Article by: Lena Miano of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo by: Colin Murphey of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Little Rock Central High School is one of 11 U.S. Civil Rights Movement Sites included in a proposed nomination to be added to a world-renowned list of legally protected landmarks, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Deb Haaland, the department's secretary, announced Tuesday she has authorized the National Park Service to propose the list of 11 sites to be added to the World Heritage List, which is administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In consultation with the Federal Interagency Panel for World Heritage and other partners, the department will determine whether to submit a finalized version of the nomination to the World Heritage Committee, the release stated.
Central High and the museum are currently protected under the National Park Service as a national historic landmark, and the surrounding area -- including residential and commercial buildings, as well as churches -- was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
The neighborhood has to retain at least 51% of its historic fabric to keep its historic district designation, and this ratio fell to about 59% in 2022. In May 2023, historical nonprofit Preserve Arkansas placed the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District on its list of most endangered places.
The proposed nomination also includes the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.; the Bethel Baptist Church and the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.; the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.; the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Anniston, Ala.; the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta; the Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas; the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in Jackson, Miss.; the Robert Russa Moton High School and Museum in Farmville, Va.; and the Lincoln Memorial and Grounds in Washington, D.C.
If submitted and approved, these 11 sites would join the 25 properties in the U.S. inscribed on the list, including the Grand Canyon National Park and the Statue of Liberty.
"This recognition not only commemorates the brave actions of the Little Rock Nine but also highlights Central High's ongoing commitment to educational excellence and social justice," Central High principal Nancy Rousseau wrote in an email to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Tuesday. "We are thrilled that we are being considered along with other equally important historic sites and are honored to continue sharing our legacy, inspiring future generations through our history and achievements."
In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, an international treaty aimed at encouraging the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage throughout the world. The treaty is implemented by the World Heritage Committee consisting of representatives from 21 "states parties" -- countries that have signed and adhered to the treaty's objectives -- who meet once a year to determine whether properties are ultimately added to the World Heritage List, a compilation of sites with "outstanding universal value" which meet at least one of 10 selected criteria, according to UNESCO's website.
The criteria primarily focus on sites that symbolize cultural traditions, civilizations or areas, those which represent historical stages, and areas containing or representing past and current natural habitats for threatened species.
Before the World Heritage Committee considers nominations for the World Heritage List, countries must have a "tentative list" of its important natural or cultural heritage sites and select sites from this list to include in a nomination file submitted to the World Heritage Center for review. Pending approval, the center sends the file to one of two advisory bodies -- one for monuments and sites and the other for natural areas. The two advisory bodies subsequently provide evaluations of each site to the committee.
Little Rock School District Superintendent Jermall Wright emphasized the significance of being considered for nomination, not only because of its benefit for the school itself, but also because of the legacy this distinction would leave.
"Recognizing the importance of each of the 11 nominated sites underscores the collective significance of our shared history and the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on our nation," Wright stated in an email. "As we reflect on this profound heritage, we are excited about what this opportunity would bring to our district, our students, and our community as we continue to honor and build upon these enduring principles."