Father Divine
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Rev. Major J. Divine, civil rights leader of the 1930s, established Cooperative Economic Plan, providing life's necessities at nominal prices. Divine Lorraine Hotel here, built 1894 and acquired in 1948, was one of the first integrated hotels of its caliber in the U.S.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
During the Depression, the Rev. Major J. Divine built a religious and economic movement that fed and housed thousands through his Cooperative Economic Plan, selling life's necessities at pennies on the dollar. In 1948 he acquired the grand Divine Lorraine Hotel, built in 1894, and opened it as one of the first fully racially integrated luxury hotels in the United States — a bold act years before the civil-rights movement's legal victories.
Why it matters
Father Divine turned faith into practical relief and desegregation in daily life, prefiguring the mass civil-rights struggle to come and showing that integration could be lived, not just legislated.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- African American Museum in Philadelphia1.0 mi away · 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- National Constitution Center1.1 mi away · 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Visitor Center1.2 mi away · 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Liberty Bell Center1.3 mi away · 526 Market Street, Philadelphia
- Betsy Ross House1.3 mi away · 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History1.3 mi away · 101 South Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA
Attractions
- Philly Gun Range0.5 mi away · North Percy Street
- Chinatown Friendship Gate0.9 mi away · 10th and Arch Street
- Reading Terminal0.9 mi away
- The Universal Sphere1.0 mi away
- Rocky Steps1.1 mi away
- One Liberty Observation Deck1.1 mi away
Food & drink
- Burger King1.2 mi away
- Dunkin'1.2 mi away · 634 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Mall Cafe1.2 mi away · 50 North Independence Mall East, Philadelphia
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters1.2 mi away
- Philly Pretzel Factory1.2 mi away
- Time & Peace1.2 mi away · 36 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- Days Inn Philadelphia Convention Center - Philadelphia0.7 mi away · 1227 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia City Center0.7 mi away · 1201 Race Street, Philadelphia
- Clarion Suites Philadelphia0.8 mi away · 1010 Race Street, Philadelphia
- Sleep Inn Center City0.9 mi away · 1020 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Philadelphia - Convention Center, PA0.9 mi away · 1200 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City0.9 mi away · 1100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Related people
- · Father Divine (Rev. Major J. Divine)
Themes & tags
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