Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Orlando Wells'Built Museum
AO Edited

Wells'Built Museum

During segregation, this Orlando hotel hosted performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Now it's a museum dedicated to preserving local Black history.

Orlando, Florida

Wells’Built Museum   Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0
  Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0
  Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0
  The Milk District / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Once it was a Black-owned hotel that hosted the hottest performers on the so-called "Chitlin Circuit," including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Now it preserves local African-American history and culture.

Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of Orlando's first black doctors who became a prominent figure in the city's Black community in the early 20th century. In 1921, he built a hotel for Black Americans visiting Orlando, later followed by a nearby casino and entertainment venue. On February 4, 2000, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Though the casino is long-closed, the hotel building remains. It no longer hosts overnight guests, but instead is now home to the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in June 2009.

Related Tags

Black History Museums Hotels

Know Before You Go

There is on-street parking in front of the museum as well as a dedicated parking lot in the back. Check the museum website for hours of operation and fees.

Community Contributors

Published

March 23, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos

Nearby Places

Explore the Destination Guide

Related Stories and Lists

Related Places

  • Naydja Cojoe takes the stage at the Dew Drop Inn.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Dew Drop Inn

    First opened in 1939, this legendary performance venue was a haven for Black musicians including Ray Charles and Little Richard.

  • Beitou Folk Arts Museum

    Taipei, Taiwan

    Beitou Folk Arts Museum

    A Japanese colonial-era hot springs hotel that has transformed into an art museum.

  • A mural on the side of the building was painted by local artist Alexander Austin in honor of area native jazz great Charlie “Bird” Parker.

    Kansas City, Missouri

    Mutual Musicians Foundation

    Soak in the soul of Kansas City at the oldest continually-operating jazz club in the country.

  • A plaque marking the area where Charlie’s Place, a bustling nightclub that attracted both Blacks and whites during the mid-20th century, once stood.

    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    Site of Charlie’s Place

    Once a safe haven for Black patrons and performers—including Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington—during the Jim Crow era, portions of this nightclub and motel have been restored to welcome a new kind of visitor.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member