North Lawrence-Monroe Street Historic District
Encyclopedia
The North Lawrence-Monroe Street Historic District was a 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) historic district
in Montgomery, Alabama
. It comprised 132-148, 216, and 220 Monroe Street and 14, 22, 28-40, and 56 North Lawrence Street, containing a total of six contributing buildings
. These buildings were significant in that they housed African American
businesses during the era of segregation
, making this a commercial center for African Americans in Montgomery. The businesses played a supporting role during the Montgomery Bus Boycott
in 1955–56 by providing dispatch and pick-up services. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on August 30, 1984. The entire block was subsequently demolished in the mid-1990s to allow construction of a parking deck for the RSA Tower
.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. It comprised 132-148, 216, and 220 Monroe Street and 14, 22, 28-40, and 56 North Lawrence Street, containing a total of six contributing buildings
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
. These buildings were significant in that they housed African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
businesses during the era of segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, making this a commercial center for African Americans in Montgomery. The businesses played a supporting role during the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a political and social protest campaign that started in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system. Many important figures in the civil rights movement were involved in the boycott,...
in 1955–56 by providing dispatch and pick-up services. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 30, 1984. The entire block was subsequently demolished in the mid-1990s to allow construction of a parking deck for the RSA Tower
RSA Tower
The RSA Tower is a , 22-story building located in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. It was built in 1996 by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Its tenants include Raycom Media's headquarters, Morgan Keegan & Company, the Capitol City Club, the Alabama Public Health Association, Alabama Department of...
.