On Monday October 30th, Paducah Tilghman’s SEAC (Student Equity Advisory Council) took a field trip to learn about the Hotel Metropolitan because it is an important monument of the African American community in Paducah. During this trip, they toured the Hotel and learned about how it was a stop on the Underground Railroad, which meant many famous people had previously stayed there.
Some of the famous people that stayed at the Hotel Metropolitan include Thurgood Marshall, BB King, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. It is a high honor to have these people stay in Paducah. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, paving the way for African Americans in law. BB King was a highly celebrated African American blues artist and was inducted into the National Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Louis Armstrong was a jazz icon and a fantastic trumpet player. Finally, Duke Ellington was a jazz artist and composer that left a lasting impact on the genre. It was an honor for the Hotel Metropolitan to host these famous African American influences.
I asked Junior SEAC member Ellie Farley what she thought about the trip, and she said, “It was extremely surprising to learn that all of these well-known people have been in a little town like Paducah.” Citizens of Paducah can take pride in this wonderful landmark of African American history, and relish in the fact that our little town was visited by some great names.
