A New National Park Site in Marfa Highlights the Town’s Mexican American Heritage

Marfa, with a population of 1,700, is situated in the high desert of West Texas, just 45 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, and is renowned for its unique blend of art, desert vistas, and enigma.

Since the 1970s, Marfa has been a center for contemporary art, beginning when artist Donald Judd moved here and began creating large-scale installations. This attracted many other artists who established galleries and exhibitions in the area.

The natural allure of the town and its surroundings gained notoriety after being featured in films like No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. These breathtaking landscapes also attract outdoor enthusiasts to Marfa. The nearby Chihuahuan Desert, along with Davis Mountains State Park and Big Bend National Park, provide excellent opportunities for hiking, bird-watching, and stargazing. The famous Marfa Lights, mysterious orbs in the night sky, intrigue scientists and enchant visitors, with theories about their origins ranging from atmospheric reflections to extraterrestrial phenomena.

However, what may be less recognized is Marfa’s significant Mexican American history, which received attention this month with the designation of a new national park site in the town, aimed at acknowledging a darker chapter in the history of some Mexican Americans.

Blackwell School Designated as a National Historic Site

On July 17, 2024, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland officially designated the Blackwell School as a National Historic Site. Operating from 1909 to 1965, Blackwell was among numerous schools in the Southwest that practiced de facto segregation, compelling Mexican American students to attend separate institutions from their white counterparts. At the same time, Jim Crow laws mandated that Black students receive their education separately. However, the decision to segregate Hispanic children was left to individual districts, and Blackwell was one of those schools. Along with inadequate educational resources, students faced punishment for using their native Spanish language.

“The designation of the Blackwell School as our nation’s latest national park today ensures the preservation of the rich history and cultural heritage of this important site for future generations,” Secretary Haaland stated in a press release. “This site serves as a powerful reminder of our nation's diverse and often intricate path toward equality and justice. By honoring the legacy of Blackwell School, we acknowledge the resilience and contributions of the Latino community in our collective history.”

In 2006, alumni and descendants of the school united to prevent its demolition. For nearly two decades, they have been advocating for the site to be transformed into a public landmark. Together, they established the Blackwell School Alliance and, in 2018, collaborated with the National Parks Conservation Association to secure the school's recognition as protected land.

President Biden officially designated the park in October 2022, but it took nearly two years of collaboration between the National Park Service, the Marfa Independent School District, and the City of Marfa, Texas, to finalize the acquisition of the land needed to establish it as a national park.

Visiting Information

The Blackwell School National Historic Site features the original adobe schoolhouse from 1909, along with a smaller building constructed in 1927 known as the Band Hall. Both structures house photographs, memorabilia, and interpretive panels that narrate the stories of the students and teachers who studied and taught there. Located at 501 South Abbott Street, Marfa, Texas, the site is currently open to the public on limited hours—Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. The National Park Service may extend these hours as operations become fully integrated into the NPS framework.

The National Park System continues to expand

Currently, there are 430 national park sites in the United States, which include a variety of designations such as national parks, national monuments, and national historic sites. Among the 75 national historic sites recognized for their historical importance are Ford’s Theatre, the site of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865, and the residences of former presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, and Herbert Hoover.

This park unit marks the seventh national park unit established during President Biden’s administration. The other units include:

• Camp Hale National Monument in Colorado
• Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada
• Castner Range National Monument in Texas
• Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, encompassing sites in Illinois and Mississippi
• Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument in Arizona
• Amache National Historic Site in Colorado

Every new park unit designated under Biden’s presidency aims to honor significant historical moments relevant to minority communities that have often been underrepresented in the narrative of the national park system. The Blackwell School is notably only the second site dedicated to contemporary Latino history, following the establishment of the César E. Chávez National Monument in 2012 near Keene, California.

“A comprehensive history of America must encompass the stories of all individuals. The designation of the Blackwell School National Historic Site represents a vital step towards sharing a richer, more inclusive account of the Mexican American experience in our nation,” stated Chuck Sams, Director of the National Park Service, in a press release.

Cary Dupuy, the Texas regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, reiterated this point in a separate statement, stating, "By officially designating the Blackwell School National Historic Site today, the Biden administration has conveyed a powerful message that resonates across our nation. This message emphasizes the significance of Latino stories. The history of Latinos at Blackwell and beyond is crucial for understanding our nation's past, addressing its present challenges, and shaping its future."