Friday, Apr 14, 2006
On Thursday, September 29th, the National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its prestigious Board of Advisors Honor Award to the Monroe School/Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. This project was one of 22 award winners honored by the trust during its week-long 2005 National Preservation Conference in Portland, Oregon. Brown v. Board of Education NHS was the only individual NPS site bestowed the award for its preservation efforts.
The National Preservation Honor Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies and craftsmen whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation.
Among those present who were honored from the Brown Foundation and the National Park Service were Brown Foundation President Cheryl Brown Henderson, Director Fran Mainella and Superintendent Dennis Vasquez. Representatives from the NPS Midwest Regional Office and Harpers Ferry Center were Steve Adams, Tom Richter and Mitch Zetlin. Hillmann & Carr, Inc. representatives Al Hillmann and Michal Carr; Quinn Evans Architect Steve Jones, Art Guild representative George Mayer; and Haley Sharpe Design representative Allison Chapman were also present during the award ceremony.
After several years of restoration, Brown v. Board of Education NHS opened to the public on May 17, 2004, along with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision that ended legally sanctioned segregation in public schools.
?This tremendous project tells the story of school segregation and the civil rights struggles in the halls of school buildings across the country. Monroe School has been beautifully restored and serves as a backdrop for the interpretation of Brown v. Board of Education for all to experience,? said Richard Moe, president of National Trust for Historic Preservation. ?The National Trust is honored to recognize the Monroe School/Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site with the Board of Advisors Honor Award.?
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