Places

When it was built in 1929, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Little Rock was the most modern and complete high school constructed for African Americans in the state. It became known as "The Finest High School for Negro Boys and Girls in Arkansas."

In 1957, Little Rock’s Philander Smith College, an historically black college, opened its doors to the “Little Rock Nine” to help them prepare for their first days as students at Central High School. Barred from entering the all-white high school by order of the governor, the students struggled to keep from falling behind in their coursework, aided by Philander Smith College faculty members.

Built in 1824 and considered one of the finest public schools in Boston, the Phillips School educated only white students until 1855 when it became one of the first integrated schools in the city.

The Abiel Smith School opened in 1835 and served as a focal point in the Black community’s struggle for equal school rights in 19th century Boston.

The Daisy and L.C. Bates Home is nationally significant for its role as the de facto command post during the Central High School desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Commemorative Garden, adjacent to both the visitor center on South Park Street and the north side of Little Rock Central High School, documents a photographic history, inlaid on brick and concrete arches, as a reminder of the bravery of the Little Rock Nine and a legacy of Central High School. Within this space are nine benches and nine trees to provide seating and shade for a visitor to sit and reflect in this tranquil landscape.

The Elizabeth Eckford Bus Bench, located on the northeast corner of S. Park Street and 16th Street, is a replica from the 1957 desegregation crisis and a place for contemplative reflection.

This program is part of an introduction to the history of the park and the WWII Home Front. You can listen to it at home, while driving, before your visit to the park visitor center or as part of the official NPS App driving tour. These files are also available as a free download on our website and can be a great educational tool for your classroom.

Plains High School was constructed in 1921 at a cost of $50,000.00. Student attended grades one through eleven in the building, there being no twelfth grade until 1952. Both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter graduated from Plains High School, Jimmy Carter in 1941 and Rosalynn Carter in 1944. Jimmy Carter quoted Julia Coleman: teacher, principal, and superintendent of the school system, in his inaugural address as President of the United States.

The Second Street School in Waterford’s Historic District was constructed in 1867 to serve the town’s African American children, making it among the oldest one-room school buildings in Loudoun County, and a highly intact example of this important building type. This small school and church building powerfully illustrates the importance of churches, schools, and even cemeteries to African Americans in the Southern and border states after the Civil War.