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On the Path to Freedom

Join us July 25th and 26th in commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lewis Bodwell's assistance in a slave family's flight to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
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The Road to Justice

The story of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in public schools, is one of hope and courage. When the people agreed to be plaintiffs in the case, they never knew they would change history. The people who make up this story were ordinary people. They were teachers, secretaries, welders, ministers and students who simply wanted to be treated equally.


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Dennis A. Vasquez, Superintendent

Superintendent's Welcome

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site keeps alive and furthers the legacy of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that forever changed this country’s history. The National Park Service cares for special places and special stories saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. We are proud to share this American story with those who may visit in person or with those who may visit through our outreach efforts.

Superintendent Dennis A. Vásquez

 
Timeline in exhibit

Timeline

What percentage of Virginia's population was represented by African Americans in 1670? When did the U.S. Supreme Court rule that "separate but equal" segregated facilities on public transportation were constitutional? What year did President Harry S. Truman issue an executive order to ban segregation in the armed forces?
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Mother and daughter sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court building steps holding a newspaper with a headline about the end of segregation in schools.

The Five Cases

In December, 1952, the United States Supreme Court had on its docket cases from Kansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Virginia, all of which challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools. The Court had consolidated these five cases under one name, Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka.
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Superintendent's Blog

7/8/2008--The civil rights struggle begun in 1951 by a 16-year-old schoolgirl in the small town of Farmville, Virginia will be memorialized with an impressive sculpture on the Virginia State Capitol grounds. The memorial by the internationally known sculptor Stanley Bleifeld will feature the likenesses of Barbara Johns, the young student leader, and of her fellow students from Moton High School, their parents, and community leaders and civil rights attorneys.

Click the link below to read the thoughts of the Superintendent on these and other issues.
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1515 SE Monroe Street
Topeka, KS 66612

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Phone

Visitor Information
(785) 354-4273

Fax

(785) 354-7213

Climate

Kansas enjoys four distinct seasons. You may expect mild springs, hot summers, warm falls and chilly winters.
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Charles Hamilton Houston  

Did You Know?
The national strategy to use the courts to challenge segregation in public education began with the NAACP under the leadership of attorney Charles Hamilton Houston in the 1930’s.--Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
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Last Updated: July 17, 2008 at 16:00 EST