{"id":2107,"date":"2025-07-27T21:30:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T01:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/?post_type=event&#038;p=2107"},"modified":"2025-09-18T16:37:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T20:37:14","slug":"building-the-big-nine","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/events\/building-the-big-nine\/","title":{"rendered":"Building the Big Nine:<BR>A Legacy of Black Excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-1024x129.png\" alt=\"Banner with dark blue background and gold lines on the outer edges reads Building the Big Nine: A Legacy of Black Excellence\" width=\"1024\" height=\"129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-1024x129.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-300x38.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-768x97.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-640x81.png 640w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-480x60.png 480w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM-320x40.png 320w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-22-at-1.51.37\u202fPM.png 1033w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Explore the profound influence, enduring spirit, and achievements of the historic Big Nine Business District in Chattanooga.<\/p>\n<p>Flourishing in the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, the district became the vibrant center of Black commerce, culture, and community, shaped by the determination and vision of Black men and women navigating the deep complexities of racial discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>Curated by historian Stefanie Haire, Ph.D., <em>Building the Big Nine: A Legacy of Black Excellence <\/em>invites exhibit visitors to discover the people, places, pride, and perseverance that defined the tenacious community that shaped the city and empowered generations. The exhibit is open to the public, July 30 &#8211; Nov. 5, 2025. A ticket is not necessary to view the exhibit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Exhibit Admission is Free<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Continue the story of Chattanooga&#8217;s Black history at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn-tan-solid\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bessiesmithcc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plan Your Visit to &#8220;The Bessie&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2139\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1024x627.jpg\" alt=\"A woman wearing dark pants and a short sleeve shirt stands in a Black history exhibit at Ruby Falls, quietly reading about the Black men and women who created a thriving Black business district in Chattanooga during the Jim Crow era. \" width=\"1024\" height=\"627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1024x627.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1536x940.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-2048x1253.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1920x1175.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1680x1028.jpg 1680w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1440x881.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-1280x783.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-640x392.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-480x294.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2351-cropped-320x196.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2114,"template":"","class_list":["post-2107","event","type-event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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