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Tuskegee, Alabama, is a short drive east of Montgomery. It has played an important part in the Civil Rights movement.
Introduction to Tuskegee
Tuskegee was originally inhabited by the Creek people, who had built a settlement called Taskigi. They were expelled from the area as part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. White settlers moved in and built cotton plantations on the back of slave labor.
Tuskegee was founded in 1833 by General Thomas Simpson Woodward (1797-1859). It was incorporated as a city in 1843. In 1881, Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) founded the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers which eventually became Tuskegee University. The infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study took place there from 1932 to 1972.
During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen trained nearby at what is now the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. They were the first squadron of African-American pilots trained to serve in the U.S. Military.
Tuskegee was the subject of notable civil rights cases such as Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960, voting rights) and Lee v. Macon County Board of Education (1963, desegregation of schools). The city was the birthplace of Rosa Parks (1913-2005). Singer Lionel Richie was also born there and grew up at the Tuskegee Institute.
Other than a short stop at the square, we didn’t find anything else of interest to see in the city itself. The real highlights in Tuskegee are the two national historic sites.
Town Square
Most people visit for the national historic sites and there isn’t much reason to stop in the city, but we decided to check out the town square. It’s a wide open green space with a gazebo on one corner. A controversial Confederate monument sits in the center. The monument was erected in 1906 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
The buildings around the square make up the Main Street Historic District. Some are vacant while others are filled with stores. The office of civil rights attorney Fred Gray (b. 1930) is located on the square.
Macon County Courthouse
The most important building on the square is the Macon County Courthouse, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure built between 1905 and 1906. It was designed by J.W. Golucke (1865-1907).
Map of Downtown Tuskegee
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site encompasses Tuskegee University. This historically black university was founded by Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) in 1881 as the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers. It was instrumental in the expansion of higher education for African-Americans. The name changed to Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee Institute in 1937, and finally Tuskegee University in 1985.
Classes began in a rundown church and shanty. In 1882, Washington purchased a 100-acre former plantation to build the campus, which was designed by architect Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942) and landscape architect David Williston (1868-1962). It became a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a National Historic Site in 1974 for its significance in American history and the quality of its academic programs.
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is open daily except Sundays. There’s no fee to visit (as of November 2024) and visitor parking is available in a parking lot next to The Oaks.
Only two buildings are run by the National Park Service and open to visitors, but everyone is free to walk around the campus and admire the historic buildings.
George Washington Carver Museum
The first building you can visit is the George Washington Carver Museum, which is also the visitor center. Built in 1915, the building was originally the university’s laundry. It later served as the laboratory of George Washington Carver (c. 1864-1943), one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. The university’s trustees authorized the museum in 1938 to display his life’s work. Henry Ford (1863-1947), an admirer of Carver, was instrumental in the museum’s development. It finally opened in 1941.
The museum contains excellent exhibits on the life and experiments of Carver. Many of his inventions and innovations using peanuts are on display. There’s also information about Booker T. Washington, introductory films, and a gift shop.
The Oaks
The other building open to the public is The Oaks. It was the home of Booker T. Washington from 1900 until his death in 1915. Tours of The Oaks are available Tuesday through Thursday with an advance reservation, but it was closed for renovation during our visit.
Historic Quadrangle
The Historic Quadrangle is the oldest part of the campus. It’s surrounded by a few buildings designed by architect Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942). This area is the center of student life.
Carnegie Hall
First, direct across the street from The Oaks is Carnegie Hall. The building was funded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) thanks to a US$20,000 grant on December 20, 1900. It was built in 1901 and served as the school’s library until 1932, when the music department moved in. Carnegie donated 2,509 libraries worldwide between 1883 and 1919.
White Hall
Moving clockwise, the next building is White Hall. It was built in 1910 and the clock tower was added in 1913. It was used as the main female dormitory and is named for Alexander Moss White (1815-1906).
Douglass Hall
Next is Douglass Hall, named for abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895). The original building was built in 1904 but burned down in 1934. It was used as a female dormitory.
Huntington Hall
At the northeast end of the quadrangle is Huntington Hall, named for Collis Huntington (1821-1900). Built in 1899, it was originally used as a female dormitory, but it was later converted to a staff residence and classrooms.
Tompkins Hall
Tompkins Hall was originally the main dining hall on campus. It was completed in 1910 and was later converted to the Student Union. The building is named for Charles E. Tompkins and was designed by architect J.W. Golucke (1865-1907).
Old Administration Building
Finally, southeast of Carnegie Hall is the Old Administration Building. Completed in 1895, it served as the main office building until the 1970s. A post office and bank also operated inside.
South Side of Campus
There are a few more points of interest on the south side of campus near the Historic Quadrangle.
Demolished Buildings
At University Avenue and Tuskegee Airmen Circle is a parking lot that was the site of two buildings that no longer exist. First was Porter Hall, completed in 1883 and named for Alfred H. Porter. It was the very first building constructed at Tuskegee. It housed offices, a library, chapel, kitchen, dining rooms, living quarters, and a laundry.
Porter Hall was demolished in 1903 to make way for the Huntington Academic Building, which was completed in 1905. It housed high school classrooms, a girls gym, office space, and a college bookstore. In 1991, the building was destroyed by an electrical fire.
Rockefeller Hall
At the north end of Tuskegee Airmen Circle you can spot Rockefeller Hall, named for John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937). It was built in 1903 as a male dormitory and was George Washington Carver’s home until he moved to Dorothy Hall in 1938. The building also housed a library and museum.
Thrasher Hall
Finally, near the south end of the campus is Thrasher Hall. It was built as the the Science Building between 1893 and 1895 with bricks made by teachers and students. It housed science classrooms and laboratories and only the original exterior walls remain. Today, it contains university offices.
Booker T. Washington renamed the building in 1903 to honor Max Bennett Thrasher (1860-1903), who helped him edit and publish his autobiography, Up From Slavery. The book is required reading for all Tuskegee University students. The original bell from Thrasher Hall’s bell tower sits in front of the building. It rang for class changes until 1983.
Booker T. Washington Boulevard
One of the main roads through the heart of the modern campus is Booker T. Washington Boulevard. You’ll find a few points of interest along the road.
Margaret Murray Washington Hall
After visiting the George Washington Carver Museum, we had a short time to walk around campus and see a few of the historic buildings. First is Margaret Murray Washington Hall, which is just inside the Lincoln Gates. It was built in 1897 and is named for Margaret Murray Washington (1865-1925), Booker T. Washington’s third wife. The building now houses the university’s welcome center and admissions department, but was originally the school’s agricultural department.
Dorothy Hall
Next is Dorothy Hall, where female students learned about dietetics, sewing, childcare, and nursing. It was built in 1901 and named for Dorothy Lamb Woodbridge (1745-1792). Carver lived there from 1938 until his death in 1943. Today, it serves as the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, where students learn about food preparation and hotel management.
Lifting the Veil of Ignorance
Across from Dorothy Hall is a monument of Booker T. Washington titled Lifting the Veil of Ignorance. The statue was sculpted by Charles Keck (1875-1951) and was dedicated in 1922.
Tuskegee Chapel
Further along is the Tuskegee Chapel, built in 1969. It replaced the original chapel, which was built between 1896 and 1898 with 1,200,000 bricks made and laid by Tuskegee students. It burned down in 1957 after a lightning strike.
Tuskegee Cemetery
Next to the chapel is the Tuskegee Cemetery, where both Washington and Carver are buried. Prominent members of faculty and staff also rest there, as well as members of Washington’s family. The university president determines who can be buried in the cemetery, which was established in 1898.
Our Thoughts on Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
Overall, it was a nice experience visiting the beautiful historic campus at Tuskegee University. We also enjoyed the George Washington Carver Museum and were amazed at all he accomplished during his life.
There are eight buildings we didn’t visit because we were running short on time. We hope to see them another time as well as get a chance to tour The Oaks. On the map below, I’ve marked all the buildings we visited as well as the ones we didn’t.
Map of Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site pays homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and 447th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.
The Tuskegee Airmen trained at Moton Field, where the government wanted to try an “experiment” to see if African-Americans “had the mental and physical capabilities to lead, fly military aircraft, and the courage to fight in war”. The military was segregated until President Harry S. Truman put an end to the practice in 1948. Cadets were educated and lived at Tuskegee Institute.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is open daily from 8am until sunset, while exhibits are open Monday through Saturday. Admission is free (as of November 2024).
Entrance to Moton Field
From the parking lot, if you take the path to the left, you can walk through the original gates to the airfield. A skeleton structure indicates where the guard house used to sit.
Continuing along the path, there are two more skeleton structures. They indicate the former sites of the Cadet House and Army Supply Building.
Hangar No. 1
The first building you can enter is Hangar No. 1. It was the only hangar in existence when the program started in 1941. The building housed aircraft maintenance and management offices. Flight debriefing and record keeping also took place there.
In Hangar No. 1, there’s information about the daily operations of the base. You’ll learn that Tuskegee Airmen weren’t just pilots. Technicians, mechanics, cooks, navigators, bombardiers, control tower operators, dispatchers, medics, and parachute riggers were all considered Tuskegee Airmen. There were also Native American, Hispanic, and mixed race airmen, while white military personnel oversaw operations at the base. Women were also involved in various capacities, including mechanics, gate guards, parachute riggers, secretaries, and more.
In addition, there are some planes on display. Before exiting you can visit the Cadet Waiting Room and the War Room (Intelligence Room).
Hangar No. 2
Next is Hangar No. 2, which was originally built in 1944 to accommodate the expansion of the program. It held classrooms, medical offices, and a parachute drying and packing space. The hangar burned down in 1989 but was reconstructed by the National Park Service.
Inside Hangar No. 2 is a museum dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen and their service to the country. You can hear individual stories, learn about famous airmen, see uniforms and awards, and view statistics about their missions.
992 pilots were trained as Tuskegee Airmen between 1941 and 1946. 355 were deployed to active combat and flew 1,578 total missions. 66 were killed in action while 32 were taken prisoners of war. 13 were listed as missing in action.
The airmen destroyed 112 aircraft in the air and 150 on the ground, 950 rail cars and motor vehicles, and put German torpedo boat out of action. On a total of 179 bomber escort missions, the Tuskegee Airmen lost a total of just 27 bombers during 7 of those missions.
Control Tower
The control tower was located in Hangar No. 2 and survived the fire. You can climb up the original tower and get a look at the air field.
Minor Buildings
There are a few minor buildings behind the hangars. There’s the Oil Storage Shed, the Bath and Locker House, a skeleton of the Engineer’s Office, and the Warehouse/Vehicle Storage Building. The Bath and Locker House was used by administrative and support personnel and may have been the only integrated building in the South at the time it was in use.
Finally, on the path back up to the parking lot, there’s the Skyway Club. It was built in 1945 and served as a recreation and dining facility. Supposedly it’s used as a restaurant, but it was closed during our visit.
