The Green Book · RPG

Curated Listings

Real establishments listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book across editions from 1936 to 1964. Drawn from the New York Public Library Schomburg Center's digital collection, the Historypin Green Book project, and the Driving the Green Book podcast.

37 entries

  • Hotel Theresa

    hotel · New York, NY · 1936–1964

    The 'Waldorf of Harlem.' 13 stories, 300 rooms; hosted Joe Louis, Lena Horne, and visiting heads of state.

    Source: NYPL

  • Small's Paradise

    tavern · New York, NY · 1936–1964

    Harlem nightclub at 7th and 135th; Black-owned, integrated dance floor.

    Source: NYPL

  • Pat's Beauty Salon

    beauty parlor · Harlem, NY · 1947–1964

    Listed beauty salon serving travelers who needed a press-and-curl on arrival.

    Source: Historypin

  • Murray's Casino

    tavern · Washington, DC · 1936–1956

    Black social hall on U Street, the 'Black Broadway' of Washington.

    Source: Podcast

  • Whitelaw Hotel

    hotel · Washington, DC · 1936–1964

    First-class hotel financed and built for Black guests in 1919.

    Source: NYPL

  • Penn Hotel

    hotel · Pittsburgh, PA · 1947–1962

    Hill District lodging close to the Crawford Grill jazz scene.

    Source: Historypin

  • DuSable Hotel

    hotel · Chicago, IL · 1936–1964

    Bronzeville landmark on South Park Way; Duke Ellington's preferred Chicago address.

    Source: NYPL

  • Palm Tavern

    tavern · Chicago, IL · 1936–1964

    47th Street club where Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday held court.

    Source: NYPL

  • Gotham Hotel

    hotel · Detroit, MI · 1947–1962

    Orchestra Place hotel that anchored Detroit's Black business district, Paradise Valley.

    Source: NYPL

  • Paradise Valley Café

    restaurant · Detroit, MI · 1936–1956

    Soul-food counter on Hastings Street; lost to urban renewal in the late 1950s.

    Source: Historypin

  • Majestic Hotel

    hotel · Cleveland, OH · 1936–1956

    Cedar-Central neighborhood hotel listed across multiple Green Book editions.

    Source: NYPL

  • Poro College

    tourist home · St. Louis, MO · 1936–1947

    Annie Malone's beauty institute; offered lodging and a dining room to travelers.

    Source: Historypin

  • Paradise Club, Idlewild

    tavern · Idlewild, MI · 1936–1964

    Resort 'Black Eden' in northern Michigan; complete vacation community.

    Source: Podcast

  • Magnolia House

    hotel · Greensboro, NC · 1947–1964

    Tourist home that hosted James Brown, Carter G. Woodson, and Jackie Robinson.

    Source: Podcast

  • Royal Peacock

    tavern · Atlanta, GA · 1947–1964

    Auburn Avenue club on 'Sweet Auburn'; nearly every major Black entertainer played here.

    Source: Historypin

  • Paschal's

    restaurant · Atlanta, GA · 1947–1964

    Restaurant and motel that became a planning hub for the civil rights movement.

    Source: Podcast

  • Hampton House Motel

    hotel · Miami, FL · 1956–1964

    Brownsville landmark where Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X met in 1964.

    Source: Podcast

  • Lorraine Motel

    hotel · Memphis, TN · 1947–1964

    Mulberry Street motel listed in the Green Book; later the site of Dr. King's assassination.

    Source: Historypin

  • A.G. Gaston Motel

    hotel · Birmingham, AL · 1956–1964

    Built by entrepreneur A.G. Gaston; movement headquarters during 1963's Project C.

    Source: NYPL

  • Dooky Chase's

    restaurant · New Orleans, LA · 1947–1964

    Treme restaurant where Leah Chase fed civil rights organizers upstairs.

    Source: Podcast

  • Patterson Hotel

    hotel · New Orleans, LA · 1936–1956

    Colored hotel listed near Dryades Street.

    Source: NYPL

  • Summers Hotel

    hotel · Jackson, MS · 1947–1964

    Listed Jackson hotel; one of the few options for Black travelers in central Mississippi.

    Source: NYPL

  • Dunbar Hotel

    hotel · Savannah, GA · 1947–1962

    Listed lodging in Savannah's historic Black business district.

    Source: Historypin

  • James Keys Hotel

    hotel · Asheville, NC · 1936–1956

    Eagle Street hotel for travelers crossing the Blue Ridge.

    Source: Historypin

  • Powell Hotel

    hotel · Dallas, TX · 1947–1964

    Black-owned downtown Dallas hotel; W.E.B. Du Bois stayed here.

    Source: NYPL

  • Crystal Hotel

    hotel · Houston, TX · 1936–1956

    Listed Houston hotel in the Fourth Ward.

    Source: Historypin

  • Littlepage Hotel

    hotel · Oklahoma City, OK · 1947–1962

    Deep Deuce district hotel near jazz row.

    Source: NYPL

  • Rossonian Hotel

    hotel · Denver, CO · 1936–1964

    Five Points hotel and lounge — the 'Harlem of the West.'

    Source: NYPL

  • Dunbar Hotel

    hotel · Los Angeles, CA · 1936–1964

    Central Avenue hotel; first-class lodging built specifically for Black guests.

    Source: NYPL

  • Booker T. Washington Hotel

    hotel · San Francisco, CA · 1947–1962

    Fillmore District hotel during the neighborhood's jazz heyday.

    Source: Historypin

  • Coast Hotel

    hotel · Seattle, WA · 1947–1964

    Listed Central District lodging.

    Source: Historypin

  • Moulin Rouge

    hotel · Las Vegas, NV · 1956–1962

    First racially integrated hotel-casino on the Vegas strip.

    Source: NYPL

  • Esso Service Station

    service station · Atlanta, GA · 1936–1964

    Esso openly served Black motorists and stocked the Green Book at its pumps.

    Source: Composite

  • Esso Service Station

    service station · Birmingham, AL · 1947–1964

    Restrooms available to all customers per company policy.

    Source: Composite

  • Esso Service Station

    service station · Memphis, TN · 1936–1964

    Listed in the Green Book travel directory.

    Source: Composite

  • Esso Service Station

    service station · St. Louis, MO · 1936–1964

    Reliable refueling on Route 66.

    Source: Composite

  • Esso Service Station

    service station · Oklahoma City, OK · 1947–1964

    Listed station along Route 66.

    Source: Composite