Booker T. Washington School Tours

This November, the McKinney Center will host tours of the historic Booker T. Washington School building. Tours will begin on Friday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. The tours are free to the public and will last approximately 20 minutes. This event will take place at the McKinney Center, located at 103 Franklin Avenue, Jonesborough, TN. Light refreshments will be provided. Those interested in Jonesborough’s history are invited to learn more about the significance of Booker T. Washington School.

Booker T. Washington School was an institution for black children, grades 1-8, from 1940-1965, when schools were integrated. The building served children from Washington County and surrounding areas, including Limestone and Telford. After integration, the school was closed, and the building fell into disrepair. The Town of Jonesborough later renovated the building, and in 2013, the McKinney Center was opened.

The tours will cover the history of education in Jonesborough, daily life at school, and the integration movement. We will also cover more iconic moments at Booker T., such as Miss Brown’s “End of the Year” program, where every student was given a chance to shine. For students at Booker T. Washington School, the building served as more than an educational institution. Many alumni recall the space being a second home. The McKinney Center aims to preserve the history of Booker T. Washington School and the firsthand accounts told by its alumni.

Tours will be open to the public on Friday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. After November 14, tours can be scheduled by calling the front desk at 423.753.562.

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About the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington: The mission of the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington is to provide a comprehensive program through Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts, which teaches various art skills to all participants through a quality program of instruction open to all segments of Jonesborough’s population. In addition, a primary mission of the Center is to enhance minority participation in the planning and implementation in all activities in Jonesborough while specifically celebrating the contribution of the African-American community in the growth and development of the Town. The activities of the McKinney Center are designed to enhance the quality of life of all Jonesborough residents.