Recreation in Segregated Washington, D. C.
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, 9:35 a.m.Lamond-Riggs Library
Recreation in Segregated Washington, D. C.
Photo exhibit at the library

The month of February, come view a photo exhibit of theaters, restaurants, hotels and other places of recreation for African Americans during the era of segregation in Washington, D. C.
Did you know:
- Ben's Chili Bowl was once a silent movie theater.
- Once upon time, Georgetown was predominantly African American and one of the premier social clubs in Georgetown was the Monticello on M Street NW.
- Formal dances were held at the Murray Palace Casino and the Lincoln Colonnade on U Street.
- The first indoor, full-sized swimming pool for African Americans was built at 24th and N streets NW.

The exhibit also includes a photo of former Councilwoman Charlene Drew Davis as a debutante in 1958. There are also photos of actor Gene Kelly at the Rose Park Playground in the 1940s on a tennis court, the Suburban Gardens Amusement Park in NE near Benning Road, and, of course, U Street NW when it was known as "The Black Broadway."
For additional information, see The Guide to Black Washington: Places and Events of Historical and Cultural Significance in the Nation's Capitol by Sandra Fitzpatrick and Maria R. Goodwin. Another interesting title is Beyond the Shadow of the Senators: The Untold Story of the Homestead Grays and the Integration of Baseball by Brad Snyder.