Brochure Highlights Bloomington's African American History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009

For more information, please contact:
Nancy Hiestand, Program Manager for Historic Preservation, City of Bloomington, 349-3507,hiestann@bloomington.in.gov
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington culminates Historic Preservation Month with the publication of the [image:5068,right]African American History Walking Tour brochure, one of a series of 13 brochures highlighting the community's history.

The tour brochure illustrates the breadth of the African American experience in Bloomington through 14 sites. Unlike the City's other historic brochures, this brochure focuses on events and locations important to the African-American history in Bloomington rather than solely looking at architecture.

Some of the sites on Bloomington's east side include a boarding house where black athletes lived before the university residence halls were integrated, The Black Market that was firebombed in the 1960s and the "Gables" restaurant, one of the first restaurants to be integrated in Bloomington.

Bloomington's west side was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 primarily for its inventory of African American landmarks. Most of these have been restored and are now vital parts of an active, contemporary neighborhood. These include Second Baptist Church, Bethel A.M.E. and the Banneker School, now Banneker Community Center.

The brochures are available at the City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) and Community and Family Resources (CFRD) Departments, 401 N. Morton Street; the Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6 Street; and the offices of Bloomington Restorations, Inc. at Hinkle Garton Farmstead, 2920 E. 10 Street.

For more information on the brochure and historic preservation, contact Nancy Hiestand, City of Bloomington Program Manager for Historic Preservation, at 349-3507.

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