaged the motel’s exterior during heightened tensions surrounding Birmingham’s desegregation efforts. Yet despite violence and intimidation, the property remained a symbol of courage, strategy, and Black perseverance.
Today, the A.G. Gaston Motel serves as the historic centerpiece of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, designated by President Barack Obama in 2017. While overnight lodging is no longer available, visitors can walk the same grounds where history unfolded and experience one of the nation’s most important Civil Rights landmarks.
Current Visitor Status (May 2026)
Visitors should note that the motel’s original 1954 wing, managed by the National Park Service, is temporarily closed for an extensive 18-month, $4 million restoration project. The renovation will carefully recreate the motel’s 1960s-era guest rooms while adding an elevator for full accessibility.
The 1968 wing, owned by the City of Birmingham, remains open to visitors and includes a self-guided exhibit gallery along with Alicia’s Coffee, where guests can stop for refreshments during their visit.
Why Visit Today:
- One of America’s most important surviving Green Book properties
- Headquarters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 Birmingham Campaign
- Home of the historic “War Room” (Room 30) where civil rights strategy was planned
- Key site within the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
- Essential destination for Black history, civil rights, and heritage tourism
Historical Note:
Though no longer a functioning motel, the A.G. Gaston Motel remains one of the most powerful physical reminders of how Black-owned hospitality spaces supported both safe travel and the fight for equality during the Civil Rights Movement.
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Why These Historic Green Book Hotels Matter Today
Long before modern travel apps and online reviews, Black travelers relied on trusted word-of-mouth and publications like The Negro Motorist Green Book to find safe places to rest, eat, and refuel. The surviving hotels and inns featured in this guide are more than historic buildings — they represent perseverance, Black entrepreneurship, community support, and dignity during an era of legalized segregation.
Today, visiting these properties offers travelers an opportunity not only to learn history but also to support historic preservation efforts, Black hospitality businesses, and culturally meaningful travel experiences across America.
✓ Visit our: The History of African-American Hotel Ownership