San Antonio, Texas- On May 26, 2025, The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) will host The Green Book Civil Rights Tour. This guided and immersive 2.5-hour bus tour highlights the businesses, homes, and community spaces that offered refuge, dignity, and resistance during the Jim Crow era. The Green Book Civil Rights Tour explores San Antonio’s historically Black neighborhoods, including Denver Heights and Dignowity Hill. The tour also includes stops in the downtown theater district, St. Paul Square, and the SAAACAM’s exhibit space. The Green Book Civil Right Bus Tour brings to life the powerful legacy of the historic Negro Motorist Green Book, authored by Victor Green from 1936-1967. The tour is both an educational and cultural experience that connects the past to the present.
The Green Book Civil Rights Tour begins May 26, 2025, at 11am. Onboarding is located at the Brackenridge Parking Garage at 3501 Avenue B. Please arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the bus’s departure. Tour tickets cost $40 for members and $45 for non-members. Parking is free. SAAACAM will offer the Green Book Civil Rights Bus Tour every second Saturday of each month. www.saaacam.org
ABOUT THE GREEN BOOK
Finding accommodation was one of the greatest challenges faced by black travelers. Not only did many hotels, motels, and boarding houses refuse to serve black customers, but thousands of towns across the United States declared themselves "Sundown Towns", which all non-whites had to leave by sunset. Even in towns which did not exclude overnight stays by blacks, accommodation was often very limited.
The Greenbook’s principal goal was to provide accurate information on black-friendly accommodations to answer the constant question that faced black drivers: "Where will you spend the night?" As well as essential information on lodgings, service stations and garages, it provided details of leisure facilities open to African Americans, including beauty salons, restaurants, nightclubs and country clubs The listings focused on four main categories – hotels, motels, tourist homes (private residences, usually owned by African-Americans, which provided accommodation to travelers), and restaurants. They were arranged by state, and subdivided by city, giving the name and address of each business. For an extra payment, businesses could have their listing displayed in bold type or have a star next to it to denote that they were "recommended".
ABOUT SAAACAM
The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit whose goal is to collect, preserve and share the cultural heritage of African descendants of the San Antonio and southwest region.
For More Information
Lisa Jackson
Public Relations Manager
SAAACAM
210.364.2261