Booker T. Washington School

Washington School stands today as a testament to the dedication and tenacity of Black Stillwater residents in overcoming significant obstacles to attaining equal educational, social, and economic opportunities. The school has changed over the years, just like the community. Additions, including the East and West wings and the auditorium that runs along 12th Street, were completed sometime between 1954 and 1959. This was likely also when a new domed redwood ceiling was installed in the gymnasium; it remains structurally sound.

During that time, the landmark Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case mandated integration at the federal level, ending nearly half a century of legislated racial segregation in Oklahoma schools. While Stillwater schools were generally welcoming of Black athletes, for some students leaving Washington meant entering new classrooms that were not accepting.

It is symbolic at many levels that Washington School has endured. While the building remains prone to flooding – most recently in 2019 – many parts of it remain structurally sound.

In the Spring of 2021, OSU Public History students teamed up with Civil and Environmental Engineering students to conduct a survey and assessment of the buildings.Findings included discovering significant damage to the kitchen located at the back of the gymnasium, as well as to the East wing of classrooms, which endured a fire. While the gymnasium and the original front classrooms sustained some flooding damage, the buildings were found to be structurally sound. Perhaps the biggest surprise came from the auditorium, which continued to serve as a community events venue for decades after Washington School ceased to offer classes for students. There is no evidence that recent floodwaters have entered this space.