Columbia's Green Book Sites

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Discover the places featured in the premier guidebook for African American travelers.

Victor H. Green established the "Negro Motorist Green Book" in 1936 with the aim of gathering and disseminating "facts and information connected with motoring, which the Negro Motorist can use and depend upon."

The Green Book, as it was commonly called, helped African American tourists navigate what was, according to distinguished historian Gretchen Sorin, "an uncertain landscape" that was "composed of white spaces where black people were forbidden or unwelcome." These spaces existed throughout the United States and included white-owned hotels, restaurants, and service stations as well as "sundown towns," where black travelers were not physically safe to stop, even briefly, after dark. Without a guidebook to plan their trip, these motorists could easily find themselves in dangerous circumstances.

"It's important for everyone in this nation to examine the significance of the Green Book. If you don't see the history, if you don't see where it was, how can you say it happened?" — Dr. Henrie Monteith Treadwell

The guide's first edition, issued in 1937, only listed sites in New York, but it proved so popular that by the following year it included all "States east of the Mississippi River." Later years featured sites in most states and even expanded to locations outside the United States. It also added other types of businesses, including beauty parlors, drug stores, nightclubs and service stations. Although other similar guides existed, including the "Go Guide to Pleasant Motoring," only the Green Book was published with regularity. After Victor retired in 1952, his wife, Alma Green, assumed editorial duties and issued new editions until 1966.

Watch: Director Yoruba Richen, Carol Jenkins, Dr. Henrie Treadwell and Brent Leggs of the National Trust discuss the Smithsonian Channel documentary, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, on the Today Show.

Preservation Efforts

Through neglect and purposeful demolition, many Green Book sites—both iconic and unassuming—are now lost. Today, approximately 25% of Columbia's sites still stand, although many are in need of protection and restoration. These places and the stories they tell about Jim Crow laws, segregation, economic freedom, and grassroots activism are an integral part to the city's history. Follow Historic Columbia's ongoing effort to document and preserve them for future generations.

The below listings are based on the Green Books digitized by the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture as well as other editions held in various academic libraries. Historic Columbia hopes to include data from the 1941-1946 and 1958 Green Books soon.

Hotels & Motels

Community Center, 831 Hampton Street (1947-1950) – demolished
Taylor’s Hotel, 1016 Washington Street (1938-1941, 1947) – demolished
YWCA, 1429 Park Street (1941, 1947-1957) – demolished
YWCA, 230 Taylor Street (1959-1967) – demolished
Hotel Nylon, 918 Senate Street (1948-1957, 1959-67) – demolished
Motel Simbeth, US-1 eight miles north of Columbia (1956-57, 1959-61) – demolished

Tourist Homes

Beachum Tourist Home, 2212 Gervais Street (1947-57, 1959-67) – demolished
Mrs. W.D. Chappelle Tourist Home, 1301 Pine Street (1938-40, 1947-57, 1959-67) – extant
College Inn Tourist Home, 1609 Harden Street (1941, 1947-49, 1951-57, 1959-67) – demolished
Mrs. H. Cornwell Tourist Home, 1713 Wayne Street (1938-40, 1947-57, 1959-67) – extant 
Mrs. Irene B. Evans Tourist Home, 1106 Pine Street (1954-57, 1959-67) – demolished
Mrs. T. H. Pinckney Tourist Home, 1406 Park Street (1938) – demolished
Mrs. S.H. Smith Tourist Home, 929 Pine Street (1939-40, 1947-57, 1959-67) – extant 
Mrs. B. Vincent Tourist Home, 1712 Wayne Street (1938-40) – extant
Mrs. J.P. Wakefield Tourist Home, 1323 Heidt Street (1938-40, 1947-50) – extant
Mrs. J.P. Wakefield Tourist Home, 816 Oak Street (1951-57, 1959-67) – extant

Restaurants

Blue Palace, 1001 Washington Street (1948-55) – demolished
Brown’s, 1014 Lady Street (1947-54) – demolished
Cozy Inn Restaurant, 1509 Harden Street (1947-57, 1959-67) – extant
Green Leaf Restaurant, 1117 Washington Street (1939-41, 1947-57, 1959-67) – demolished
Magnolia, 2108 Gervais Street (1947-50) – extant
Mom’s, 1005 Washington Street (1947-55, 1957, 1959-67) – demolished
Savoy Restaurant, Old Winnsboro Street (1947-57, 1959-67) – demolished
Treye’s, 2103 Gervais Street (1947-48) – extant
Waverly, 2515 Gervais Street (1947-55, 1957, 1959-67) – demolished
White Way, 2330 Gervais Street (1947-51) – demolished

Beauty Parlors

Amy’s, 1125 1/2 Washington Street (1947-55)– demolished
Obbie’s, 1119 1/2 Washington Street (1947-55) – demolished
Morgan’s, 2342 Washington Street (1948-50) – demolished
Mme. Peters, 1906 Blanding Street (1939-41) – demolished
Ruth’s, 1221 Pine Street (1939-41) – extant
Workman’s, 1825 Taylor Street (1950-55) – demolished

Barber Shops

Holman’s, 2103 Gervais Street (1939-41) – extant
Holman’s, 2138 Gervais Street* (1948-55) – extant
Stratfords, 1003 1/2 Washington Street (1948-51) – demolished

Beauty Schools

Madare Bradley**, 2228 Hampton Street (1948-55) – extant
Poro, 2481 Millwood Avenue (1948-55) – demolished

Taverns

College Inn, 1609 Harden Street (1939-40) – demolished
Taylor’s, Broad River Road (1947-52) – unknown
Mrs. I. Goodum***, 922 Harden Street (1947-50) – unknown
Savoy Club, Highway 12 (1948-52) – unknown
Moon Glow, 1005 Washington Street (1948-55) – demolished

Nightclubs

Chauffer’s, 2314 Pendleton Street (1947-50) – demolished

Road Houses

Macks, 1110 Harden Street (1947) – demolished

Service Stations

A.W. Simkins, 1331 Park Street** (1939-41, 1947-55) – demolished
Caldwell’s, Oak & Taylor Streets (1947-54) – demolished
Waverly, 2202 Taylor Street (1948-55) – demolished
Leevy’s, 1831 Taylor Street (1950-55) – extant
Waverly, 2200 Taylor Street (1939-41, 1947) – demolished

Garages

Johnson’s, 1609 Gregg Street (1947-48) – unknown

Drug Stores

Count’s, 1105 Washington Street (1939-41, 1947-55) – demolished
Thomas’ Drug Store, 1531 Harden Street (1939-41) – demolished

Taxi Cabs

Black Diamond, Washington Street (1939-40) – unknown
Blue Ribbon, 1072 Washington Street (1939-41, 1947) – demolished
Blue Ribbon, 1024 Washington Street (1948-55) – demolished

*2128 Gervais Street

*Mrs. Mamie Bradley

**Mrs. Lula Goodwin

Learn More

The Green Book Documentary

Curious about the history of the Green Book and its most prominent sites? Check out The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, a documentary on Victor Green's revolutionary guide and its impact on the Civil Rights era.

Learn More

Columbia's Green Book Sites