A Legacy Lost & Found: Segregation in Recreation – Historic Cherokee Park Film

The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, a historic African American venue that is intimately tied to the history surrounding Cherokee Historical State Park, will be hosting the Lexington, KY premiere of the documentary “A Legacy Lost & Found: Segregation in Recreation,” a film about the history and legacy of Cherokee State Park. The film will be presented on Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the documentary, directed by Dr. Tammy L. Holmes, looks at the history of Cherokee State Park and features testimonies from visitors of the park when it was opened many years ago.

Opening in 1951, Cherokee State Park was a segregated park and was the only state park for African Americans in Kentucky during a time when public accommodations were segregated. During this “separate but equal” era of Jim Crow, Cherokee State Park was a featured site of reference in the Green Book. The park closed in 1964 when segregation was outlawed. The historic importance of Cherokee State Park was recognized with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 1, 2009.

This event is free and open to the public. Please register in advance to ensure that seating for this historic film is available.

A Legacy Lost & Found: Segregation in Recreation – Trailer from Tony Clomax.