42Af1Cda 7887 404E Bc42 644E30198E0F Scaled E1762965481179 — “Ben Moore Hotel 2024-08-22 2” by Own work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

A hotel that was once the heartbeat of Montgomery’s Centennial Hill neighborhood has been vacant for decades.

But now, The Conservation Fund is stepping in to help protect + preserve the historic building which served a unique role during the Civil Rights Movement.

“Once a beacon for the Centennial Hill neighborhood and a refuge for travelers listed in the Green Book, the Ben Moore Hotel welcomed Civil Rights leaders and musical icons alike. Though time has worn down its walls, its story remains powerful. By protecting this historic site, we’re helping ensure that the courage and creativity it once inspired continue to shape Montgomery’s future.”
Phillip Howard, Manager of the Legacy Places Initiative for The Conservation Fund

History of the Ben Moore Hotel

1A57315F 256C 4C4C 9594 C958340E10A8 — “Ben Moore Hotel 2024-08-22 1” by Own work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Ben Moore Hotel first opened its doors in 1951 under owner Matthew Franklin Moore, who named the building after his father who was born enslaved in Alabama.

The hotel was once home to dozens of guest rooms, a restaurant, barber shops + a rooftop nightclub. Several key figures of the Black community stayed at the hotel, becoming known as a “headquarters for power.”

Some names that came through the Ben Moore Hotel as guests or performers included:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rev. Ralph Abernathy
B.B. King
Ruth Brown
Little Richard

It served as a hub for ministers, activists, and community leaders to organize, exchange ideas, and build networks vital to the Civil Rights Movement.

“The protection of the Ben Moore Hotel is significant for the city not just because of the history it represents, but because of the growth and revitalization opportunities it provides for Montgomery and all of central Alabama.”
Steven Reed, Montgomery mayor

Over just a couple of decades, the hotel declined and eventually closed but was recognized as an important landmark by historians and local Montgomery heritage tours.

The Conservation Fund says its mission of protecting places of natural, cultural and historic significance aligns with the decision to preserve the hotel.

The Conservation Fund steps in

The Conservation Fund saves the Historic Edistone Hotel in Downtown Selma

The Conservation Fund works to identify and quickly acquire at-risk properties and protect them forever, working with local community partners who steward them long-term.

For this project, The Conservation Fund will be partnering with the Landsmark Foundation, a nonprofit community-based preservation organization located in the capital city.

“Restoring the Ben Moore Hotel is both a celebration of our city’s rich history and a bold step toward its future. We are excited to see this iconic space redeveloped, recognizing it as a powerful economic catalyst for the neighborhood and for Montgomery as a whole.”
Frank Robinson, Director of Economic Development for the City of Montgomery

The Ben Moore Hotel is the latest African American heritage site protected by The Conservation Fund. Other projects include: