Fred and Hattie Rush’s Boarding House

Note: This Route 66 tour focuses on locations that are still standing today, but this stop is one exception. The home was demolished.

Fred and Harriet “Hattie” Rush played an important role in Route 66 history through their inclusion in the Negro Motorist Green Book, the travel guide that helped African American motorists navigate segregation-era America safely.

During the Jim Crow era, Black travelers often faced discrimination when seeking lodging, food, or services. The Rush family provided a safe and welcoming place for Black travelers passing through Bloomington. Their home was listed in the Green Book, making it part of a nationwide network of trusted stops that allowed families to travel with greater security and dignity.

Freedom of the open road was not equally accessible to all. Although their boarding house no longer stands, their story embodies both the challenges and resilience that shaped Black travel on the Mother Road.