Historic Study of The Green Book Properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia (House Document No. 5, 2024)
Summary
Report of the Virginia Tourism Authority and Department of Historic Resources to the General Assembly of Virginia, titled Historic Study of The Green Book Properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a transmittal letter dated July 11, 2024 from Julie V. Langan, Director. It quotes the appropriation item providing $97,000 the second year from the general fund for a historic study describing the Green Book in Virginia by documenting surviving buildings. The executive summary states that the Department contracted Commonwealth Preservation Group to identify extant historic resources listed in The Green Book, perform an architectural survey and produce a context report. It says Victor Hugo Green and Alma Green published The Negro Traveler's Green Book from 1936-1966.
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“Historic Study of The Green Book Properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia (House Document No. 5, 2024).”
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REPORT OF THE VIRGINIA TOURISM
AUTHORITY AND DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC
RESOURCES
Historic Study of The Green Book
Properties in the Commonwealth
of Virginia
(2023 Appropriation Act, Item
126.O.2.)
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE DOCUMENT NO. 5
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
RICHMOND
2024
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Historic Resources
Travis A. Voyles Julie V. Langan
Secretary of Natural and Historic 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221 Director
Resources Tel: (804) 482-6446
Fax: (804) 367-2391
www.dhr.virginia.gov
July 11, 2024
Members of the Virginia General Assembly,
During the 2023 Special Session I of the legislative session, the Appropriation Act – Item 126
O.2. required the Virginia Tourism Authority and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources
to report on the findings of the historic study describing The Green Book in Virginia.
The item stipulates:
“Out of this appropriation, $97,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for
the authority and the Department of Historic Resources (the department) to conduct a
historic study describing the Green Book in Virginia by documenting surviving buildings.
In conducting this review, the authority and the department shall develop an
architectural survey to improve information for at least 60 existing Green Book
properties. The authority and department shall complete this study and report the
findings to the General Assembly on or before June 30, 2024.”
Pursuant to this clause, enclosed please find the Historic Study of the Green Book Properties in
the Commonwealth of Virginia report submitted by the Department of Historic Resources.
Sincerely,
Julie V. Langan
Director
Document Title: Historic Study of The Green Book Properties in the Commonwealth of
Virginia
Author: Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Enabling Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 22, Article 8, Code of Virginia.
§10.1-2210.1
2. Out of this appropriation, $97,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the
authority and the Department of Historic Resources (the department) to conduct a historic study
describing the Green Book in Virginia by documenting surviving buildings. In conducting this
review, the authority and the department shall develop an architectural survey to improve
information for at least 60 existing Green Book properties. The authority and department shall
complete this study and report the findings to the General Assembly on or before June 30, 2024.
The authority is authorized to transfer all or part of these amounts to the Department of Historic
Resources to complete this study.
Executive Summary
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (the Department) is the state historic
preservation office, created by §§ 10.1-2201 through 2215 of the Code of Virginia and governed
by the General Assembly of Virginia. Our mission is to foster, encourage, and support the
stewardship of Virginia’s significant historic architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources.
Our programs and services are designed to empower others to further the significance of historic
places and their role in shaping Virginia today.
In 2023, the Virginia General Assembly directed the Virginia Tourism Commission and the
Department of Historic Resources to report on the findings of the historic study describing The
Green Book in Virginia by documenting surviving buildings, including an architectural survey to
improve information for at least 60 existing Green Book properties.
The Department contracted cultural resource management firm Commonwealth Preservation
Group to identify extant historic resources listed in The Green Book, perform an architectural
survey of those resources, and produce a context report about the development and use of The
Green Book. The context report used forms issued from National Register of Historic Places
Multiple Property Document, by the National Park Service and by the Department as the
foundation for evaluating the National Register eligibility of related properties. The purpose of
the survey and Multiple Property Document is to accelerate and simplify the listing of these
properties on the Virginia Landmarks Register, making them eligible for potential sources of
funding, highway markers, and increase public education about The Green Book and Black
History in Virginia.
The Negro Traveler’s Green Book
In response to the need for promulgating methods for safe travel, Victor Hugo Green and Alma
Green published The Negro Traveler’s Green Book from 1936-1966. Among the guide’s slogans
were “Assured Protection for the Negro Traveler” and “Vacation Without Aggravation.” 1
Through meticulous research, the Greens compiled lists of businesses that would serve Black
travelers, tourist homes, guest houses, hotels, motels, restaurants, night clubs, tailors, vacation
resorts, stores, and beauty parlors and barber shops, broken down by state.
1
Richard Weyeneth, “The Architecture of Racial Segregation: The Challenges of Preserving the Problematical
Past,” The Public Historian Vol. 27 No. 4 (Fall 2005), p. 36-37.
From a relatively slim volume primarily focused on their native New York City in 1936, the
Greens grew The Green Book to a nationwide publication that, together with road maps,
provided Black Americans with the ability to navigate unfamiliar landscapes to reach the places
where they would be welcomed, provided food and rest, and given the opportunity to refuel their
car to resume their travels. “That Victor Green chose to include businesses such as golf courses,
country clubs, state and national parks, and other recreational pursuits also celebrated activities
beyond just basic survival. [He] tried to elevate the traveling experience from survival to
enjoyment, and eventually to social action.” 2 Over the thirty years of its publication, The Green
Book included over 10,000 listings for privately owned business, as well as colleges, parks and
other recreational facilities, and social improvement clubs. 3
Victor and Alma Green began to address civil rights topics in the pages of The Green Book. For
example, the 1947 edition included an article about the need for Black veterans to have
accessible educational opportunities and for the colleges they attended to receive the financial
support of the GI Bill educational benefits. Following the article, the Greens provided a list of
106 Black schools and colleges to which Black veterans could apply for admission. 4 In Virginia,
historically Black colleges included Hampton Institute, Virginia Union University, Virginia State
College (now Virginia State University) and its satellite campus in Norfolk (today’s Norfolk
State University), St. Paul’s Polytechnic Institute (later St. Paul’s College), and Virginia
Theological College and Seminary (now Virginia University of Lynchburg).
Green Book Properties in Virginia
Approximately 304 Virginia places were listed in The Green Book between 1936-1966. Of
these, 58 were identified as still extant in the 2024 architectural survey in addition to the former
locations of several Green Book sites. The types of businesses that occupied these extant
resources are described below. Please see Table #1: Identified Sites Associated with The Green
Book in Virginia for a list of the physical addresses for these sites.
• Filling stations/Service stations - Many of the auto service stations that catered to Black
customers were owned by African Americans. Some national oil companies, such as
Esso, permitted African Americans to purchase franchises for their brand.
o The following service stations were documented during this project: Adams Street
Service Station, Richmond; Al Smith’s Service Station, Newport News; Alston’s
Esso, Norfolk; E&L Lassiter Pure Oil Service Station, Suffolk; Groves Esso
Service Center, Williamsburg; H. Vaughan Service Station, Richmond; Harris
Service Station, Richmond; Marshall’s Cities Service Station, Portsmouth;
Oliver’s Restaurant and Texaco Station, Jamaica; and Preston Street Service
Station, Richmond.
2
National Park Service, African American Civil Rights Network, “Green Book Historic Context and AACRN
Listing Guidance,” no date, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/green-book-historic-context-and-aacrn-listing-
guidance-african-american-civil-rights-network.htm.
3
Driving While Black: Race, Space, and Mobility in America, a 2020 film directed by Ric Burns and Gretchen
Sorin; National Park Service, African American Civil Rights Network, “Green Book Historic Context and AACRN
Listing Guidance,” no date, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/green-book-historic-context-and-aacrn-listing-
guidance-african-american-civil-rights-network.htm.
4
National Park Service, African American Civil Rights Network, “Green Book Historic Context and AACRN
Listing Guidance,” no date, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/green-book-historic-context-and-aacrn-listing-
guidance-african-american-civil-rights-network.htm.
• Hotels/Motels - While hotels were located more within a commercial district within a
city or town, motels frequently were built along a primary street into and out of a locality
or alongside a major transportation route such as US Route 1.
o The following hotels and motels were documented during this project: Booker T.
Motor Court, Williamsburg; Brown’s Hotel, South Hill; Corner Inn,
Lawrenceville; Fifth Street Pharmacy/ Hotel Douglas/ Humbles Building,
Lynchburg; Forest View Hotel, Disputanta; Hotel Dumas, Roanoke; Otto’s Inn,
Richmond; and Watkins Motel, Gloucester.
• Tourist Homes - Tourist homes, also known as lodging houses, were private dwellings
that were used to rent overnight lodging to African American travelers stopping in or
passing through cities and towns across Virginia. Unlike hotels and motels, which tended
to be in larger towns and cities, even very small towns had tourist and homes, some were
not located to a town at all. In addition to providing safe accommodations for travelers,
lodging homes, which often were owned by women, provided opportunities for financial
autonomy and independence for both single and married women.
o The following tourist homes were documented during this project: Alexander’s
Tourist Home, Charlottesville; Evans Hotel, Winchester; J. M Woods Tourist
Home, Lexington; J. T. Holmes Tourist Home, Alexandria; McGuire’s Inn,
Tappahannock; Mrs. C. Stephens Tourist Home, Newport News; Mrs. Kate Wiley
Tourist Home, Farmville; Mrs. Lawrence Jones Tourist Home, Petersburg; Mrs.
M. K. Page Tourist Home, Danville; Mrs. N. P. Washington Tourist Home,
Lynchburg; Mrs. Yancey Tourist Home, Danville; and The Franklin (tourist
house), Lexington. The aforementioned Ida Mae Francis Tourist House in
Harrisonburg was not resurveyed for the MPD but is another extant example of a
tourist home. The J. T. Holmes Tourist Home was located within what is now an
apartment building.
• Commercial Resources - Commercial resources listed in The Green Book provided
goods and services that traveling customers might require. Such resources often were
located in commercial buildings, but in some instances occupied one or more rooms in a
private dwelling, or a space that had been added to the dwelling to be occupied by the
commercial use. These resources represent the commercial success of African American
businessmen and -women, as well as places that were identified as providing safe access
to various business types in segregation-era Virginia.
o Beauty Parlors and Barber Shops
The following beauty parlors and barber shops were identified during this
project: Apex Beauty Parlor, Charlottesville; Chalmer’s Beauty Parlor,
Richmond; Joker’s Barber Shop, Charlottesville; Rattrie’s Beauty Parlor,
Newport News; and Walker’s Barber Shop (Odd Fellow’s Building),
Warrenton. Another enterprise type was drug stores or pharmacies, of
which three extant examples were identified during the course of this
project: Fifth Street Pharmacy/ Hotel Douglas/ Humbles Building,
Lynchburg; Suffolk Professional Pharmacy Inc./ H. M. Diggs Building,
Suffolk; and Williams Professional Pharmacy/ Williams Professional
Druggist, Williamsburg. A sole business type in the Virginia listings of
The Green Book was McLain Tailors in Warrenton.
o Restaurants
The following restaurants were identified during this project: Atlantic
Café, Petersburg; Blue Room Restaurant, Danville; Grant’s Restaurant,
Newport News; Harris’ Grill, Tappahannock; Johnson’s Restaurant,
Staunton; Oliver’s Restaurant and Texaco Station, Jamaica; Plaza Drive
Inn, Newport News; Reid’s Restaurant/ Reid’s Cafe, Farmville; Silver Star
Restaurant, Covington; Taylor’s Restaurant, Fredericksburg; The Mecca
Restaurant, Lynchburg; W. J. Stokes Restaurant/Complex, Gloucester;
Washington Cafe, Lexington; and Ye Shingle Inn (restaurant), Phoebus
(Hampton area).
o Entertainment
The Entertainment and Social Resources that were listed in The Green
Book provided African American travelers with access to various types of
experiences, including movie theaters, theaters with live performances,
dance halls, clubs, fraternal organizations, YWCAs, and other social
organization buildings. The following entertainment and social resources
identified during this project were located in large cities, as follows:
Booker T. Theatre/ Attuck’s Theater, Norfolk; Jefferson Theatre,
Charlottesville; Morocco Night Club, Roanoke; Odd Fellows Dance Hall,
Charlottesville; Paramount Theatre, Charlottesville; and the Phyllis
Wheatley YWCA, Lynchburg
The resource types identified during the architectural survey and associated with The Green
Book’s 1936-1966 period of publication are described in detail in the context document.
National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria applicable to each property type are
identified, along with the registration requirements according to which a property may be
nominated under this Multiple Property Document for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register
and the National Register of Historic Places. Each property type is directly linked to The Green
Book by way of listing in one or more editions of the guide. This Multiple Property Document
may be updated at a later time to include additional historical topics and/or resource types
associated with the context herein.
The Green Book Plaques
On March 23, 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Delegate Mike Mullin’s HB1968 into law
which directed the Department of Historic Resources in partnership with the Virginia Tourism
Corporation (VTC) and the Department of Transportation (VDOT), to approve historic site signs
identifying Green Book locations and businesses in the Commonwealth.
DHR, in partnership with VTC and VDOT, will permanently affix historic site signs –
supplementary plaques – to the posts of existing state highway markers that pertain to sites listed
in The Green Book. In addition to educating the public, the new supplementary plaques aim to
make obvious those markers who have a Green Book connection. The VTC maintains a website
explaining the historical significance of The Green Book in making travel safer for Black
Americans and will list all of the identified Green Book locations in the Commonwealth.
The Green Book-related highway markers are part of the Department of Historic Resources’
Historical marker program and follow the same procedures as all other markers. As of June 30,
2024, there have been 11 Green Book-themed Highway Markers and Green Book Plaques
approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources. Eight plaques have been installed on
existing highway markers and three are in the process of being manufactured.
Table #1: Highway Markers and The Green Book Plaques approved by the Virginia Board
of Historic Resources
Marker Location Plaque Status
Bay Shore Hotel Hampton (37.036823, - Installed
76.291918)
Yancey House and Grasty Danville (36.584942, - Installed
Library 79.402358)
Holbrook-Ross Historic Danville (36.581857194, - Installed
District 79.401961575)
Fayette Street Martinsville (36.6930973, - Installed
79.8768853)
Miller’s and Eggleston Hotels Richmond (37.547308, - Installed
77.437473)
Jackson Ward Richmond (37.546793, - Installed
77.43789)
Navy Hill Richmond (37.54718, - Installed
77.43444)
Lexington and The Green Lexington (37.784211, - Installed
Book 79.440633)
Colbrook Motel Chesterfield County Not yet manufactured
Washington Park City of Richmond Not yet manufactured
Carver Inn City of Charlottesville Not yet manufactured
Full Publication of the Report
The survey materials and Multiple Property Document is publicly available on the Virginia
Department of Historic Resources’ webpage and archives at https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2024/06/01-Green-Book-MPD-Draft-4.15.2024.pdf
Table #2: Identified Sites Associated with The Green Book in Virginia
DHR ID # Resource Name Address City/Town Status
100-5630 J.T. Holmes Tourist 803 Gibbon Street Alexandria Extant
Home
104-0213- Alexander’s Tourist 413 Dice Street Charlottesville Extant
0196 Home
104-0072- Apex Beauty Parlor 211 W Main Charlottesville Extant
0153 Street
104-0072- Jefferson Theatre 110 E Main Street Charlottesville Extant
0089
104-0072- Odd Fellows Dance Hall 204-206 E Market Charlottesville Extant
0159 Street
104-0072- Paramount Theatre 215 East Main Charlottesville Extant
0103
104-5152 Joker’s Barber Shop 406-406 Charlottesville Extant
Commerce Street
107-5303 Silver Star Restaurant 208 S Maple Covington Extant
Avenue
108-0180- Mrs. M. K. Page Tourist 434 Holbrook Danville Extant
0034 Home Street
108-0180- Mrs. Yancey Tourist 320 Holbrook Danville Extant
0046 Home Street
108-0180- Blue Room Restaurant 358 Holbrook Danville Extant
0108 Street
074-5050 Forest View Hotel 5115 County Disputanta Extant
Drive
144-0051 Mrs. Kate Wiley Tourist 626 South Main Farmville Extant
Home Street
144-0027- Reid's Restaurant / 236 North Main Farmville Extant
0214 Reid's Cafe Street
111-5497 Taylor's Restaurant 220 Frazier Street Fredericksburg Extant
036-5173 W.J. Stoke 5456 Hwy 17 Gloucester Extant
Restaurant/Complex
036-5174 Watkins Motel 7402 John Lemon Gloucester Demoli
Lane shed
059-5425 Oliver's Restaurant and 4235 Tidewater Jamaica Extant
Texaco Station Trail
251-5001- Corner Inn 409-413 N Main Lawrenceville Extant
0129 Street
117-0027- The Franklin Tourist Tucker Street Lexington Extant
0337 Home
117-0027- Washington Cafe N Main St Lexington Extant
0017
117-5066 J. M. Wood Tourist 206 Massie Street Lexington Extant
Home
118-5735 The Mecca Restaurant 1816 Bedford Lynchburg Extant
Avenue
118-0226- Mrs. N.P. Washington 611 Polk Street Lynchburg Extant
0268 Tourist Home
118-5318- Fifth Street 901 Fifth Street Lynchburg Extant
0039 Pharmacy/Hotel
Douglas/ Humbles
Building
118-5318- Phyllis Wheatley 613 Monroe Street Lynchburg Extant
0061 Y.W.C.A. (YWCA)
121-5666 Rattrie's Beauty Parlor 3000 Chestnut Newport News Extant
Avenue
121-5667 Al Smith's Service 2701 Marshall Newport News Extant
Station Avenue
121-5668 Mrs. C. Stephen's 1909 Marshall Newport News Extant
Tourist Home Avenue
121-5669 Grant's Restaurant 2108 Jefferson Newport News Extant
Avenue
121-5670 Plaza Drive Inn 13537 Warwick Newport News Extant
Boulevard
122-0074 Booker T. Theatre/ 1010 Church Norfolk Extant
Attuck's Theater Street
122-5795- Alston's Esso Service 1855 Church Norfolk Extant
0033 Station Street
123-5581 Mrs. Lawrence Jones 1009 Melville Petersburg Extant
Tourist Home Street
123-5494- Atlantic Café 101-107 Halifax Petersburg Extant
0012 Street
114-5927 Ye Shingle Inn 17 E County Phoebus Extant
Street
124- 5285 Marshall's Cities Service 1808 Portsmouth Portsmouth Extant
Station Blvd
127-0237- Adams St. Service 523 N. Adams Richmond Extant
0777 Station Street
127-0237- Harris Service Station 404-406 N Henry Richmond Extant
0049 St
127-0237- Williams Professional 414 N 3rd St Richmond Extant
0678 Pharmacy / Williams
Prof. Druggist
127-0237- Chalmer's Beauty Parlor 416 N. 1st Street Richmond Extant
0877
127-8166 H. Vaughan Service 1701 Richmond Extant
Station Chamberlayne
Ave.
127-6665 Preston St. Service 915 & 923 N 2nd Richmond Extant
Station St
127-0375- Otto’s Inn 314 N. 2nd Street Richmond Extant
9004
128-5764- Hotel Dumas 108 Henry Street Roanoke Extant
0001 NW
128-5764- Morocco Night Club 120 Henry Street Roanoke Extant
0004 NW
301-5064 Brown’s Hotel 104 East Virginia South Hill Extant
St
132-0024- Johnson’s Restaurant 21 E Frederick Staunton Extant
0054 Street
133-5681 E & L Lassiter Pure Oil 802 East Suffolk Extant
Service Station Washington Street
133-0072- Suffolk Professional 362 East Suffolk Extant
0341 Pharmacy, Inc. / H.M. Washington Street
Diggs Building
310-5015 Harris' Grill 412 Queen Street Tappahannock Extant
310-5016 McGuire's Inn 445 Marsh Street Tappahannock Extant
156-0019- Walker's Barber Shop 23 S 3rd Street Warrenton Extant
0280 (Odd Fellow's Building)
156-0019- McLain Tailors 51-53 Culpeper Warrenton Extant
0038 Street
047-5053 Groves Esso Service 8751 Pocahontas Williamsburg Extant
Center Trail
099-5608 Booker T Motor Court 1018 Penniman Williamsburg Extant
Road
138-0042- Evans Hotel 224 Sharp Street Winchester Extant
0964
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