The Morris Memorial Building, a Classical Revival style office building, was designed by the McKissack and McKissack architecture firm. McKissack and McKissack was the first architecture firm owned by African Americans in the United States. Four of their buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, including the Morris Memorial Building. Most of the exterior and interior remains original. The building was constructed as the Sunday School Publishing Board for the National Baptist Convention. An African-American-owned business itself, McKissack and McKissack established offices in the building along with several other African-American businesses. The area was the heart of the African-American business district until the mid-twentieth century, when many businesses were forced to relocate as part of the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Project. Morris Memorial is the only building associated with that time period still standing.
Morris Memorial Building
36.16321, -86.77968
Description
The Morris Memorial Building, a Classical Revival style office building, was designed by the McKissack and McKissack architecture firm. McKissack and McKissack was the first architecture firm owned by African Americans in the United States. Four of their buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, including the Morris Memorial Building. Most of the exterior and interior remains original. The building was constructed as the Sunday School Publishing Board for the National Baptist Convention. An African-American-owned business itself, McKissack and McKissack established offices in the building along with several other African-American businesses. The area was the heart of the African-American business district until the mid-twentieth century, when many businesses were forced to relocate as part of the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Project. Morris Memorial is the only building associated with that time period still standing.