‘Preserved Forever’: Part Of Greenwood Ave. Added To National Register Of Historic Places

The 100 block of Greenwood Avenue, known as Black Wall Street, in Tulsa is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce said the designation has been in the works for years, and it will help keep the buildings around for generations for years come. Business owners along Greenwood said they're pleased to finally see this area get the official designation it deserves. 

“It's been a long time coming. It should have been on the registry 60 years ago," said Cleo Harris Jr., owner of Black Wall Street T-Shirts and Souvenirs.

Black Wall Street T-Shirts and Souvenirs is inside one of the 10 buildings just added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In its announcement, the Oklahoma Historical Society said Greenwood helped provide a foundation for African American community building through the mid-twentieth century and remains an important symbol of African American identity, cultural innovation, and free enterprise.

"Excited about this being preserved forever," said Dr. Freeman Culver with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Culver spearheaded the application process for these buildings to be on the registry. He said it will help preserve what’s left of Black Wall Street.

“All we have left now are these buildings, so it’s very important for us to preserve these buildings, maintain them, modernize them," said Dr. Culver.

He said that will be possible through a preservation tax credit that can be utilized to offset the cost of rehabilitating the historic buildings.

"When people come down here, we want them to patronize the businesses and we want them to go inside and say those buildings look great," said Dr. Culver.

Dr. Culver said while this year was a somber remembrance of the 1921 Race Massacre, business leaders are now looking ahead to next year, which will include a celebration of the rebuilding that took place after the massacre.