The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you the Mabel B. Little Heritage House in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Let’s get started!

History of the Home

The Mabel B. Little Heritage House is located in the historic Greenwood District and is now a part of the Greenwood Cultural Center.

It was built by Sam and Lucy Mackey. They were survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre that took place in 1921. Construction began on this home in 1925 and was completed in 1927. The home was built out of brick to ensure it was fire resistant. It even had a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs which was a big deal in the 1920s. The home was large and the Mackeys hosted many functions for the community. They held dinner parties, mission meetings, weddings, and more.

Mabel B. Little made significant efforts to preserve the historic home and in 1986 it was moved from its original location to the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Plaque Inscription

The plaque above reads: “This facility is a replica of the Mackey House, originally erected on the Southwest corner of Greenwood Avenue and Easton Street. The original two story wood structure was destroyed during the race riot of 1921.

Sam and Lucy Mackey were determined to rebuild on the same site and to build a house of masonry construction that could not be destroyed by fire. The masonry house was completed in 1927.

This replica of the Mackey House has been named the Mabel B. Little Heritage house, honoring Mrs. Little, a pioneer who moved to Tulsa during the year 1913 and owned and operated a beauty shop located on Greenwood Avenue then known as the “Black Wall Street of America.”

Inside the Home

*I didn’t get to go inside of the house. I ran out of time on trip to Tulsa, but want to eventually go back to see the inside. Guided tours are available through the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Per the information I found online, the first floor includes the living room, parlor, sitting room, keeping room, kitchen, and dining room. The second floor includes another parlor, master bedroom, a smaller bedroom, and a second sitting area.

The rooms are set like a home in the early-twentieth century. That means the artifacts are nearly a century old! People are given an opportunity to learn more about what happened to Greenwood over the years and to learn more about the life of Mabel B. Little. So, who was she?

The Littles

Mabel B. Little and her husband were also survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. She and her husband dedicated their lives to helping rebuild the Greenwood District in Tulsa. They were most heavily involved in the renovation of Black Wall Street’s Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Concluding Thoughts

I stopped briefly to take a couple of pictures of the outside of the Mabel B. Little Heritage House and look forward to going back to see the inside soon. I will update this post after I see the inside with more photos.

Happy Traveling! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂

Visit

322 N Greenwood Ave

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120

Sources

“Greenwood Cultural Center’s Mabel B. Little Heritage House” – Greenwood Cultural Center (This is a PDF with more information about the home and coloring sheets for kids!)

Mabel B. Little Heritage House Museum – Travel OK website

Mabel B. Little Heritage House – Visit Tulsa website