Brown v. Board of Education celebrates 55 years

Topeka, Kan. (May 9, 2009) – This year marks the 55th anniversary of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional.

In 1952, Oliver Brown et al v. the Board of Education of Topeka joined a collection of cases from across the nation to challenge the legal practice of segregation. The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site shares the story of hope and courage and the pursuit for equality through pictures, video and artifacts.

The national historic site in Topeka can be partially attributed to happenstance and largely to the work of The Brown Foundation and its chief executive officer, Cheryl Brown Henderson.

The case heard by the Supreme Court was a consolidation of cases filed in Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. Topeka's place in civil rights history was assured when the cases from other jurisdictions were consolidated under the Topeka case, Brown v. Board. Henderson and others worked relentlessly in the latter part of the last century to get historic site designation for Monroe Elementary School, 1515 S.E. Monroe, one of four Topeka elementary schools that had been designated for black children.

While children no longer attend school there, many visit regularly to learn about the landmark case. The site also draws visitors from across the U.S. and beyond throughout the year to listen to guest speakers and programs that address the civil rights movement, black history and other topics.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The site is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For more information, visit: www.nps.gov/brvb.

Visit Topeka Inc. is dedicated to improving the area economy through marketing the region as an exceptional destination for meetings, events and tourism. Visit Topeka Inc. is committed to advocating for community development that will not only attract more visitors, but will enhance the community’s quality of life.

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