Central-Carver Legacy Museum, The

Central High, the predecessor of Carver High School, served Gadsden's African-American community from 1934-36. Carver High School was the first of many schools in the state named in honor of the great scientist Dr. George Washington Carver. It was built in Gadsden in 1936 and was the city's first full 12-year public school for African-American students. When the school opened, enrollment for grades 1-12 was 1,017. The first building contained 26 classrooms, an auditorium and a lunchroom. In 1951, enrollment rose to 1,500. In 1953, a new elementary school opened to accommodate grades 1-6. Growth continued, and in 1957, a new gymnasium, a shop and a bandroom were added. Between 1961 and 1963, a junior high building, a Home Economics department and a new lunchroom were also added. Tragically, the Gadsden Board of Education closed Carver in 1971. It had become a casualty of Gadsden's painful school desegregation efforts, which began in 1969. Efforts are now underway for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the Central-Carver Legacy Museum, which will preserve and enhance the culture of the African-American community in the Gadsden area. A historic marker was unveiled in February 2009 on the old Carver High School grounds.