Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

The story of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in public schools, is one of hope and courage, a critical moment in our history.

When the people agreed to be plaintiffs in the case, they never knew they would change history. The people in this story were ordinary people. They were teachers, secretaries, welders, ministers, and students who simply wanted to be treated equally.

The park is housed in what was formerly Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas. Monroe Elementary School was one of many segregated schools throughout the country, and countless parents who disliked the segregated system and wanted something better for their children. As a symbol of the struggle for equal educational opportunity, Monroe Elementary School provides an ideal setting from which to interpret Brown v. Board of Education.