May 17 Grand Opening of National Historic Site: Brown v. Board of Education

Monroe Elementary School, now the Brown v. Board National Historic Site, is an imposing, yet simple brick structure on the corner of 15th and Monroe streets in Topeka, Kansas. It is typical of many early 20th century school buildings. Yet it holds a special place in history. Here the National Park Service commemorates one of the most influential decisions rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 made racial segregation illegal in the nation's schools and launched the modern civil rights movement.

Monroe Elementary School was one of the segregated schools that African American children were forced to attend after being refused admission to neighborhood schools for whites. It symbolizes the value society places on education, the struggle of African American families to secure educational opportunities for their children, and the realities of racial discrimination under a segregated system.

This building is actually the third Monroe school at this site. The first school, started in 1868, was located in a small rented building until a permanent structure was erected in 1874. The current building was constructed in 1926. Designed by the prominent Topeka architect Thomas W. Williamson, whose firm was hired by the Topeka Board of Education to design a series of progressive schools, Monroe School is a two-story brick and limestone built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.

Monroe was the newest of four segregated schools serving the African American community. The other schools were Buchanan, McKinley and Washington. Washington no longer stands, and the Board of Education no longer owns the remaining schools.

Monroe originally had 13 kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms until 1941 when the three upper grades were transferred to integrated junior high schools. The Manual Training Room was later used as a lunchroom, and two classrooms were converted for music and visual education. The playground across the street was used for older students to play softball, baseball, track and football. The younger children used playgrounds at the ends of the building.

Monroe School was closed in 1975 due to declining enrollment, and the school district used the building as a warehouse. Eventually it was sold and remained in private ownership 15 years. Plans to convert the school to offices or a private school ended when it was sold to a church in 1982 and was used for a community outreach program. Mark A. Steuve, purchased the school in 1988 to use as a warehouse. Two years later, Steuve announced his intention to sell the building at auction.

The Brown Foundation began a crusade to save Monroe Elementary School. After a series of letter writing campaigns and meetings with area Congressional leadership, the property was purchased and added to the National Historic Landmark nomination for Sumner Elementary School. In 1992, legislation was signed establishing Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The title was transferred to the National Park Service the next year.

As a symbol of the struggle for equal educational opportunity, the site provides a historical setting for learning about Brown v. Board. But this is not the only place where the story can be told, since there were many segregated schools throughout the country, and countless parents who disliked the segregated system and wanted something better for their children.