BATON ROUGE — The Lincoln Theatre was founded in 1949. It was a hot spot in Baton Rouge for entertainment, featuring musical performers like James Brown and Louis Armstrong.

After years of sitting vacant, the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame hopes it can be reborn as a beacon for the community.

"Theatre was up for sale, and no telling what it would've gone for, and we saw that as an opportunity," Peggy Bates said.

Peggy Bates serves on the board of the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame. Bates says they were initially looking for a home base for the organization when they stumbled upon the old Lincoln Theatre building that sat vacant for many years.

"We went through so many things, and so many times we were given things that would've been discouraging. First of all, we didn't have money. We were a non-profit, but we were a little loose organization," Bates said.

Bates says they purchased the property in 2013 with a plan to reopen the historic landmark as the "Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame Museum and Cultural Center at the Lincoln Theatre."

More than a decade after purchasing the property, organizers broke ground on the revitalization project last year.

"When we got started, thinking we could just repair, and jump in, no, this building was built way back in 1949, way back, this building had to meet certain standards that are not the same standards that are here," Bates said.

Bates says they relied on the help of the city, community, and legislators to make the $6 million remodel happen.

"It took us some time, we had a couple throwbacks, but thank god we kept at it and kept at it," Bates said.

The original Lincoln Theatre was a multi-purpose building that featured a barbershop, pharmacy, and office spaces.

Bates says the remodeled theatre will be different, as the building will hold historical artifacts from the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame, while also operating as a concert venue.

"We plan to have people who are going to help train young people who want to be entertainers, that is, in music and acting, and actually in visual and tactical arts," Bates said.

A community open house is scheduled for Dec. 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The grand opening is expected to happen next year.