Davis Avenue Recreation Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Davis Avenue Recreation Center
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Davis Avenue Recreation Center in 2011
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1361 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Mobile, Alabama, United States |
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| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000407 |
| Added to NRHP | June 27, 2011 |
The Davis Avenue Recreation Center is a special building in Mobile, Alabama. It's a place where people can go for fun and activities. This center was started in 1921. It was the very first public fun center for African Americans in Mobile. Back then, the city had segregation. This meant Black and white people were kept separate in public places.
A Place for the Community
When it first opened, the center was called the Davis Avenue Community House. It had lots of things for people to do. There were tennis courts where you could play games. It also had a swimming pool to cool off in. And there was a small park for relaxing outdoors.
Soon, people realized they needed an even bigger place. The community was growing, and more space was needed for activities.
Building a Bigger and Better Center
In 1936, a new and larger building was finished. This is the building you see today. It was special because it was the only public recreation center in Mobile built with money from the Works Progress Administration. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a government program. It helped create jobs and build public projects during a tough economic time in the United States.
A Historic Landmark
The Davis Avenue Recreation Center is very important to the history of African Americans in Mobile. Because of its special history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 27, 2011. This means it's recognized as a place that holds great historical value for the country.
