Route History

Annie Malone was more than a beauty pioneer — she was a visionary who created opportunity, empowerment, and community during a time of segregation and limited access for Black Americans.

Born in 1869 in Metropolis, Annie Malone became one of America’s first Black female millionaires after building a successful beauty and cosmetic empire centered around products designed specifically for Black women. Through her Poro System, tens of thousands of women were trained in beauty culture and entrepreneurship, helping many achieve financial independence and economic stability. Among her most notable students were Madam C. J. Walker and even legendary musician Chuck Berry.

In the 1930s, Malone relocated her business from St. Louis to Chicago, where Poro College operated as a cosmetology school, beauty product factory, and training center. It also became a safe and welcoming space for Black travelers during segregation and was proudly listed in the The Negro Motorist Green Book as a tourist home.

Beyond beauty, Poro College served as a cultural and business hub where Black organizations and leaders could gather when Jim Crow laws denied access to many public spaces. Annie Malone’s legacy lives on through the generations she inspired, empowered, and uplifted through education, business, and community support. ✨

Victor Hugo Green turned survival into a roadmap for Black freedom on the open road.

In 1926, as Route 66 promised “mobility for all,” Black travelers navigating Jim Crow and sundown towns faced a very different reality. Victor’s Negro Motorist Green Book (1936–1964) became an essential guide helping Black families safely find food, lodging, gas, and dignity across the country.

Springfield’s Central East neighborhood was one of those crucial stops. At its height, as many as 22 Springfield businesses, hotels, private homes, gas stations, and restaurants were listed in the Green Book, offering refuge and welcome to Black motorists along historic Route 66.

Today, we honor Victor Hugo Green and his Black-owned businesses that made Springfield a lifeline proving that even in the face of segregation, community created safety, opportunity, and movement.