National Register Record for 100 BLOCK NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE

Historic Name: 100 BLOCK NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE
Current Name: NEGRO WALL STREET; BLACK WALL STREET
Address: 100 BLOCK OF NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE
City: TULSA            County: TULSA
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE 100 BLOCK NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERION A AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR COMMERCE AND ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE IS FROM 1921, THE YEAR OF THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE, TO 1967, WHEN CONSTRUCTION OF INTERSTATE 244 (CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY) COMMENCED. LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST ARCHER STREET AND NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, THIS AREA CONTAINS THE ONLY REMAINING COLLECTION OF CONTIGUOUS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS AFTER THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE. THIS AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS “NEGRO WALL STREET” OR “BLACK WALL STREET,” WAS THE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND PROFESSIONAL CENTER FOR TULSA’S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, OFFICES, AND OTHER BLACK-OWNED AND OPERATED ENTERPRISES OFFERED ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT. LIKEWISE, THE CONSUMPTION OF GOODS AND ENTERTAINMENT WITHIN THE AREA ATTAINED CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE CITY OF TULSA AS A WHOLE. THE 100 BLOCK NORTH GREENWOOD AVENUE HELPED PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY. IT REMAINS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF AFRICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY, CULTURAL INNOVATION, AND FREE ENTERPRISE. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ON JUNE 10, 2021.

Type: DISTRICT
Historic Function: COMMERCE/TRADE: BUSINESS; COMMERCE/TRADE: PROFESSIONAL; COMMERCE/TRADE: SPECIALTY STORE; COMMERCE/TRADE: DEPARTMENT STORE; COMMERCE/TRADE: RESTAURANT; DOMESTIC: MULTIPLE DWELLING; DOMESTIC: HOTEL
Current Function: COMMERCE/TRADE: BUSINESS; COMMERCE/TRADE: PROFESSIONAL; COMMERCE/TRADE: SPECIALTY STORE; COMMERCE/TRADE: ORGANIZATIONAL; COMMERCE/TRADE: RESTAURANT
Area of Significance 1: COMMERCE
Area of Significance 2: ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Architectural Style: EARLY 20TH CENTURY COMMERCIAL STYLE
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1921-1967            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD-EXCELLENT
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: SEPTEMBER 2020