Our Arklahoma Heritage: The Latimore Tourist Home and the family who made it a sanctuary during segregation

In the summer of 1950, an African American family traveling west from Little Rock flipped through the pages of the Negro Motorist Green Book. Just one listing stood between them and the uncertainty of the road ahead: the Latimore Tourist Home in Russellville.

When they arrived at the modest two-story house, they were greeted by the warm smile of Cora Latimore, ushering them into a rare haven where dignity and safety were guaranteed.

Behind the quiet hospitality were Eugene Latimore, a livestock veterinarian born in 1871, and Cora Wilson Latimore, born in 1895. Eugene’s life spanned over a century==he served as a teacher, steam engine repairman, and healer in the Russellville community.

Cora ran the boarding house with unwavering warmth and care. Together, they hosted weary travelers, offering not just lodging but refuge.

They raised two daughters, Anna Jean and Princess, within the same walls that welcomed guests navigating the dangerous terrain of Jim Crow America. Eugene passed away in 1980 at 109 years old, followed by Cora in 1990 at age 94.

Both are buried in Reed Cemetery in Russellville==their final resting place a quiet tribute to lives rooted in service and strength.

In 1949, the Latimore Tourist Home first appeared in the Negro Motorist Green Book, the critical travel guide for African Americans seeking safe accommodations. It was the only site listed between Little Rock and Fort Smith, making it a vital destination for railroad workers, families, and solo travelers on the move.

While the 2018 Oscar-winning film Green Book introduced this guide to modern audiences, the Latimore story is the real thing: unscripted, lived, and steeped in purpose.

After the home ceased operations in the 1970s, it became a private residence and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. But years of neglect followed, and it was listed among Arkansas’s Most Endangered Properties in 2018.

In October 2022, the nonprofit Friends of the Latimore Tourist Home relocated the structure to protect it from further deterioration. On June 28, 2023, it reached its permanent home at the corner of Fifth Street and South Houston Avenue.

Restoration is actively underway, with exterior renovations nearly complete and interior work dependent on continued fundraising. The vision: a multi-use community resource center honoring the Latimores and the Green Book’s legacy.

The Latimore Tourist Home stands today not just as a piece of architecture—but as a symbol of everyday heroism. At a time when African Americans faced systemic discrimination and danger on the road, Eugene and Cora opened their doors, offering kindness, courage, and care.

Their home was a lifeline. Their story is our heritage.

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