The Travelers Inn: Black Appalachian History in Bluefield

The Travelers Inn: Black Appalachian History in Bluefield, is a project that aims to renew the African American neighborhoods of Bluefield’s North Side and East End in collaboration with Greg Galford, Assistant Professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, and Vonnia Harris Davis, artist and community advocate. The East End and North Side neighborhoods hold profound significance to Black Appalachian history, and this project seeks to make their contributions visible through  public memory projects . The project invites community members to solidify their cultural legacy for future possibilities, including by reimagining historical sites such as Travelers Inn, listed in the “Negro Travelers Green Book” during the segregated Jim Crow Era. The team will engage in community conversations to inform a public art installation  that reflects the unique character, culture, and spirit of Black residents' history.