Strasburg in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Sunset Hill School
The Queen Street School, one of the first schools in Shenandoah County for African Americans, had opened in Strasburg by 1875. After a fire in 1929, a new school known as Sunset Hill was built here ca. 1930 to serve grades 1-7. Because the county had no high school for African American students, graduates had to go elsewhere to attend higher grades. African Americans petitioned for better facilities, and the school board considered building a new segregated elementary school as late as 1962, eight years after the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that public school segregation was unconstitutional. Sunset Hill closed in 1964 when Shenandoah County schools were fully desegregated.Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number AB 4.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 38° 59.604′ N, 78° 21.94′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Historic Strasburg (approx. ¼ mile away); Open House (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Historic Strasburg (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Historic Strasburg (approx. 0.3 miles away); Stonewall's Surprise (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sonner House (approx. 0.3 miles away); American Legion (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Strasburg.
Additional keywords. segregation, Jim Crow era
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
