MARFA, Texas — Another spotlight on the history in West Texas.
The Blackwell School in Marfa is the latest national historic site in the region. The National Park Service is working with the community to shape what generations to come will gain from it.
In Marfa, the Blackwell School serves as a reminder.
“That operated until 1965 as a segregated school for Mexican American children for that area of Marfa," said David Larson, superintendent of Blackwell School National Historic Site.
Closing shortly after 1965, it has been a key part of the community.
After it was authorized as a national historic site in October of 2022, work is being done to establish it as one.
“When people of the community of Marfa or even further afield come to Blackwell, what do they want to see?" Larson said. "What do they want to see on the grounds of the Blackwell School? Do they want to see the site like it was -- the landscape [and] the outdoor area like it was when the kids were going to school there? What do you folks want when you get here?
Those questions will be answered through a foundation document as public input is gathered from May 28 to July 12.
“A foundation document is very important for Blackwell because it will provide us with public input on how we manage the park and what is the purpose of that park," Larson said.
Public meetings will also be held on June 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marfa Visitor Center/USO Building, and on June 26 at 11 a.m. at the same location.
Every word of input plays an impactful role in this step in the process.
“Once we get that input, then we will have a workshop...a couple of months later that’s purely for people who are stakeholders in the park who’ve been involved with the operations of the site or who are academics who know the 100 years of history," Larson said.
History has a strong place in West Texas.
The Blackwell School is the next piece for everyone to experience.
“To come up to Marfa, Texas and see a new national park in that town that has a number of different tourism draws to it – having a national park service unit there I think it’s been exciting for a lot of partners, a lot of people, and a lot of tourists are already taking note of it,” said Larson.
To provide public input on the Blackwell School National Historic Site, click here.