Louisville’s Allen Hotel-A Green Book Listing

Built in 1926 and located on West Madison Street, the Allen Hotel was once Louisville’s largest hotel for Black guests during segregation. Featured in the Negro Motorist Green Book, it offered safe lodging when few places would. Notable figures, such as boxer Joe Louis, stayed in the fifty-room building.

The building is still in use today as part of an apartment complex.

1948 image of the hotel (Courtesy of the University of Louisville)

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