"If I thought that anything with which I was connected would always be small, I would not want to be in it."

Alonzo F. Herndon

 

Alonzo Herndon's rise from slavery to becoming Atlanta's first African-American millionaire took vision and perseverance. That

coupled with his impeccable leadership skills, Mr. Herndon excelled in both business and personal ventures. The Herndon Home, which is now a National Historic Landmark, is one example. As the main residence for Alonzo, wife Adrianne, and son Norris, it eloquently tells the story of struggle and achievement of a man who overcame slavery, sharecropping,and Jim Crow to become one of the foremost African American businessmen of his era.

 

His son, Norris, and his second wife, Jessie, continued the family's legacy in business and philanthropy. The Herndons capture the progress of African Americans and offer a critical perspective on the history of Atlanta. The Alonzo F. and Norris B. Herndon  Foundation is a charitable trust,which operates the home today as a museum recounting this family's phenomenal rise from slavery to leadership of the nation's black business community. For more information on The Alonzo F. and Norris B. Herndon Foundation, please click here.