Columbia in Boone County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
African-American Heritage Trail
In the 1950s, businessman Alvan B. Coleman, with partners Edward and Ellis Tibbs, owned and operated the Tiger Theater at 109. N. Fifth Street. It was a theater for blacks by day and a nightclub at night. Their liquor store was in an adjacent building. Over the years, the theater had several names and was demolished in 1986 after the Columbia Daily Tribune acquired the land to expand operations.
St. Luke Methodist Church was founded in about 1866 and, by 1886, met in a log house on Fifth Street near Walnut. By about 1922, the congregation moved into the only stone church built by blacks in Columbia. The church was used as a community meeting place but struggled financially at times. After it was condemned, the church moved to an Ash Street location and continues today at 204 E. Ash Street.
Erected 2019 by Sharp End Heritage Committee, Economic Development Inc., City of Columbia; signage courtesy of the Downtown Community Improvement District (CID).
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Entertainment
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Location. 38° 57.166′ N, 92° 19.901′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Missouri, in Boone County. Marker is at the intersection of North 5th Street and East Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north on North 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 N 5th St, Columbia MO 65201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tibbs Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Sharp End (within shouting distance of this marker); The John William "Blind" Boone Home and the Second Missionary Baptist Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail (about 500 feet away); Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Depot (about 600 feet away); African American Heritage Trail (about 700 feet away); Annie Fisher's House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
Also see . . . African-American Heritage Trail complete, ready to teach. Columbia Missourian website entry (Submitted on April 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 21, 2021
2. Tiger Theater / St. Luke Methodist Church Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
