Shake Rag Historic District

A close-knit Black community through the 19th and early 20th centuries, Shake Rag Historic District in Bowling Green remains a reminder of the strength and accomplishments of Black Americans in the face of slavery and segregation.

Take a guided or self-guided walking tour to look for historic homes and culturally significant structures still standing today. The State Street Baptist Church, for example, was the first formal church for African Americans in Bowling Green. Its stunning 1898 building features red brick towers and crenellations. Next door, two mirrored 1930s bungalows once belonged to a stonemason whose wife owned Nancy’s Tea Room, where neighbors stopped for sandwiches, hot dogs, sodas, and chat.

You can also see historic artifacts from the neighborhood at the George Washington Carver Center, and visit newer businesses like White Squirrel Brewery or Shake Rag Bar & Lounge to take a break with the locals.