The United States has named its 430th national park, and it’s not the beautiful nature preserve you’re probably picturing.
Instead, the new site, located in Marfa, Texas, marks the historical preservation of the Blackwell School, a schoolhouse built in 1909 that segregated Mexican American students for decades.
While the school was a historical site, it is now part of the National Park Service — the seventh national park designated under President Biden. This designation permanently protects the site, telling the history of Texas school districts that still impact Mexican American children today.
“Today’s designation of the Blackwell School as our nation’s newest national park ensures that the rich history and cultural heritage of this significant place is preserved for future generations,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.
“This site is a powerful reminder of our nation’s diverse and often complex journey toward equality and justice. By honoring the legacy of Blackwell School, we recognize the resilience and contributions of the Latino community in our shared history.”
The story of the Blackwell School is one founded on the concept of “separate but equal” education. While many may know this concept for its prominence in the segregation of Black Americans throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it was also used to segregate Mexican and Mexican American students from white Americans, between 1889 and 1965.
“A complete history of America must include everyone’s story. The designation of the Blackwell School National Historic Site is an important step in telling a more diverse and inclusive history of the Mexican American experience in our country,” said Director of the National Park Service Chuck Sams.
“We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of many to save and share the story of the Blackwell School and its students in order to honor the alumni, family members and Hispanic communities affected by these practices.”
The site’s new designation was authorized by the Blackwell School National Historic Site Act, signed by the president in October 2022.
Consisting of the original 1909 adobe schoolhouse and a smaller 1927 classroom building (known as the Band Hall), the buildings contain photographs, memorabilia, and interpretive displays with quotes and stories from students and teachers.
Similar to other new national park sites — including the Amache National Historic Site in Colorado, the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monuments in Illinois and Mississippi, and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park in Kansas — this historic site hopes to reckon with the more complicated and shameful parts of U.S. history.
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory said that the Biden administration is “committed to preserving and protecting sites that lift up communities that have historically been left out of our national story.”
The Blackwell School Historic Site is currently open to the public with limited hours and services. Moving forward, the NPS will work with The Blackwell School Alliance, a nonprofit founded by the school’s alumni, to provide visitor services.
Mallory continued: “By establishing this new national park under President Biden’s leadership, the National Park Service is further demonstrating this Administration’s commitment to protecting places that help tell a more complete and inclusive story of our nation’s history.”
Header image courtesy of Sara Button/The Blackwell School Alliance
