Visit the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site in Richmond, Virginia
Visit the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site in Richmond, Virginia, and learn more about the woman who was the first African-American bank president in the United States. She was an educator and community activist who paved the way for black women in business. She also championed women’s and minority rights.
Maggie Lena Walker was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 15, 1864. She was the daughter of a former slave. She later married the wealthy bricklayer Armstead Walker Jr. and raised three sons. She also adopted a daughter. She became a member of the Independent Order of St. Lukes, a local fraternal order that helps poor and elderly people.
The Maggie L Walker National Historic Site contains a museum and archives of Walker’s life. The museum has many artifacts and rare photographs. It also has her diaries and correspondence. There are also displays of items related to African American culture. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, it is closed on December 25 and Thanksgiving.
Maggie Walker influenced many African-American business owners and helped them establish thriving careers and businesses. In Richmond, she founded the St. Luke Herald newspaper and became one of the city’s most influential African-American businesswomen. She also became president of St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903, which was the first bank owned by a woman. The bank went on to merge with another bank, creating the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company.
The Maggie L Walker National Historic Site is located on Leigh Street in Richmond, Virginia, in the Jackson Ward. It commemorates a woman whose life was dedicated to advancing the status of women and African-Americans. She was born July 15, 1864. Her parents were former slaves. She married William Mitchell and they had three children. Her half-brother, Johnnie, was born in 1870.
The Maggie L Walker National Historic Site preserves the home of an important African-American civil rights activist. She was a member of the NAACP and several other organizations, including women’s rights groups. Although Walker was a minor figure on the national scene, her personal success and dedication to her community made her a popular and respected figure in the Richmond black community.
Maggie L Walker is the daughter of a slave and a prominent civil rights activist. She was an influential member of the NAACP and helped to create Richmond’s first African-American bank. She was also an active member of the local philanthropic community. She also supported schools for African-American girls in the city.