Central High School Neighborhood Historic District, National Historic Site in Little Rock, United States.
Central High School Neighborhood Historic District encompasses the school building constructed in 1927, featuring elaborate Gothic Revival and Art Deco design elements throughout its structure. The district also includes surrounding residential blocks and a visitor center located at 2120 West Daisy Gatson Bates Drive, which houses exhibits and educational materials.
The district became nationally significant in 1957 when nine African American students sought to enroll at the previously segregated school, prompting direct federal intervention. This event marked a turning point in the nationwide push for school desegregation and civil rights.
The neighborhood serves as a focal point in American civil rights history, where school integration efforts became tangible and visible to the community. The area reflects how people today continue to engage with and commemorate these transformative events.
The visitor center at 2120 West Daisy Gatson Bates Drive offers guided tours and educational programs that walk through the history and significance of the site. Allow extra time to explore both the building and the surrounding neighborhood on foot to fully appreciate the context and scale of the district.
The school building still operates as an active secondary school, making it the only high school in the United States located within the boundaries of a federal historic site. This blend of living history and daily education creates an unusual dynamic where past events remain tangibly connected to the present day.
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