Call it a tale of two cities. In 1954 (when segregation laws were in effect) both Miami Beach and Overtown saw hotels open—the Fontainebleau and the Booker Terrace Motel, respectively. On the beach, the Fontainebleau welcomed musicians like Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and Lena Horne to entertain guests. But when the last rounds of applause died out and the curtains went down, Black performers had to leave Miami Beach to find accommodations elsewhere. That meant consulting The Green Book—a periodical listing businesses known to offer services to Black travelers—and a drive to Overtown. There, the hotel that’s known today as the Historic Hampton House (HHH) was one of several establishments that offered safety and shelter for Black people. Now led by Curb Gardner II, HHH is in the midst of a renaissance—not only telling the tales of its storied past, but forging ahead into a vibrant future. Aventura caught up with Gardner to get an inside look at what’s next for this key piece of Black Miami history.
Aventura: Who were some of the celebrities who stayed at HHH?
Gardner: It was a place of refuge. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sammy Davis Jr. are among the many musical icons [who were guests]. Frank Sinatra stayed here because he would not be separated from his Black band members. Tennis player Althea Gibson and boxers Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) and Joe Lewis were guests at the Hampton House. In 1964, then-22-year-old Clay won the World Heavyweight Championship against Sonny Liston and celebrated with his entourage (including Malcolm X) at the counter in the Hampton House’s café. Photographs of the day now cover the walls; visitors even can go into the room where [Clay] stayed. Martin Luther King Jr. gave some of his speeches and press conferences here. From the outside terrace, King wrote part of his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Have their rooms been restored for visitors to experience?
Visitors of the Hampton House can step into history to see the rooms fitted out with the original small sitting area, kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom.
What happened to the HHH after segregation came to an end?
Once the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and the Housing Act of 1968, ending segregation, Hampton House went dark in the 1970s for the next 23 years. It became derelict and was about to face the wrecking ball when it was saved by members of the community to become a cultural center and was given funds for renovations from the City of Miami and private donors.
How has the HHH changed since then?
Major renovations have been done. The rooms on the first floor have been gutted to make way for large gallery spaces, which we are filling with art. We had a star-studded Art Basel 2023 due to the relationship we have with Palm Beach contemporary art collector and curator Beth Rudin DeWoody with our art initiative. She curated a hugely successful exhibition called “Gimme Shelter,” which got attention throughout the world. She has been instrumental in understanding how to use art to empower people and empower communities. Beth continues to collaborate with us to bring more art to HHH.
What can visitors look forward to this season at HHH?
The lounge where history’s musical icons played and jammed together is still at the heart of HHH. We have our “From BeBop to HipHop” concert series, which honors all the artists who played here before. It launched [this fall], with a lineup including Gregory Porter, Tracy Chapman, Diana Krall, and Patti Austin. We also have our “Sounds of Freedom” exhibition featuring art from Leonor Anthony and photography by Roberto Pollio—with images of jazz legends like Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington. We will also participate in Art Basel and Miami Art Week again this year with works from Beth Rudin DeWoody’s collection.
What is the modern mission for HHH?
Our aim is to shift it from a cultural center to the only Green Book museum in the world. The mission is to use the rich history of its past, drawing on the icons [who stayed here]. They used their talents to bridge the world through music, art, and sports. With that talent, we move forward with programing that bridges social, racial, cultural, religious, gender, and ethnic divides.
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