The Henry Hotel

OCEAN CITY, Md. — A local non-profit is looking for grant funding to help restore the Henry Hotel to its former glory. The Henry Hotel Foundation is looking for $250,000 to begin the restoration process.

Up until the mid 1960’s, the Henry Hotel was one of the few places in Ocean City where Black people were allowed to stay. The building serves as a reminder to the towns dark history and now, it is in need of repair.

To look at this three-story brown building across from Trimper’s Rides in Ocean City, you can’t see the deep and rich history held inside.

The Henry’s Hotel looks like a house but this 20-room building played a major role in Black History.

Decades ago, the town only allowed Blacks to vacation at certain times of the year.

“They were called ‘Negro Excursion Days’ and they allowed that to happen at Labor Day. After Labor Day, Ocean City as it was, was just kind of rolled up. But the Maryland people and Delaware people were allowed a day after Labor Day.”, says local historian, Gregory Purnell.