Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Boundary Modification Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2611, introduced by Representative Hill and cosponsored by civil rights pioneer and legend, Representative Lewis of Georgia, amends Public Law 105-356, which established Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

H.R. 2611 would modify the park's boundary and expand the park's authority to enter into cooperative agreements. The proposed boundary modification would include seven privately owned residences on South Park Street, consisting of 1.47 acres. The cooperative agreement authority provided by the bill will allow the National Park Service to give financial and technical aid to the property owners to preserve the facades and maintain the ambience of a 1957 historic scene.

Images of the South Park Street properties are inextricably associated with the 1957 events. As images of the Little Rock Nine, crowds of protesters, the public, and the National Guardsmen appeared in newspapers across the Nation and were broadcast live through the emerging media of television, the neighborhood became as recognizable as the high school itself.

Because South Park Street in front of Central High School retains a high degree of historical integrity, this legislation would provide a unique opportunity to preserve a setting that will allow visitors to more accurately visualize the events that occurred there in 1957 when the Little Rock Nine attempted to attend Central High School.

In 1996, the surrounding neighborhood, including these seven privately owned homes, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District. The designation recognized the neighborhood's association with the significant events of 1957 as well as the architectural characteristics and qualities that remain relatively unchanged from that period.

All the property owners and several community members have expressed their support for this proposal, including Central High Neighborhood, Inc., and Preserve Arkansas.

As we move forward in these turbulent times, it is important that we do not forget the struggles of the Little Rock Nine and the neighborhood that moved America forward towards an integrated education system.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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