Hotel Metropolitan Museum facts for kids
The Hotel Metropolitan Museum is a special museum located in an old hotel building in Paducah, Kentucky, USA. The Hotel Metropolitan was once a very important place. It offered a safe and welcoming place for African Americans to stay when they traveled. During a time when many hotels would not allow Black travelers, the Hotel Metropolitan was a haven.
It was also a famous stop on the Chitlin' Circuit, which was a network of venues where Black musicians and entertainers could perform. The hotel was even listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide that helped African American travelers find safe places to eat and sleep during the era of segregation. Today, the Hotel Metropolitan Museum teaches visitors all about African American history.
A Place of Welcome: Hotel History
The Hotel Metropolitan was built in 1909 by its owner, Maggie Steed. She created the hotel because, at that time, many hotels only allowed white guests. This was due to unfair rules and practices known as Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States. These laws separated people by race and treated Black people unfairly.
The Hotel Metropolitan became a vital place for many famous African Americans. Important guests included musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Even a famous lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, stayed there. These notable guests often met and performed in the hotel's special "Purple Room." This separate building behind the hotel was a popular spot for music and gatherings.
After Maggie Steed passed away in 1924, her son managed the hotel for a few years. Later, Mamie Burbridge bought it. In 1951, the Gaines family took over. Their son, Clarence "Big House" Gaines, later gave the hotel to the Upper Town Heritage Foundation. This helped ensure its history would be preserved.
The Hotel Metropolitan Museum Today
Today, the historic hotel building is home to a museum. It shares the important stories of the hotel and the people who stayed there. The museum helps everyone understand a significant part of American history.
In 2021, the museum received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This money helped restore the famous Purple Room. This means future visitors can experience a piece of the hotel's musical past.
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