Blackwell School formally established as 430th national park site

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, July 17, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland formally established the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas. The addition of Blackwell to the National Parks System brings the official tally of national park sites in the United States to a historic 430.

“Today, the Blackwell School is fully entrusted to the American people as a place of history, learning and healing,” said President of the Blackwell School Alliance Daniel Hernandez. “We’re deeply grateful for all who have contributed their time and talents to this grassroots effort over the last two decades — especially our alumni, whose experiences will forever serve as the foundation for telling this story.”

Following extensive advocacy by West Texans, the nonprofit Blackwell School Alliance and the National Parks Conservation Association, President Biden signed the Blackwell School National Historic Site Act into law in 2022. This bipartisan bill was originally introduced in Congress by former congressmen Will Hurd and Filemón Vela of Texas. Representative Tony Gonzales, Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Alex Padilla of California brought the bill across the finish line.

The law directed the National Park Service to establish the school as a national park site once the property was transferred to the federal government. After years of thorough planning and a meticulous deeding process, the Blackwell School property finally changed hands this summer, officially transferring the land from the Marfa Independent School District to NPS. This removed the final barrier to officially establishing Blackwell as the 430th national park site, and only the second such site dedicated to modern Latino history.

“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.”

In communities across the Southwest, school districts once enforced “de facto segregation,” forcing Mexican American children to attend separate schools from their white peers. The Blackwell School was one such institution. Mexican American children at Blackwell were given outdated textbooks and shoddy equipment and in many cases were punished for speaking in their native language.

But despite those painful memories, many Blackwell alumni retain a mix of positive and negative sentiment for their experiences at the school. Many former students proudly recall their time in the marching band and on the football team, viewing the school as a flawed institution that nonetheless had a powerful impact on their lives.

That’s why in 2006, alumni rallied to save the Blackwell School from possible destruction. They founded the Blackwell School Alliance, arranging for the school to be turned into a local museum and landmark. Beginning in 2018, the alliance partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association for a public, grassroots campaign to obtain National Park Service protection and recognition for the school.

Visit www.nps.gov/blsc to learn more about the park.