The Green Book Experience - presented by Greenwood Rising

Travel back to the 1950s through history, food, and performance to explore how the Green Book guided Black travelers safely. The Green Book Experience is an immersive evening at Greenwood Rising that brings history to life through storytelling, performance, and place. Guests will begin with an optional tour of the Greenwood Rising History Center, exploring the legacy of Black Wall Street and the resilience of the Greenwood community. From there, enjoy a catered meal followed by a theatrical performance inspired by the era of the Negro Motorist Green Book. Set in the 1950s, this experience transports participants back in time to understand what travel was like for African Americans who relied on the Green Book to identify safe lodging, dining, and services while navigating segregation, sundown towns, and restricted spaces across the United States. Through performance and historical context, The Green Book Experience highlights the ingenuity, caution, and community networks that made travel—and survival—possible during Jim Crow. This evening is designed to educate, engage, and spark meaningful conversation around Black history, mobility, and resilience. Guests are encouraged to participate in the immersion by dressing in period-style clothing from the 1950s!