Rev. M.L. Latta House

Rev. M.L. Latta House is a residence displaying Queen Anne architectural elements and featuring a wraparound porch with Tuscan columns on Parker Street in Raleigh. The building was originally constructed as an educational facility, with its design reflecting late 19th-century residential standards.

Morgan London Latta, a freedman and Shaw University graduate, founded an educational institution here in 1892 to serve African American students. The school operated for nearly three decades, providing trade and academic training before closing.

The house served as an educational hub for freed slaves and orphans in the Oberlin neighborhood, becoming a gathering place for families seeking advancement. Its role in serving the African American community made it a symbol of hope and opportunity in the local area.

The site is now open to the public and has been converted into a park where visitors can explore the grounds and reflect on the location. Daytime visits offer the best conditions for reading any markers and observing the surroundings with clarity.

A fire in 2007 destroyed most of the original structure, leaving only the brick foundation as a reminder of the building's former presence. This loss transformed the site into a space where the community now gathers to remember the history that took place here.

Location: North Carolina

Architectural style: Queen Anne style architecture in the United States, Colonial Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 35.79803,-78.66308

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:27