Wells'Built Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wells' Built Hotel
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Orlando, Florida |
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| Built | 1926 |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000006 |
| Added to NRHP | February 4, 2000 |
The Wells'Built Museum is a special place in Orlando, Florida, where you can learn about African American history. It used to be a famous hotel called the Wells'Built Hotel. You can find it in the heart of Orlando's historic Parramore neighborhood, at 511 West South Street.
Dr. William Monroe Wells built this hotel and a fun entertainment spot nearby. He created these places especially for African Americans who were traveling. Back then, during a time called the segregation era (when people were unfairly separated by race), this hotel welcomed many famous African American musicians and artists. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 2000.
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A Look Back: The Wells'Built Hotel's Story
Dr. William M. Wells was a very important African American doctor in Orlando in the early 1900s. He was one of the first Black doctors in Orlando, arriving in 1917. In 1921, he built the Wells'Built Hotel. He built it because African Americans were not allowed to stay in many other hotels in Florida due to segregation laws.
Soon after, Dr. Wells built the South Street Casino. This was an entertainment venue where Black entertainers could perform. The "casino" was actually a community center, not a place for gambling. Both the hotel and the casino became very important to the African American music scene in Orlando.
Famous Visitors and Performers
Many famous African American performers stayed at the Wells'Built Hotel and played at the South Street Casino. Imagine these stars walking through its doors! Some of them included:
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Count Basie
- Ray Charles
- Cab Calloway
- Ivory Joe Hunter
- B.B. King
- Louis Armstrong
- Guitar Slim
- Bo Diddley
Other important African Americans also visited. These included sports legend Jackie Robinson and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
The South Street Casino is no longer there, but the original hotel building still stands. It has been lovingly turned into a museum that shares the rich history of African Americans.
The Wells'Built Museum Today
The old hotel is now the home of the Wells'Built Museum. It first opened its doors in June 2009. This museum is about 6,000 square feet in size. It holds many special items and memories from Orlando's African American community.
You can see displays about the Civil Rights Movement in Orlando. There is also some beautiful African art on loan from local collectors.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has many interesting exhibits, including:
- A hotel guestroom from the 1930s, set up with real furniture and decorations from that time.
- Information about the South Street Casino, the famous performance hall that used to be next to the hotel. This venue was part of what was known as the "Chitlin' Circuit," a network of venues that welcomed Black entertainers during segregation.
- Artifacts that belonged to Dr. William Monroe Wells himself.
- Other items that tell the story of Orlando's African American heritage.
The museum's full name is the Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture. It's a wonderful place to learn about an important part of history.
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See also
