Oretha Castle Haley’s childhood home in New Orleans, located in the Treme neighborhood, has been granted a place on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Associated Press.
This Craftsman-style residence served as a pivotal hub for Louisiana’s civil rights movement in the 1960s and was famously known as the “Castle Family Home” and later, the “Freedom House.”
As a central figure in the city’s civil rights history, Haley’s home acted as a safe haven for participants of the 1961 Freedom Rides. Haley herself actively engaged in protests, sit-ins, and campaigns advocating for racial equality. Her impactful efforts challenged segregation in various facilities and lunch counters across New Orleans.
Haley passed away in 1987 from ovarian cancer.
