Final Exhibit of “The Negro Motorist Green Book” Opens Feb 7
(Omaha, Neb.) —The Durham Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is honored to host The Negro Motorist Green Book, a traveling exhibition set to open Saturday, February 7, 2026. The Negro Motorist Green Book offers a look at the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America, and how the annual guide served as an indispensable resource for many African Americans in the United States. The exhibition includes historic footage, images and firsthand accounts to convey not only the concern felt by African American travelers, but also the resilience and determination of people fighting to live a full American existence. It will bring focus to a vibrant parallel world of African American businesses, the rise of the Black leisure class in the United States and the important role The Green Book played in facilitating the second wave of the Great Migration.
Victor Hugo Green published The Negro Motorist Green Book from 1934-1967 to highlight businesses – from hotels to hair salons – where Black travelers could find safety and dignity during the Jim Crow era. This presentation marks the final stop for the exhibition’s national tour.
“The exhibition is a reminder that history isn’t just found in museums, it’s found on our own street corners,” said Christi Janssen, Executive Director of The Durham Museum. “The Durham was able to secure this exhibition because Omaha still retains a number of original ‘Green Book’ sites. By connecting this national narrative to our own community, we are seeing how this history came alive in our own city.”
Through the work of the Omaha Public Schools Making Invisible Histories Visible program, 30 surviving Green Book sites have been identified and cataloged in Omaha. https://www.ops.org/departments/making-invisible-histories-visible/omaha-mapping-projects/green-book-omaha. Some of their stories will be highlighted within The Durham’s exhibition, and visitors are encouraged to visit the Great Plains Black History Museum for its exhibit focused on Nebraska’s specific experience with the Green Book.
The Negro Motorist Green Book traveling exhibition was developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with award-winning author, photographer and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor. The Negro Motorist Green Book was made possible through the generous support of Exxon Mobil Corp. This exhibit is supported locally by the Sherwood Foundation; Mutual of Omaha; John & Lynne Boyer Family Foundation; Douglas County, Nebraska; Humanities Nebraska; Cox Communications; Verhalen Family Foundation; Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation; and The Durham Society. Media Support provided by KETV.
Related Exhibits and Programs
Speaker and Arts series Free for museum members, regular admission applies.
5:30 Exhibition viewing 6:30 Speaker followed by Jazz performance or Documentary screening.
Explore important themes of our featured exhibition, “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” with this series. Reflect on Omaha’s jazz roots and the Dreamland Ballroom through music with North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA) on February 12 & 19 and March 19. Or watch a powerful screening that explores the relationship between race, freedom and the road on March 12. All dates include an introduction from community leaders.
Jazz in Omaha and the Chitlin’ Circuit Thursday, February 12, 5:30-8PM
Featuring Preston Love Jr. Professor author and activist and a performance by North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA) Ensemble featuring Lite Pole
Omaha Green Book Sites Thursday, February 19, 5:30-8PM
Featuring Eric Ewing Executive Director of The Great Plains Black History Museum and a performance by NOMA Ensemble featuring Jewel Rodgers
Community Empowerment Through Music Thursday, March 19, 5:30-8PM
Featuring Dana Murray Executive Director of NOMA and a performance by NOMA Ensemble featuring Jordan The Ninja
“Driving While Black” Screening Thursday, March 12, 5:30-8PM
Featuring Dr. Cynthia Robinson, UNO Black Studies Professor and a screening of PBS documentary Driving while Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America
Difficult Histories Teacher Workshop Monday, February 23, 4:30-6:30PM, Free
Local educators are invited to attend this “Difficult Histories” workshop to explore strategies when educating students about difficult periods of history. Participants will receive a guided tour of The Negro Motorist Green Book in addition to exhibit teaching resources for potential field trips to the museum. The museum will provide food and beverages for attendees. Space is limited so please register early at DurhamMuseum.org.
Postcards from the Past
Want to know more about the Green Book and its connection to Omaha? During the run of The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibit, guests will receive an Omaha postcard (while supplies last) with a story from the city’s past featuring historic photos, including some from The Durham Museum’s Photo Archive. Learn about a few of the community’s key figures from the Civil Rights Movement, former Green Book sites located across the city and important moments from our local history.
Guided Tour First Saturday of the Month, 11AM
Step inside our featured exhibition on a guided tour led by a knowledgeable museum staff member and enjoy a deeper look into the history of the Green Book
Thank you to our Exhibit Programming Partners
Great Plains Black History Museum and Eric Ewing, Making Invisible Histories Visible and Kristine Gerber, North Omaha Music & Arts and Dana Murray, Dr. Cynthia Robinson, Preston Love Jr.
About The Durham Museum
The Durham Museum in Omaha’s beautiful art deco Union Station is home to permanent exhibits that preserve Omaha’s vibrant history, traveling exhibits covering subjects ranging from history and culture, to science and industry, and many entertaining, educational, family-oriented activities. The Durham Museum was established in 1975. It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and has strong ties with national and international museums and lending institutions. For information about The Durham Museum please visit the museum’s website at DurhamMuseum.org.
