The Petersen Automotive Museum has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to present its newest exhibition, "The Negro Motorist Green Book," which offers an immersive look at how the guide served as “the bible of Black travel during Jim Crow” and the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America.

Started in 1936 by Harlem postman Victor Green, “The Negro Motorist Green Book” was a guide published over three decades that helped African Americans travel the country safely and with dignity during a time of Jim Crow laws and segregation. The exhibition showcases a collection of artifacts, photographs and personal accounts that shed light on the impact of the guide, as well as the challenges African American travelers faced during the mid-century. This display also highlights the growth and development of African American businesses and the significant role played by “The Negro Motorist Green Book” in American history. “The Negro Motorist Green Book” is a traveling exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with award-winning author, photographer and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor.