Last updated: January 21, 2025
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Route 66 and the Historic Negro Motorist Green Book
Image/Still from the film, The Green Book Project/Candace Taylor
The “Green Book”, also known as the Negro Motorist Green Book and the Negro Travelers’ Green Book, was an annual travel guide published from 1936 to 1964 by Victor H. Green. It was intended to provide Black travelers with lodging, dining, and other information necessary to stay safe and comfortable during the era of segregation prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Green Book boosted Black-owned business in communities along the road and provided opportunities for business owners and travelers alike.
After the Civil Rights Act, the Green Book was no longer printed as Black travelers were legally supported to patronize all businesses. This had varying effects on Black-owned businesses along the road. One impact was that many of these locations closed as patronage diversified. In 2014, research of Green Books was conducted to compile a list of Green Book sites in Route 66 communities, including information about whether they were still standing (approximately 30% remain standing in 2014). With this information, it is possible to promote ongoing understanding, preservation and commemoration of these sites.
The Green Book Project
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Route 66 is widely recognized around the world as an icon of 20th-century America, emphasizing personal mobility and pursuit of the American Dream. However, the experience of the road was not the same for everyone. The historic Negro Travelers’ Green Book, was an annual travel guide published from 1936 to 1964 by Victor H. Green. It provided Black travelers with lodging, dining, and other information necessary to stay safe and comfortable during the era of segregation prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.