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St Catherine Street: Self Guided Tour to Explore Natchez’s Historical Heart

The newly published booklet offers a deep dive into the history of St. Catherine Street, featuring over 40 significant historical sites.

Project funded by Mississippi Humanities Council

St. Catherine Street History Booklet: A Snapshot of the Past

NATCHEZ, Miss. — A free booklet that highlights the cultural history of St. Catherine Street in Natchez, is now available to the public.

Titled, “St. Catherine Street Yesteryears and Now,” the booklet features more than 40 historical sites in the area that was once known as Natchez’s “Black Wall Street.” Photos of various buildings are included along with colorful anecdotes and historical descriptions.

The purpose of the booklet, in general terms, is summed up in a sentence on its front cover: “It is our hope that this booklet gives you some insight into the rich history of Saint Catherine Street in Natchez and the people that lived there.”

Saint Catherine Street’s Historical Legacy Guided by Thelma Newsome

Thelma Newsome, a staff member of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, spearheaded the publication project. As project director, she wants to use the booklet for tours and other platforms to tell the complete history of St. Catherine, she said.

“Though many of the places no longer exist, the contribution they made to the growth of the city of Natchez can never be completely erased,” she stated in the text on the back cover of the publication. She also noted that St. Catherine was once “a vibrant community, filled with businesses owned by African American, White, and Jewish citizens.”

The Larger St. Catherine Street Project

The booklet is part of a larger project, which is called, “St. Catherine Street, Natchez, MS: Yesteryear through Today.” The project uses tours, photographs, and oral history to share the rare stories of the people, buildings, culture, and businesses on St. Catherine from as far back as the 1930s, according to Newsome.

Thelma Newsome, project director, holding and surrounded by copies of the Saint Catherine Street booklet, which details the historical sites of St. Catherine Street in Natchez.
Thelma Newsome was the project director for the new publication, “St. Catherine Street Yesteryears and Now,” which was funded by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Grant Funding from Mississippi Humanities Council

In 2022, the project was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Mississippi Humanities Council. The booklet was funded with this grant.

Highlighted Historical Sites and Figures in the St Catherine Street Booklet

The booklet presents 10 pages of content featuring historical nuggets and photos of St. Catherine Street’s historical sites on each page.

  • George F. Bowles House,
  • Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum,
  • Bob Lee’s Cleaners,
  • Red Horse,
  • Texaco Service Station,
  • O’Brien House,
  • Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Francis High School,
  • Ms. Sadie V. Thompson,
  • Community Market,
  • Ace Theater,
  • White Rooster,
  • Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum,
  • Mr. Whitehead’s Photo Shop,
  • Hot Tamales,
  • Mr. Joe’s Store,
  • Perrault Street,
  • George’s Alley,
  • Churches,
  • Brown’s Velvet Ice Cream,
  • Other Entrepreneurs,
  • Snow White Cleaners,
  • The Bush House,
  • Grocery Store Etc.,
  • Monmouth Street,
  • Shotgun Houses,
  • Donut Shop,
  • Three Together,
  • Knoxall’s Grocery,
  • The Iceman,
  • Forks of the Road,
  • Ebony Barber Shop,
  • Funeral Homes,
  • Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church and Parsonage,
  • Brumfield School,
  • Winston Hill,
  • 69 Saint Caterine Street,
  • Combo Restaurant,
  • Cedar’s Alley (Street),
  • Junkin Street,
  • Rembert Street,
  • Mr. Frazee Miller

George F. Bowles House, Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum, Mr. Whitehead’s Photo Shop, Three Together, Knoxall’s Grocery, The Iceman, Forks of the Road, Bob Lee’s Cleaners, Red Horse;

Texaco Service Station, O’Brien House, Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Francis High School, Ms. Sadie V. Thompson, Community Market, Ace Theater, White Rooster, Hot Tamales, Mr. Joe’s Store, Perrault Street;

George’s Alley, Churches, Brown’s Velvet Ice Cream, Other Entrepreneurs, Snow White Cleaners, The Bush House, Grocery Store Etc., Monmouth Street, Shotgun Houses, Donut Shop;

Ebony Barber Shop, Funeral Homes, Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church and Parsonage, Brumfield School, Winston Hill, 69 Saint Caterine Street, Combo Restaurant, Cedar’s Alley (Street), Junkin Street, Rembert Street, and Mr. Frazee Miller.

Get Your Free Copy of the St. Catherine Street Tour Booklet

Copies of the St. Catherine Street booklet are available for free at:

  • Visit Natchez,
  • Historic Natchez Foundation,
  • NAPAC museum,
  • Natchez City Sightseeing Tours in the lobby of the Natchez Grand Hotel.

For more information, call Roscoe Barnes III at Visit Natchez at 601-492-3004.

The Saint Catherine Street Tour booklet may be downloaded for free here.

Cover of the "Saint Catherine Street: Yesteryears and Now" booklet, featuring images and a description of the booklet's purpose to explore the rich history of St. Catherine Street and its community.
This new booklet on the history of St. Catherine Street highlights the cultural history of the area that once boasted a thriving business community.