Hotel Metropolitan

https://cityofpaducah.com/places/hotel-metropolitan/

I've been thinking a lot about The Hotel Metropolitan lately. I feel like the story of this place and its owners is the perfect bridge between Black History Month and Women's History Month. 

Did you know that this historic hotel was a stop on the Chitlin Circuit, a safe haven for Black performers during segregation? “The Chitlin' Circuit was African-Americans making something beautiful out of something ugly, whether it's making cuisine out of hog intestines or making world-class entertainment despite being excluded from all of the world-class venues, all of the fancy white clubs and all the first-rate white theaters.” Preston Lauterbach, author of "The Chitlin' Circuit and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll"

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/02/16/275313723/the-origin-and-hot-stank-of-the-chitlin-circuit

Tina and Ike Turner stayed and the hotel bathroom is still the same, down to the tile and sink, toilet and bath! It was not only musicians who stayed, the Harlem Globetrotters also frequented the hotel along with politicians, poets and dancers, etc. It was also listed in the Green Book. The Green Book was first published in 1936 by Victor Green, a postal worker.

Miss Betty runs the Hotel Metropolotin and is always inviting and warm. Each time I’ve stayed to research, she has made us meals and walked us through portions of history. Even explains why she makes us the food she does, weaving stories around the cultural and historical significance of each morsel. She has invited us into her history in the most illuminating ways. We always feel honored to spend time with her. She does a lot of heavy emotional lifting in her career as a Black history educator but she is driven to educate the community about Black history in Padukah, Ky. Her love for education shines through in everything she does. My favorite lessons always include food.☺️

While the hotel is not open for overnights at this time, you can visit and walk through the hotel museum and learn the history and language of quilting on the Underground Railroad, learn about Buffalo Soldiers, visit the purple room out back. I loved the purple room because not only was it a bar but it was also a beauty salon towards the back. Before and after local shows, the performers and other guests would hang out there and practice, embibe or beautify while gossiping or exchanging stories of the road.

If you ever find yourself in Padukah, Ky. You should stop on by and tell Miss Betty I said hi!