Roanoke Higher Education Centerโs new walkway plaza highlights historic Gainsboro neighborhood
The central walkway plaza shows moments in history that highlight the Gainsboro neighborhood that was a hub for African American businesses and culture.
![This tour of a Gainsboro neighborhood highlights the rich African American history it holds](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PpzcjvD8-xsMZNrWx4yP9oa0VZ0=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-18-2021/t_bb57b4d3b8f14bb6b1806e08873b3682_name_image.jpg)
This tour of a Gainsboro neighborhood highlights the rich African American history it holds
To celebrate Juneteenth, a local historian guides a group through Gainsboro on Friday, teaching about the neighborhoodโs rich African American history.
![Walking tour of Roanokeโs โBlack Wall Streetโ capitalizes on growing Juneteenth energy](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1ZFwXxTU8juQ0F_s3UoXUl_qRqU=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-20-2020/t_64c5bed3c9264ee08666b97f33394b9c_name_image.jpg)
Walking tour of Roanokeโs โBlack Wall Streetโ capitalizes on growing Juneteenth energy
ROANOKE, Va. โ About a hundred people saw history on foot through Roanokeโs Gainsboro neighborhood on this Juneteenth 2020. Bell has spent the last few months learning everything there is to know about the neighborhood. โIt used to be our Black Wall Street, Black Wall Street is getting a lot of attention in Tulsa, Oklahoma over the past couple of months, but Roanoke had its own Black Wall Street and that was Gainsboro, Roanoke,โ Bell said. โHaving it offered today, and especially on Juneteenth, I was like, โYes, this is the way I want to celebrate,โ I want to learn history and do my part in terms of understanding what really happened,โ Trozzo said. Urban renewal happened, primarily to build the Roanoke Civic Center and Interstate 581 decimated the neighborhood back in the 60s.