The Historic Magnolia House
Visit The Historic Magnolia HousePlan Your Visit
The Historic Magnolia House was a Green Book site in Greensboro, North Carolina, that housed African American writers, actors, athletes, and musicians as they traveled south to perform during the Jim Crow era. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this former motel was recognized in six editions of The Green Book as a highly recommended place to stay for black travelers in North Carolina. Of the more than 250 Green Book sites, the Magnolia House is one of very few that continue to operate within their historic context. Embedded within its walls are memories of James Brown playing in the street with neighborhood children, Joe Tex signing autographs on the front porch, and moments captured with Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, James Baldwin, Sam Cooke, Jackie Robinson, and more.
The Magnolia House was the first hotel of prominence in Greensboro for people of color during segregation. The Gist Family, who bought the motel in 1949, had close relationships to Miles Davis and were responsible for donating the famous Davis Trumpet to the University of North Carolina School of Music. Speakers such as Jackie Robinson would stay at the motel when visiting North Carolina A&T State University or Bennett College. The result is a beautiful marriage of property and its original structure. Its rich history and Victorian detail make this location exquisite.