HAMPTON, Va. — After recently passed legislation to honor significant places and businesses in African American History, the first of Virginia's "Green Book" commemorative markers will be placed in Hampton in the Buckroe Beach area of the city.
First published in 1936, the book was written by Victor Hugo Green as a safe-traveling guide for African Americans to use during segregation. It included barber shops, restaurants, taverns, boarding houses and more across the country.
The 2018 film “Green Book”, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, introduced many to a significant piece of African-American history.
In March of this year, Virginia's governor signed legislation into law that will have the state place historical markers to commemorate places in Virginia that were listed in The Green Book.
The first of those markers will commemorate Bay Shore Hotel, which was one of the most popular vacation destinations for African Americans during the Jim Crow era.
On land that is largely privately-owned beachfront property today, Bay Shore Beach was located right next to the all-white Buckroe Beach Amusement Park. The hotel specifically was listed in The Green Book from 1947-1958 and again from 1962–1964 and 1966-1967.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation will host an unveiling of the new historic land marker to commemorate the site on Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. at Hampton's Buckroe Beach, 330 South Resort Boulevard.
According to cataloging through University of Virginia research, there are more than 300 recorded Green Book sites in Virginia and more than 100 in the Tidewater region. Less than 20 in the area are still "extant" and an overwhelming majority are either demolished or designated as "unknown."