John P. "Top" Greene African American Cultural Center

Visit

Explore exhibits sharing the history of the East Raleigh-South Park Historic District and African American culture.

Express your creativity, meet your neighbors, and learn something new with a variety of programs.

Visit the gift shop for local goods. 

Know Before You Go

Parking

• There is a small parking lot available at the park, with an entrance on S. East St. This lot includes reserved accessible parking spaces. Additional parking may be found on neighboring streets. 
• The park is also serviced by the Martin Luther King/Sunnybrook #19 bus line, with a bus stop in front of the center. 

Accessibility

• The Cultural Center building is accessible throughout via wheelchair, scooter, or Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV).
• Please call 919-996-6580 or speak to a staff member on-site if you have additional questions or to discuss your group’s needs.
• Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.

Programs and Events

John P. "Top" Greene African American Cultural Center offers a variety of programs. Browse and register for programs and classes on RecLink.

Interested in teaching a program or class for Raleigh Parks? Complete the Instructor Interest Form.

History

The East Raleigh-South Park Historic District developed out of smaller communities following the Civil War. Residents continue to thrive in this community, the largest historic Black neighborhood in Raleigh and one of the largest urban Black concentrations in the state.

Centuries in the Making Exhibit

This exhibit showcases education, healthcare, businesses, and more in the East Raleigh and South Park communities and the unique contributions their members made to the city

Rentals

Banquet Room

• Capacity: 99
• $65 per hour (2-hr. minimum)
• $100 damage deposit (refundable)
• $15 application fee (non-refundable)
• $30 per hour supervisor fee (after hours only)

Warming Kitchen

• All rentals include use of kitchen
• Food may be warmed only, not made from scratch

Request your rental online using RecLink or by reaching out to the facility. 

Take note: Requests will be subject to staff approval. Upon approval, payment will be required to confirm the reservation. Your reservation is not finalized until you receive confirmation of your payment.

Volunteers

There are no volunteer opportunities available at this time. For additional opportunities, view the volunteer information for the Historic Resources and Museums Program. 

Artifacts

The John P. “Top Greene” African American Cultural Center collection preserves more than 2,000 artifacts of life in the East Raleigh and South Park neighborhoods. 

Browse the HRM online collections database to view artifacts related to the site.