Columbia in Boone County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Sharp End
From the early 1900s to the 1960, the Sharp End business district was a city within a city for Columbia's black community. Stretching from Fifth to Sixth streets on both sides of Walnut Street. Sharp End was a robust business center with black-owned restaurants, meeting halls, barber shops, bars and more. In its prime, it was broadly known as the cultural heart of the black community, which included churches, schools, homes and social clubs. Sharp End was all business; children were not allowed there without parental supervision until they turned 18. Entering Sharp End without an adult was considered a rite of passage. Sharp End was a destination for visitors and the place for black adults to work, dine and socialize. It was demolished during urban renewal, which suddenly and dramatically removed the nucleus of this self-contained black business community.
Erected 2015 by Sharp End Heritage Committee, Economic Development Inc., City of Columbia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Columbia's African-American Heritage Trail, Missouri
this page online
Location. 38° 57.155′ N, 92° 19.871′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Missouri, in Boone County. It is on East Walnut Street just east of North 5th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 E Walnut St, Columbia MO 65201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Little Dixie and in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. 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, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Sharp End (within shouting distance of this marker); African-American Heritage Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Tibbs Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail
Also see . . . Sharp End. Columbia Missourian website entry (Submitted on April 24, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 2,155 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
