Phoebe the Uzuri Project in Hot Springs, AR is a nonprofit organization that was started in 1997 as temporary means to protect, preserve and promote the culture of the African American as well s the resources in Hot Springs and Garland County. After six citizens of Hot Springs collected the photographs and oral histories, The Uzuri Project (also known as P.H.O.E.B.E.) has continually tried to promote using film in the documentation of oral histories of senior citizens in the community. They've recently accumulated over 400 donated artifacts, documents and photographs.
The history of Phoebe began many years ago in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which has always been famous for its beautiful bathhouses that have charmed and delighted many visitors and locals alike. The hot springs water flowing from the mountains was said to have a relaxing as well as healing powers.
In the early 1900s, Negroes were prohibited from going to the bathhouses that were on bathhouse row. In 1924, John L. Webb opened up a fraternity order by building and dedicating the "Woodmen of Union Building", a beautiful hotel and bathhouse combination. It is located a the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. Inside the building could be found a nurses training for the colored, a 75-room bath hotel, a bank, a large auditorium, printing plant and a 100-bed hospital.
Through the years, the building changed ownership and in 1990 plans were in the making to destroy the African-American piece of architectural history. It was recently named on the National Register for Historic Places as an attempt to save the building. P.H.O.E.B.E/The Uzuri Project has worked with the community and government to kept this building on the National Register of Historic Districts list.
