Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park

Summary#

This bill would create the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park as a new unit of the National Park System. The park would include a 40-acre site in North Lawndale, Chicago (the former Sears merchandising complex and related buildings), the San Domingo Rosenwald School in Sharptown, Maryland, the Saint George Rosenwald School in Saint George, South Carolina, and the Woodville Rosenwald School in Gloucester County, Virginia. The park would not be officially established until the Secretary of the Interior determines a sufficient amount of land or land interests has been acquired and publishes that determination. The Secretary must prepare a map of the park boundary and administer the park under laws that apply to National Park System units. The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with state and local governments and public and nonpublic entities to support interpretation, preservation, and public access. The Secretary may use appropriated funds to mark, restore, improve, or provide technical assistance for properties under cooperative agreements, and may acquire certain land interests or leases for administration and visitor services near the Chicago site. The bill also requires interpretation of Julius Rosenwald’s story at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. The Secretary must complete a general management plan within three fiscal years after funds are first made available.

The bill also creates the Rosenwald Schools National Network within the National Park Service. The Network would solicit participation from related sites, produce and share educational materials, conduct research, adopt an official symbol, provide grants, and make recommendations for additional sites that could be included in the park or need NPS management. The Network may include NPS units, other public and private historic properties, and other education or research programs related to Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools.

What it means for you#

  • A new park headquarters and visitor center is planned for the former Sears complex in North Lawndale, Chicago, which would interpret Julius Rosenwald’s life and the Rosenwald Schools.
  • The named Rosenwald Schools in Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia would be part of the park or associated with it. The San Domingo School may be acquired by the Secretary only by donation, purchase with donated funds, or exchange.
  • The National Park Service may work with state and local governments, nonprofit groups, and private owners through cooperative agreements to provide signage, exhibits, and technical help. Those agreements must allow reasonable public access.
  • The Rosenwald Schools National Network would offer educational materials, research, and possible grants to sites that join the Network.

Expenses#

The bill allows the Secretary to use appropriated funds to carry out projects, provide technical assistance, and make grants. It does not include a total cost, budget, or specific appropriation amounts. No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

According to the bill text, supporters intend the park to commemorate Julius Rosenwald’s life and legacy; recognize the impact of the Rosenwald Schools, which operated from 1912 to 1932 and educated many African American children; preserve representative Rosenwald School sites; establish a headquarters and visitor center in the former Sears complex in Chicago; and create a Network to connect and interpret remaining Rosenwald Schools across the United States.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.