Minneapolis is taking steps to honor important parts of its Black history by working to nominate three significant sites to the National Register of Historic Places. The effort focuses on locations that have played a central role in the city’s Black community for nearly a century. The three places being nominated are the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and the former home of civil rights advocate Harry Davis, Sr.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is one of the most influential institutions in Black media in Minnesota. It was founded in 1934 as two separate newspapers, the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder. These publications later merged in 2000 to become a single newspaper, which continues to operate today. The Spokesman-Recorder is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in the state and remains one of the longest-running family-owned Black newspapers in the entire country. For generations, it has served as a voice for Minnesota’s Black community, documenting struggles, victories, and milestones often overlooked in mainstream media.
Another site being nominated is the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in north Minneapolis. The center opened in 1924 at a time when racial barriers were high, including at the University of Minnesota where Black women were denied housing in the dorms. In response, young Black women raised money to open a settlement house that eventually grew into the community center. For the past 100 years, it has been a safe space for children, families, and residents, offering programs and services that support education, health, and community development. Valerie Stevenson, the center’s interim executive director, described the nomination as both a recognition of history and a celebration of the resilience of the community it continues to serve.
The third site is the former home of Harry Davis, Sr., located in Minneapolis’ Powderhorn neighborhood. Davis was born in 1923 and went on to make a lasting impact on the city. He was widely respected as a boxing coach and served on the U.S. Olympic boxing committee. Beyond sports, he broke barriers in civic leadership. In 1969, he was elected to the Minneapolis school board and later became the first Black candidate for mayor of the city. His home stands as a symbol of his legacy and the progress of Black leadership in Minneapolis.
If approved, these designations would bring recognition and practical benefits. Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places makes sites eligible for grants, tax credits, and other resources that can help preserve them for future generations. The city plans to hire outside consultants to prepare the formal nominations and ensure the process is handled properly.
Minneapolis already has several well-known landmarks recognized at the national level, including the Pillsbury Mill, Fort Snelling, the Pillsbury A Mill, and the Washburn A Mill Complex. Adding these three sites connected to Black history would highlight another layer of the city’s story — one built on resilience, leadership, and the fight for equity.
