Freedmen's Town Historic District
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Freedmen's Town traces its beginnings back to 1866, when emancipated slaves first settled in tents and shanties on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, swampy land no one else wanted. Soon, the new settlers many of whom were skilled stone masons and carpenters had built homes, businesses and brick churches and paved the streets with bricks they forged themselves.
Images
One of the remaining houses
The historical marker describing Freedmen Town's history
This house represents how dilapidated the neighborhood has become and what is left
Map showing the boundaries of Freedmen's Town
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
For decades, Freedmen's Town was the epicenter of Houston's African-American community, a thriving enclave of professionals, educators and businessmen. But the Depression caused homeowners to lose their properties. In 1984, Freedmen's Town was designated a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. At the time, 530 historic structures stood in the 40-block area. Today, thirty structures remain.