BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

KANSAS

On October 26, 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-525 establishing Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to commemorate the landmark United States Supreme Court decision aimed at ending segregation in public schools. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and, as such, violate the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees all citizens "equal protection under the law." The site will include a visitor center with interactive exhibits, a media resources center, a bookstore, and park administrative offices.

DID YOU KNOW

• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site tells the story of the legal history of the struggle for equal rights by peoples of color, within the context of the modern civil rights movement and the nation's race relations since 1619.
• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site has an annual operating budget of $832,000.
• The site is composed of 1.85 acres, including the former Monroe Elementary School, one of four segregated schools in Topeka, Kansas, in 1954.
• The former Monroe Elementary School was one of four all-black elementary schools in Topeka and was decommissioned as a school in 1975.
• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site is one of 17 African American sites within the National Park Service.

DON'T MISS ATTRACTIONS

• The grand opening of the site is scheduled for May 17, 2004, the 50th anniversary of the decision in Oliver L. Brown et al v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, et al.
• Until then, the public can visit the interim visitor center, located at the Post Office approximately 2-miles from the park site. For directions, call 785/354-4273.
• The interim visitor center does contain interpretive exhibits, including the Brown v. Board of Education travel exhibit and two different video presentations -- one for adults and a second for children -- that tell the story of this famous court case.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PRIORITIES

A multi-phased rehabilitation of the former Monroe Elementary School began in 2000 and will conclude before May 17, 2004. The National Park Service is converting the building to a visitor center, research center, and forum for discussion of the Brown case and the Civil Rights Movement. Phase I involved rehabilitation of the exterior, while Phases II and III include the interior rehabilitation and the design and installation of the interpretive exhibits. Although many of the original features of the building are still present, significant changes to both the exterior and interior had been made to the structure since 1954. The current project also includes restoration of key architectural elements.

The grand opening of the park is scheduled for May 17, 2004, the 50th anniversary of the decision in Oliver L. Brown et al v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, et al. The National Park Service and its major partner, the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research, are planning for this major commemorative event. The park is expecting many attendees from Kansas and across the country, including politicians, dignitaries, plaintiffs, and others who played a major role in laying the groundwork for the case.

LINKS:

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Home Page»

Partnering & Managing for Excellence Report»