LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A mural honoring the historic legacy of Old Walnut Street was unveiled in the Russell neighborhood Tuesday.
Blak Koffee unveiled the Louisville Legends mural at 1219 W. Jefferson Street, created by artist Kofi Darku.
The mural celebrates the contributions of Black culture and entrepreneurship by featuring influential figures from the Russell neighborhood. Some of those figures include Mattie Jones, Frank Stanley, Manfred Reid, Rev. Louis Coleman, William Summers, Joe Hammond and Elmer Lucille Allen.Â
Hannah Drake, a local artist and activist, read poetry at the unveiling.Â
Old Walnut Street in Louisville was renamed Muhammad Ali Boulevard in 1978 to honor the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.Â
In December, the city unveiled a new historical marker at the corner of 13th and West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, designating the area Old Walnut Way.
The site is located on what was once Walnut Street—a bustling corridor in Louisville known for its thriving Black-owned businesses, entertainment venues and cultural significance during segregation.
The area reached its peak between the 1930s and the 1950s as a hub of Black excellence and prosperity. But it suffered significant demolition during urban renewal in the late 1960s. Â
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