I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8221 
To establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 
Mr. HURD of Texas (for himself and Mr. CUELLAR) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in 
Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blackwell School Na-
tional Historic Site Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.—The term ‘‘na-
tional historic site’’ means the Blackwell School, in 
Marfa, Texas. 
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(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The Blackwell School, located at 501 South 
Abbott Street, in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas, is 
associated with the period of racial segregation in 
Marfa public schools and is the sole extant property 
directly associated with Hispanic education in the 
community, the remaining buildings having been 
torn down after the school closed in 1965. 
(2) The Blackwell School is a tangible reminder 
of a time when the practice of ‘‘separate but equal’’ 
dominated education and social systems. Despite 
being categorized as ‘‘white’’ by Texas law, Mexican 
Americans were regularly excluded from commin-
gling with Anglos at barbershops, restaurants, fu-
neral homes, theaters, churches, and schools. 
(3) The spectrum of experiences of students 
and teachers at the Blackwell School constitute an 
important record of life in a segregated school in the 
context of the history of Texas and America. 
(4) Mexican and Mexican American culture and 
history in Marfa is tied to the Blackwell School, 
which for more than 50 years served as a leading 
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feature of the Hispanic community, illustrating the 
challenge of maintaining cultural identity in a domi-
nant Anglo society. Yet today, Hispanic influences 
are seen in Marfa’s social and religious organiza-
tions, business and government institutions, and 
shared experiences of language, food, and music. 
(5) The historic Blackwell School building is a 
physical record of the longevity and beauty of the 
distinctive design and craftsmanship informed by 
both traditional techniques and materials, and the 
transition from purely the vernacular to the period 
of materials, design, and workmanship made avail-
able after the arrival of the railroad. The original 
historic school building and grounds on which it 
stands provide an authentic setting to commemorate 
and interpret the history of the Blackwell School. 
(6) The Blackwell School is closely associated 
with the broad patterns of local, State, and national 
history in the area of school segregation. Mexicans 
and other members of the Latin American diaspora 
have placed a high value upon education as a means 
of economic, social, and political advancement. 
(7) Mexican Americans and other members of 
the Latin American diaspora have placed a high 
value upon education as a means of economic, social, 
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