Grand Opening Dedication and 50th Anniversary
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The decision effectively denied the legal basis for segregation in Kansas and 20 other states with segregated classrooms and would forever change race relations in the United States.
On May 17, 2004, the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site had its grand opening celebration on the 50th Anniversary of the Brown decision. The grand opening of the historic site and the anniversary were commemorated by a large event featuring numerous speakers.
A 50th Anniversary Commemorative Poster is available for a donation. For more information, click here.
Below are a list of speakers from the Grand Opening Dedication.
| Commemoration | |
 Welcome by Stephen E. Adams Park Superintendent |
 Welcome by Fran Mainella Director, National Park Service |
 Welcome and remarks by Cheryl Brown Henderson President, The Brown Foundation |
 Audience Recognitions by Professor Ronald GriffinWashburn University School of Law and Superintendent Adams |
| Remarks | |
 Mr. Will RogersPresident, Trust for Public Land The TPL role in the acquisition of Monroe School |
 Mr. Robert StantonBoard Member, African American Experience Fund How the AAEF supports the National Park Service |
 Dennis HayesNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People |
 The Honorable James A. McClintonMayor of Topeka, Kansas What Brown v. Board means to Topeka |
 The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings United States House of Representatives |
 The Honorable Jim Ryun United States House of Representatives |
 The Honorable Sam Brownback United States Senate |
 Featured speaker -- Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth Cincinnati, Ohio (formerly of Birmingham, Alabama) |
 The Honorable Rod Paige Secretary, U.S. Department of Education |
 Judge Craig Manson Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior |
 The Honorable Gale NortonSecretary, U.S. Department of the Interior Preserving Our Heritage and Cultural Diversity |
 Mr. Justice Stephen G. Breyer Supreme Court of the United States |
 The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius Governor of Kansas |
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| Keynote Address | |
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To view a list of other events held from April 28-May 24 in Topeka that commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Brown decision, click here.
Make A Donation
The Brown Foundation succeeds because of your support. We use the support from individuals, businesses, and foundations to help ensure a sustained investment in children and youth and to foster programs that educate the public about Brown v. Board of Education in the context of the civil rights movement and to advance civic engagement.
Learn more about how your donation will be used or find out how to mail in a donation on our donation page here.
View photos from past events here.
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