Chickasaw in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 27, 2020

1. Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957 Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Samuel M. Plato developed quality single-family housing for Blacks in West Louisville from 1945-1950. His firm, Plato Construction Company, built 88 homes in the Westover Neighborhood. Plato Terrace was named in his honor. Plato designed and built houses, banks, schools, churches and theaters here and across the US.
Westover Cookbook Committee
Plato was the first Black architect to win federal contracts for post offices and government housing projects. He promoted a diverse workforce using Black and white workers on his projects and paved the way for Black people in the construction industry. Eight of his buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Metro CW Cheri Bryant Hamilton

Erected 2019 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2585.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 1, 2019.

Location. 38° 14.538′ N, 85° 49.808′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson

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County. It is in Chickasaw. It is at the intersection of Southwestern Parkway and Hale Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Southwestern Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 Southwestern Parkway, Louisville KY 40211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chickasaw Park (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Home of Anne & Carl Braden / Civil Rights Landmark (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Southworth (approx. 0.7 miles away); "Little Africa" (approx. 0.8 miles away); Virginia Avenue Colored School (approx. 0.9 miles away); Muhammad Ali's Home Site / "Education Brings Self-Respect" — Muhammad Ali (approx. 1.2 miles away); Carl Braden Memorial Center / Home to Campaigns for Racial Justice (approx. 1.4 miles away); Calvary Baptist Church (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Also see . . . Samuel Plato (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957 Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 27, 2020

2. Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957 Marker (Side B)

Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 27, 2020

3. Samuel M. Plato, 1882-1957 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 589 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.