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The EnvisioNBR Legacy Trail
EnvisioNBR, in partnership with The Walls Project and the Downtown Development District, has created the North Baton Rouge Black History Legacy Trail. The Legacy Trail is a community-centered walking and biking route that connects residents and visitors to historically significant landmarks throughout Bogan Walk, Easy Town, Eden Park, and Greenville Extension.
Designed as a permanent tribute to civil rights, education, resilience, and cultural pride, the trail features custom drums and historical markers placed along a route that begins at North 23rd Street and Fuqua Street and concludes at South Foster Drive.
Pearl George Installation
Pearl George was a brave leader who fought for equal rights for Black people. When she was young, she went to a restaurant with her mother, and on the way, they passed by a park. Pearl asked her mother why Black people couldn’t go to the park, and her mother explained that even though Black families paid taxes to support the park, they still weren’t allowed to use it because of segregation.
This unfair treatment made Pearl very upset, and she promised her mother that day. “One day, I’m going to swim in that pool,” she told her mother. Her mother said that maybe Pearl's children or grandchildren would swim there someday, but Pearl was determined to do it herself.
When Pearl grew up, she kept her promise by joining the NAACP and fighting for civil rights. In 1963, she took part in the Baton Rouge Swim-In, where she and others challenged segregation in public pools, and was arrested for standing up for what was right. She also joined downtown protests in 1961 with Reverend Cox, which led to the important U.S. Supreme Court case Cox v. Louisiana.
Pearl’s community activism led her into politics, where she became the first Black woman and the second woman ever to serve on the 12-member City Parish Council. She worked on important committees dealing with finance, housing, and community improvement, and she also served as President of the NAACP Youth Council. Pearl believed that politics is the way to get things done, and she used her position to fight for resources that Black communities had been denied. She helped establish the Eden Park Community Center (now MLK Community Center), the library inside that center, and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
This unfair treatment made Pearl very upset, and she promised her mother that day. “One day, I’m going to swim in that pool,” she told her mother. Her mother said that maybe Pearl's children or grandchildren would swim there someday, but Pearl was determined to do it herself.
When Pearl grew up, she kept her promise by joining the NAACP and fighting for civil rights. In 1963, she took part in the Baton Rouge Swim-In, where she and others challenged segregation in public pools, and was arrested for standing up for what was right. She also joined downtown protests in 1961 with Reverend Cox, which led to the important U.S. Supreme Court case Cox v. Louisiana.
Pearl’s community activism led her into politics, where she became the first Black woman and the second woman ever to serve on the 12-member City Parish Council. She worked on important committees dealing with finance, housing, and community improvement, and she also served as President of the NAACP Youth Council. Pearl believed that politics is the way to get things done, and she used her position to fight for resources that Black communities had been denied. She helped establish the Eden Park Community Center (now MLK Community Center), the library inside that center, and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
Morgan’s Grocery Installation
Morgan Quality Grocery opened around 1947 and was established by Hollis Morgan, Sr., and his wife, Mary Lee Morgan, to serve their neighborhood. During a time when segregation limited where Black people could shop and what resources they could access, the store was much more than just a place to buy food.
The store sold fresh vegetables grown on the property, along with oil, gas, Holsum bread, and Coke products. They had a butcher who cut meat for customers, and they even provided delivery services, especially for elderly neighbors who couldn’t make it to the store. Morgan’s Grocery became the neighborhood general store and a place where people could gather, connect, and support one another.
Though the store is no longer in operation, its legacy remains as a symbol of community strength and self-reliance during difficult times.
The store sold fresh vegetables grown on the property, along with oil, gas, Holsum bread, and Coke products. They had a butcher who cut meat for customers, and they even provided delivery services, especially for elderly neighbors who couldn’t make it to the store. Morgan’s Grocery became the neighborhood general store and a place where people could gather, connect, and support one another.
Though the store is no longer in operation, its legacy remains as a symbol of community strength and self-reliance during difficult times.
First Ward Voters League Installation
The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed in 1870 and gave Black men the right to vote. During Reconstruction, Black men were able to participate in politics and even won seats in the Louisiana legislature, where they helped write the state’s first bi-racial constitution in 1868. However, after Reconstruction ended, Jim Crow laws were put in place with unfair tactics like literacy tests and grandfather clauses that made it extremely difficult for Black people to vote.
Gus Young was a leader in the fight for voting rights in Baton Rouge. In 1932, he became one of only three Black people allowed to register to vote in East Baton Rouge Parish, along with Ulas Hayes. He served on the board of directors for the NAACP and the Baton Rouge Bi-Racial Committee, and he founded the First Ward Voters League to help more Black citizens register to vote.
The First Ward Voters League worked to educate people about their voting rights and helped them understand the registration process. Thanks to the hard work of Gus Young and others in the organization, more Black people were able to register to vote and have a voice in their government.
Gus Young was a leader in the fight for voting rights in Baton Rouge. In 1932, he became one of only three Black people allowed to register to vote in East Baton Rouge Parish, along with Ulas Hayes. He served on the board of directors for the NAACP and the Baton Rouge Bi-Racial Committee, and he founded the First Ward Voters League to help more Black citizens register to vote.
The First Ward Voters League worked to educate people about their voting rights and helped them understand the registration process. Thanks to the hard work of Gus Young and others in the organization, more Black people were able to register to vote and have a voice in their government.
Charles W. Keel and Capitol High School Installation
When Capitol Junior-Senior High School opened its doors in September 1950, it was a joyous occasion for children who came from neighborhoods throughout Baton Rouge and Port Allen. Charles W. Keel was named the first principal of this new school, which became the second public high school for Black students in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Mr. Keel led the school with great skill and was very careful in choosing his teachers, ensuring that about 30% had earned Master's degrees and 85% had completed studies beyond a Bachelor's degree. He believed strongly in the power of education and wanted to give his students the best possible learning experience.
The students themselves helped build the school grounds in a remarkable way. On rainy days, students would bring St. Augustine grass from their own lawns, wrapped in newspapers, and the janitor would plant it on the school grounds. This grassroots effort, literally growing the campus from grass brought by students from their homes, showed the community’s commitment to creating something beautiful together.
When school desegregation occurred, and students from different backgrounds were bused to Capitol High, Mr. Keel guided everyone and worked to build connections between all ethnic groups. He challenged his students to “DO THE RIGHT THINGS,” and his leadership showed that people from all backgrounds could work together and succeed.
Mr. Keel led the school with great skill and was very careful in choosing his teachers, ensuring that about 30% had earned Master's degrees and 85% had completed studies beyond a Bachelor's degree. He believed strongly in the power of education and wanted to give his students the best possible learning experience.
The students themselves helped build the school grounds in a remarkable way. On rainy days, students would bring St. Augustine grass from their own lawns, wrapped in newspapers, and the janitor would plant it on the school grounds. This grassroots effort, literally growing the campus from grass brought by students from their homes, showed the community’s commitment to creating something beautiful together.
When school desegregation occurred, and students from different backgrounds were bused to Capitol High, Mr. Keel guided everyone and worked to build connections between all ethnic groups. He challenged his students to “DO THE RIGHT THINGS,” and his leadership showed that people from all backgrounds could work together and succeed.
Clovis “Bam Bam” Hayes
Clovis Hayes, who came from Clinton, Louisiana, became the first Black bus driver in Baton Rouge. At the age of 24, he started working for the Baton Rouge Bus Company (now the Capitol Area Transit System, or CATS) as a mechanic and janitor, doing important behind-the-scenes work.
After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which helped end segregation in many areas of American life, Hayes was asked to become a bus driver. He trained for six weeks and then began driving routes that included Capitol Avenue (now Gus Young Avenue) and East Boulevard. He also spent weekends driving for Southern University and LSU home games, serving the community in many different ways.
Hayes earned his nickname “Bam Bam” from his son, Juan, who heard it on the cartoon show The Flintstones. After 41 years of service with CATS, including 36 years as a driver, Hayes retired in April 2000. He was a pioneer who opened doors for others and showed that barriers could be broken down through hard work and determination.
After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which helped end segregation in many areas of American life, Hayes was asked to become a bus driver. He trained for six weeks and then began driving routes that included Capitol Avenue (now Gus Young Avenue) and East Boulevard. He also spent weekends driving for Southern University and LSU home games, serving the community in many different ways.
Hayes earned his nickname “Bam Bam” from his son, Juan, who heard it on the cartoon show The Flintstones. After 41 years of service with CATS, including 36 years as a driver, Hayes retired in April 2000. He was a pioneer who opened doors for others and showed that barriers could be broken down through hard work and determination.
Buddy Stewart Foundation Building (EnvisioNBR Headquarters)
Buddy Stewart was a talented musician who earned a degree from Southern University and became an important part of Baton Rouge’s music scene. In the 1950s and 1960s, he performed at white-only clubs in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Natchez, and other cities, breaking down racial barriers in the music world.
Buddy wore many hats in the music industry; he produced records, led bands, and worked as a concert promoter who brought some of the biggest names in music to Baton Rouge. He worked with legendary performers like Tina Turner, Al Green, and James Brown, helping to bring their music to local audiences. Eventually, he opened Buddy Stewarts’s Rock Shop, a record store that became a beloved community gathering place.
Buddy’s daughters, Philliper and Sonia Stewart, helped keep the store running and brought in live entertainment, including musicians, gospel singers, rappers, and poets. They would set up performances on the back of an 18-wheeler flatbed truck, creating a stage right in the community.
In the early 2000s, the store was converted into the Buddy Stewart Memorial Music Foundation and Rhythm Museum. The foundation worked to preserve Baton Rouge’s music history through photos, memorabilia, and occasional record sales, and they hosted an annual community event called Rocktober Fest. The foundation also partnered with Capitol High School to help revitalize the school's music program after it had been cut due to budget issues, ensuring that students could learn about the rich musical heritage of their city.
Buddy wore many hats in the music industry; he produced records, led bands, and worked as a concert promoter who brought some of the biggest names in music to Baton Rouge. He worked with legendary performers like Tina Turner, Al Green, and James Brown, helping to bring their music to local audiences. Eventually, he opened Buddy Stewarts’s Rock Shop, a record store that became a beloved community gathering place.
Buddy’s daughters, Philliper and Sonia Stewart, helped keep the store running and brought in live entertainment, including musicians, gospel singers, rappers, and poets. They would set up performances on the back of an 18-wheeler flatbed truck, creating a stage right in the community.
In the early 2000s, the store was converted into the Buddy Stewart Memorial Music Foundation and Rhythm Museum. The foundation worked to preserve Baton Rouge’s music history through photos, memorabilia, and occasional record sales, and they hosted an annual community event called Rocktober Fest. The foundation also partnered with Capitol High School to help revitalize the school's music program after it had been cut due to budget issues, ensuring that students could learn about the rich musical heritage of their city.
Brandon Bass, Seimone Augustus, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis Court Murals
Seimone Augustus grew up in Eden Park, where she learned to play basketball on neighborhood courts and through Baton Rouge school programs. She practiced hard and became a star player at Capitol High School, showing everyone in her community what dedication and talent could achieve. Augustus went on to become a legend at LSU and then had an incredible career in the WNBA, where she won four championships and became the league MVP. She was so outstanding that she was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Throughout her career, Augustus has always remembered where she came from and has credited her success to the people who helped her in North Baton Rouge. She often talks about the local teachers and mentors who believed in her, and the strength and determination she learned from her community. Her story shows how the values of Eden Park- hard work, perseverance, and supporting one another can carry someone all the way to the top.
Brandon Bass learned to play basketball on the same neighborhood courts in North Baton Rouge, including areas in Easy Town and Eden Park. Like Augustus, he worked his way up through local schools and recreation programs, developing his skills and learning the importance of teamwork. After becoming a star at LSU, Bass went on to play in the NBA for teams including the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.
Bass became known throughout the NBA for his strong work ethic and his team-first attitude, always putting the success of his teammates ahead of his own glory. His career reflects the values that North Baton Rouge basketball teaches: preparation, never giving up, and staying humble no matter how successful you become.
Glen “Big Baby” Davis also came from Baton Rouge’s basketball culture, growing up around Eden Park and attending Capitol High School. With his big personality and incredible skills, Davis became a fan favorite at LSU and then took his talents to the NBA. In 2008, he helped the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship, showing that players from North Baton Rouge could compete and win at the highest level.
Davis earned his nickname “Big Baby” because of his size and his fun-loving spirit, but his story is about much more than that. Together, Augustus, Bass, and Davis prove that the basketball courts of North Baton Rouge have produced some of the best players in the world. Their success reminds young people in the neighborhood that with hard work, good mentors, and community support, they too can achieve their dreams.
Throughout her career, Augustus has always remembered where she came from and has credited her success to the people who helped her in North Baton Rouge. She often talks about the local teachers and mentors who believed in her, and the strength and determination she learned from her community. Her story shows how the values of Eden Park- hard work, perseverance, and supporting one another can carry someone all the way to the top.
Brandon Bass learned to play basketball on the same neighborhood courts in North Baton Rouge, including areas in Easy Town and Eden Park. Like Augustus, he worked his way up through local schools and recreation programs, developing his skills and learning the importance of teamwork. After becoming a star at LSU, Bass went on to play in the NBA for teams including the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.
Bass became known throughout the NBA for his strong work ethic and his team-first attitude, always putting the success of his teammates ahead of his own glory. His career reflects the values that North Baton Rouge basketball teaches: preparation, never giving up, and staying humble no matter how successful you become.
Glen “Big Baby” Davis also came from Baton Rouge’s basketball culture, growing up around Eden Park and attending Capitol High School. With his big personality and incredible skills, Davis became a fan favorite at LSU and then took his talents to the NBA. In 2008, he helped the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship, showing that players from North Baton Rouge could compete and win at the highest level.
Davis earned his nickname “Big Baby” because of his size and his fun-loving spirit, but his story is about much more than that. Together, Augustus, Bass, and Davis prove that the basketball courts of North Baton Rouge have produced some of the best players in the world. Their success reminds young people in the neighborhood that with hard work, good mentors, and community support, they too can achieve their dreams.
The Oak
The Oak tree at the corner of 29th Street and Fuqua has been an important gathering place for the Eden Park community for many years. In neighborhoods throughout history, outdoor spaces like this have served as more than just places to rest in the shade they have been where neighbors meet, share news, discuss important issues, and build the strong connections that hold communities together.
For Black communities especially, outdoor gathering spaces have played a vital role because they often served as informal civic centers where people could come together freely. Under trees like The Oak, neighbors would gather to talk about community concerns, plan events, support one another during difficult times, and celebrate good news together.
The dedication plaque at The Oak honors this long tradition of outdoor communal spaces and recognizes how important this tree has been to community life in Eden Park. It reminds us that community strength is built not just in formal buildings and institutions, but also in the everyday places where neighbors gather, connect, and support one another.
For Black communities especially, outdoor gathering spaces have played a vital role because they often served as informal civic centers where people could come together freely. Under trees like The Oak, neighbors would gather to talk about community concerns, plan events, support one another during difficult times, and celebrate good news together.
The dedication plaque at The Oak honors this long tradition of outdoor communal spaces and recognizes how important this tree has been to community life in Eden Park. It reminds us that community strength is built not just in formal buildings and institutions, but also in the everyday places where neighbors gather, connect, and support one another.
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