San Marcos in Hays County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Dunbar School

Photographed by James Hulse, May 10, 2022

1. Dunbar School Marker

Inscription. Private instruction for Black children in San Marcos may have begun as early as 1847, but the first public school was founded in 1877 with 50 pupils. The school was moved to this 7.3 acre site in 1918. Many graduates continued into higher education, and some returned as teachers, including Ola Lee Coleman, whose 36-year career was the longest here. In 1961 the school was renamed for Paul Lawrence Dunbar (1872-1906), noted Black author. This facility closed with the completion of school integration in the 1960s. In 1973 Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Marshall purchased the site for use as a city park.

Erected 1975 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10262.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 29° 52.59′ N, 97° 56.83′ W. Marker is in San Marcos, Texas, in Hays County. It is at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and South Endicott Street, on the left when traveling west on Martin Luther King Drive. The marker is located in front of the Dunbar City Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 Martin Luther King Drive, San Marcos TX 78666, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country

and in the Austin Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lucious Jackson Basketball Court (a few steps from

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this marker); Sanders-Grosgebauer House (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rylander-Kyle House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ragsdale-Jackman-Yarbrough House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church NBC of San Marcos (approx. 0.2 miles away); Heard-Baker House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alexander Gates & Lillian Johnson Thomas House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joseph W. Earnest Home (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Marcos.

The Dunbar School Marker in front of the library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, May 10, 2022

2. The Dunbar School Marker in front of the library

The view of the Dunbar School Marker from the parking lot of the Dunbar City Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, May 10, 2022

3. The view of the Dunbar School Marker from the parking lot of the Dunbar City Park

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,271 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 26, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.