Brown v. Board of Education NHS is located in the former Monroe Elementary School, one of four African American elementary schools. The school has recently been rehabilitated to its 1954 appearance.
1) When you first enter the site, you will be welcomed by a park ranger who will introduce you to the story and the site.
2) Next, you will enter the auditorium. On seven large screens, the award-winning film Race and the American Creed appears daily on a continuous basis. The film includes five clips, each five minutes long, and explores events in history which led up to the Brown v. Board of Education case.
3) Across the hall is your next stop, the “Education and Justice” gallery. You will learn more about the people, places and events that shaped the years right before and after the decision. There are several interactive computer stations, as well as short films to learn more about the story. Walk through the “Hall of Courage” to determine for yourself how you would have felt being discriminated against.
4) Across the hall from the “Education and Justice” gallery is the , which stocks many books, videos and CDs with information related to the Brown case, the civil rights movement, African American history, and the National Park Service.
5) After exiting the bookstore, walk down to the other end of the hall, and on your left is the “The Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education” gallery. You will discover events that happened as a result of Brown, and the continuing struggle for equality. There are several information kiosks and music stations, as well as the inspirational film Pass It On and the "What Do You Think?".
6) Your last stop is across the hall in the former kindergarten room which is now the “Expressions and Reflections” gallery. Inside are four computer stations where you can share your thoughts in words, pictures or speech. There are places to sit and reflect on all of the information you learned about in your visit. For a more in-depth visit .
Please note:
The second floor of the building is closed to the public. The space is used for National Park Service and Brown Foundation offices.