In an era of segregation and Civil Rights protests, Fannie Mae Duncan brought world-class black entertainers to Colorado Springs. Her Cotton Club boasted high profile, top-tier acts of the day including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Etta James. For nearly three decades it was one of a few bars, if not the only, catering to the black community. Her motto “Everybody Welcome” embraced a multi-ethnic staff and attracted a well-to-do white population eager to experience artists who were not permitted to perform elsewhere. Fannie Mae’s legacy of generosity, philanthropy, perseverance, and peaceful integration continues to inspire today.