Meridian Highland in Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Andrew Bo Foster
⎯⎯⎯
Andrew Foster, 1919-1987
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
1. Andrew Bo Foster Side of Marker
Andrew Bo Foster. Entrepreneur and WWII veteran Andrew Foster was born in Indianapolis. He established a lucrative trucking company in the 1940s, enabling him to open and manage several businesses that served Black patrons in the segregated city into the 1980s. These included the Foster Hotel and Foster Motor Lodge, which accommodated tourists and famed guests, such as Muhammad Ali.
Andrew Foster, 1919-1987. By 1970, Foster opened Pearl's Lounge, which served as a venue for political fundraisers, community gatherings, and NAACP events. As a National Business League and Midwest National Bank leader, Foster mentored Black business owners and helped them obtain grants. In 1982, Governor Orr awarded him the Sagamore of the Wabash in recognition of his civic contributions.
Erected 2023 by Indiana Historical Bureau Andrew Foster Legacy, Inc. The William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 49.2023.1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers,
this page online
Location. 39° 47.772′ N, 86° 9.553′ W. Marker is in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Marion County. It is in Meridian Highland. It is at the intersection of North Illinois Street and Fosters Place, on the right when traveling south on North Illinois Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2160 N Illinois St, Indianapolis IN 46202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest 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 and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Indiana Federation of Colored Womens Clubs (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lt. Col. Joseph H. Ward, M.D. (approx. Ό mile away); Camp Morton (approx. 0.4 miles away); Joseph W. Summers Memorial Bridge (approx. half a mile away);
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
2. Andrew Foster, 1919-1987 Side of Marker
Also see . . .
1. Andrew Bo Foster. Encyclopedia Indianapolis website entry (Submitted on December 14, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Foster the People: How One Entrepreneur Cultivated a More Equitable Indianapolis. Untold Indiana website entry (Submitted on December 14, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
via Encyclopedia Indianapolis, unknown
3. Andrew Bo Foster
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
4. Andrew Bo Foster / Andrew Foster, 1919-1987 Marker
via Indiana Album, Evan Finch Collection (Public Domain), circa 1965
5. Foster Hotel and Motor Lodge Postcard
It provided safe accommodations for African-American travelers in Indianapolis for decades.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on January 1, 2024, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on December 14, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on August 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 5. submitted on August 26, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
