Martin Luther King in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Steele Home for Needy Children

1884-1925

Photographed by PaulwC3, June 17, 2014

1. The Steele Home for Needy Children Marker

Inscription. In post – Reconstruction Chattanooga no orphanage existed for black children. Almira S. Steele, a white teacher from Boston, met the need by founding the Steele Home for Needy Children on this site. Mrs. Steele suffered persecution ranging from slander to fire. However, her philanthropic mission endured. Over 1600 children were aided, educated, and sheltered. Many were saved from the streets and became productive citizens. The home closed shortly after the death of Almira Steele in 1925.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2A 95.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1600.

Location. 35° 2.865′ N, 85° 17.626′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in Martin Luther King. It is on Palmetto Street 0.1 miles south of East Third Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located at the Challenger STEM Learning Center at the southeast corner of the Challenger

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Field on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. It is within the secured fenced-in athletic fields, but can be viewed by the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 855 East Fifth Street, Chattanooga TN 37403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: To the Memory of Our Confederate Dead (approx. 0.2 miles away); S.W. Angle of Fort Wood (approx. 0.2 miles away); The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lincoln Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Joe Engel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Caleb Isbester House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bessie Smith

Wide view of The Steele Home for Needy Children Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, June 17, 2014

2. Wide view of The Steele Home for Needy Children Marker

(approx. half a mile away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Site of Headquarters (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Almira S. Steele | Entries | Tennessee Encyclopedia. (Submitted on June 21, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 929 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.