Across the country, Black-owned historic inns stand as living testaments to resilience, artistry, and community care. From homes that served as vital stops for survival along the Underground Railroad to storied homes that housed prominent Black writers, musicians, and freedom fighters, these spaces have always been more than places to rest; they have also been havens for safety, community, resistance, and change.
On the list are several historic Black-owned inns that honor their past while embracing the present. These properties invite visitors to experience Black history through Black ownership as these owners safeguard Black stories.
The Historic Magnolia House in Greensboro, North Carolina
In Greensboro, North Carolina, is the Historic Magnolia House. This home was a crucial stop listed inside The Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor Hugo Green. While the space has been restored into a thriving bed-and-breakfast, restaurant, and venue, its legacy has not been replaced.
When you step inside, just know that it housed African American writers, actors, athletes, and musicians who traveled throughout the South to perform during the Jim Crow era. Tina Turner, Ray Charles, James Baldwin, Sam Cooke, and Jackie Robinson are among the legends who have graced the halls.
Of the more than 250 Green Book sites, the Magnolia House is one of the very few that continue to operate within their historic context. Today, it is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
Keystone Inn in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a significant city in American history. Most people associate the town of 7,000 with the bloodiest battle in American history, the Civil War, a turning point for the Union forces. But it is also home to the first Black-owned bed-and-breakfast in the region.
Siblings Christine, Stephen, and Patrick Campbell acquired the home in 2020, fulfilling a lifelong dream of carrying on the family’s legacy. The legacy of property ownership began with their great-grandfather, who owned 14 properties in the South.
With their late-Victorian colonial home, the siblings hope to shed light on Gettysburg’s often-overlooked Black history through the Keystone Inn. Built in 1913, this home also holds a spot on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Six Acres Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio
Built in the 1850s by abolitionist Zebulon Strong, Six Acres Bed and Breakfast was a stop on the Underground Railroad. It’s well-documented in its history as being a safe house for people escaping slavery to rest before continuing their journey further north and into Canada. Kristen Kitchen is the current owner. She restored the property in the early 2000s, and it continues to offer a historically rich experience for guests.
Located on six lovely acres in College Hill, just 15 minutes from Downtown Cincinnati, Six Acres B&B offers a peaceful, serene stay on beautiful, landscaped grounds. Guests will be close to must-see Black history attractions, including the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana
The Dew Drop Inn Hotel is a landmark for Black history in New Orleans. It opened in 1939 as a barbershop and restaurant and slowly became a hub for African-American musicians traveling and performing throughout the country.
It was listed as a Chitlin’ Circuit, the vital network of theaters, clubs, and juke joints across the U.S. that provided Black musicians, comedians, and entertainers a stage and audience during segregation. Dew Drop Inn was also listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, hosting musical greats such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown. Famously, the music venue was the first place Little Richard performed his song, “Tutti Frutti.”
Today, the hotel is a relic of New Orleans’s past and a modern accommodation with many rooms for guests to book.
The Hamilton Howell House in Atlanta, Georgia
In 1893, Alexander Hamilton, Jr., the leading African American contractor and builder, built this space as his family home. Decades later, in 1984, the Howell/Youngblood family acquired the house, making them only the second family to live in the home since its construction.
The Howell/Youngblood family has carefully restored the historic home into a bed and breakfast in Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District. Rooms within the space are named after American cultural icons, including Aretha Franklin, Sun Ra, W.E.B. Du Bois, Elizabeth Catlett, Maya Angelou, and John Coltrane.
Concord Quarters in Natchez, Mississippi
Concord Quarters is a bed and breakfast owned and operated by Debbie and Gregory Cosey. The duo transformed the former quarters of enslaved people on this historic estate into a unique hospitality and history site that confronts one of the most horrific times in American history while highlighting Black resilience.
Concord Quarters offers one spacious guest room and one two-bedroom suite, each with a private bath. Guests will enjoy a full southern breakfast each morning during their stay. The guest rooms are located on the second floor.
Remaining on the site today is a deteriorated small building whose use is unknown and a two-story brick building that originally served as one of two matching quarters for enslaved people, according to the owners.
