Located in Miami's Brownsville neighborhood, the Historic Hampton House was once known as the "Social Center of the South." Originally built in 1954 as the Booker Terrace Motel, it became a premier place for African American travelers during the Jim Crow era and remains one of the few surviving Negro Motorist Green Book hotels in Miami. Published by Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1966, the Negro Motorist Green Book was an indispensable travel guide for African Americans, listing hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and businesses where Black travelers could expect safe and respectful service. At a time when segregation and discrimination made travel dangerous, the guide provided a lifeline for families on the road. Publication ended after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed legal segregation, making the guide's mission increasingly unnecessary. The Green Book later inspired the title of the 2018 Academy Award-winning film Green Book. The Hampton House also gained renewed attention through the 2020 film One Night in Miami, which dramatizes the evening of February 25, 1964, after Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to win his first heavyweight championship. The film imagines Ali celebrating at the Hampton House alongside Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. According to local history, it was here that Ali enjoyed the famous bowl of vanilla ice cream he had promised himself after the fight. More than just a motel, the Hampton House became an important gathering place during the Civil Rights Movement. It welcomed influential figures such as Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is said to have practiced an early version of his "I Have a Dream" speech here in 1960. Its renowned pool and jazz club also attracted legendary performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, and many others who could entertain audiences on segregated Miami Beach but were prohibited from staying there overnight. Following desegregation, economic activity gradually shifted away from Brownsville, and the Hampton House closed in 1976 before falling into decades of neglect. Thanks to determined preservation efforts led by the Dade Heritage Trust and local community advocates, notably Dr. Enid C. Pinkney, the Historic Hampton House was saved from demolition in 2002. Miami-Dade County purchased the property, and a $6 million restoration project transformed the abandoned motel into a museum and cultural center, that opened in 2015. In 2022, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today you can tour the two-story, fifty-room, modernist style inn featured a jazz club, restaurant, and swimming pool. Tickets are $25 for a 45 minute tour but they sometimes host events with free tours. Check their website for dates and details. As someone who loves history I appreciate this time capsule of mid century modern design but more importantly the Hampton House is an important symbol of resilience, civil rights, and Black history that continues to educate and inspire. read more

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What an amazing piece of history in Miami. I was lucky to get a personalized tour. A Green Book hotel where Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr and others stayed. It is now a historic landmark and inspired the play and movie 'One Night in Miami' Art Basel and other cultural events have taken place here. They do school field trips. A true hidden gem with a story to tell. read more

The Historic Hampton House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Miami, Florida

The Historic Hampton House is the only Green Book museum in the world dedicated to sharing this unique experience of the segregated era. The restoration and vision are clear and intentional. Their mission is to improve perspectives in race, gender, socio-economic and religious discrimination in America and throughout the world. Located in Brownsville and originally a green book hotel during the times of the Jim Crow south the space hosts exhibitions, teaching/educational tours, amd community programming. It's a great place to visit to learn about very important local history. The sire has a small free lot behind the building amd if thats full there is some paid street parking as well. Def worth a visit at the guides are passionate about sharing its cultural legacy as well as context within the miami community. read more

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This Historic Hampton House is an example of living history. I recommend that if you live here, get on their mailing list and keep up with changes in exhibitions and programs as they happen. The historic rooms are static as they continue to tell the stories of this signification place in Miami. The exhibits change several times a year, most notibly during December Art Week, when remarkable artwork is brought in for a few months. They are starting to hold the periodic jazz nights when the space where world-famous musicians performed. These are a realy treat to attend. read more

To think this historical landmark would no longer exist were it not for Enid Pinkney placing her physical body in front of the bulldozers in protest. Thankful for her sacrifice, may she RIP. The Historic Hampton House is a time capsule. It feels like stepping back into the 1940s, 50s and 60s all at once. The team did an amazing job of preserving and restoring what was once an available and safe haven for the African-American elite when visiting Miami. Happy to see the space used to tell its stories through theatrical productions, community meetings and even art installations during Miami Art Week. I've been able to walk most of the facility and visit the room MLK, Jr. stayed in. It's almost possible to feel the steps of so many who came before while walking the various pathways. What a treasure! I've had the priviledge of coming to Hampton House a few times over the past 6 or so years. My goal next year is to bring groups of friends and family for the organized tours so they also can see the legacy we are so blessed to have still in our midst. Highly recommend for a very accurate visual and overwhelming learning experience about being Black and visiting Black in Miami in the 1950s-1970s. read more

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Thank you Edwin and Imani for a wonderful and impactful afternoon at the Hampton House. We appreciate the time you took to share the history of this iconic hotel. If you visit the hotel we suggest you watch the movie One Night in Miami. There were just four of us on the tour so we were able to have good conversation and ask questions. Of course the highlight was a birthday phone call but that's all I can say! read more

The Historic Hampton House - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Miami, Florida

Visit on a girls trip and the Hampton House was on our Itinerary for the day. Lacrisha was our tour guide and she was great! She is also from VA which was pretty cool. The tour lasted about 50-60 minutes and we had a great time. I'm really glad we stopped by here. If you are into history I would recommend you take a tour! read more

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I hate to lower this spot's rating on here, but it's only fair that I am honest. I have lived a few blocks away for over a decade; the Brownsville area means a lot to me which is why I was really excited to finally visit the famous Hampton House. With this being said, I was a bit disappointed and look forward to them improving a few things. For one, I know they're really happy they made a movie referencing the Hampton House, but it almost feels like it's a museum about the movie. Secondly, I think the admission cost is a bit pricey, one of the best museums I've ever been to was the National Civil Rights Museum (in Memphis) and it was only $17. Thirdly, they kept using the same couple of pictures all over the museum. I understand there might not be much that was preserved during the reconstruction of the Hampton House but I think this is an opportunity to teach about African American history in Miami as a whole. I would've been fascinated to hear about the Miami protests of the 1980s or about the Overtown renaissance. With this said, I really love how detailed they were in the hotel rooms and how they kept everything with the times. Also, having MLK speaking while you're walking through was touching. read more

If you saw One Night in Miami, you should definitely visit! Such an cool piece of history to see if you're visiting Miami or even looking for something to do as a local. They have redone sections of the Hampton House to use as exhibits, but it's historical character remains the same. Def recommend! read more

Stopped by for a visit yesterday. Excellent, Well preserved piece of history. Our tour guide was exceptional and well informed. Put it on your list of places to visit if you're in South Florida. read more

I recently attended a performance by Angela Brown,opera singer ,with a trio of young opera singers,"Opera,From A Sistah,'s point of View,the show was simply wonderful .A very nice venue with a professional and friendly staff .Highly recommended. read more

WOW! Just wow!! I came here for an event and ended up doing the tour. There is so much history behind this place. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and very detailed. I don't want to spoil too much of the tour but we got to see the rooms Dr. King and Muhammad Ali stayed at. They have really done an outstanding job restoring this place. read more

This place is amazing. My husband and I, we love jazz, so we went to see the performance of this wonderful Jazz and Blues singer on the 24th of March 2019. The admission ticket was only $10 and for $6 we had a glass of wine and soft drink. This is the place where Mohamed Ali (Cassius Clay) went to celebrate after becoming a heavyweight champion in 1963 in Florida. The Hampton House is also the place where personalities like Martin Luther King Jr. Malcon X and Sammy Davis Jr. used to stay. If you love Jazz Blues and history, this is a must go place. read more

Stopped in for a quick tour of this amazing historic building and it was awesome to see how much black history is in this place. I called a couple days before to find out a good time to pop by and the woman in charge was more than accommodating at no cost. She was wonderful enough to give a group of us including children a tour of the main room that Martin Luther King Jr. gave speeches in, the room that Muhammad Ali spoke in, the pool and bar area that was used by all the guests including Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Joe Louis, etc., the room that Sonny Liston stayed in, and the room that Martin Luther King Jr. stayed in and wrote the "I have a dream" speech in. It was inspiring to hear about all the black 'greats' who roamed the halls and enjoyed their time in Miami at this hotel when they weren't allowed to stay on Miami Beach because of the color of their skin. There are still renovations happening and I hope that by next year there will be more memorabilia and exhibits to see. There is parking on either side of the hampton house. We stayed about 30 minutes and got to take pictures of everything. And it was definitely worth the visit. read more