Fairfax, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fairfax Rosenwald School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 20, 2010

1. Fairfax Rosenwald School Marker

Inscription. The Fairfax Rosenwald School or “Fairfax Colored School” was constructed in 1925–26 on this site. It replaced an earlier African-American school on Main Street east of the Fairfax Cemetery. In 1917, Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck & Co., formed the Julius Rosenwald Fund, a philanthropic foundation that funded construction of over 5,000 schools for African-Americans across the rural south between 1917 and 1932. The Fairfax Rosenwald School was one of four such schools built in Fairfax County. It was demolished in 1951 and replaced by Eleven Oaks School.

Erected 2007 by City of Fairfax and Historic Fairfax City, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 38° 50.233′ N, 77° 18.517′ W. Marker is in Fairfax, Virginia. It is at the intersection of George Mason Boulevard and School Street, on the left when traveling south on George Mason Boulevard

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. George Mason Boulevard is the new two-block realignment of University Drive. The roadway continues to be called University Drive both north and south of the new boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

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: City of Fairfax Veterans Amphitheater (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mosby’s Midnight Raid (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Battle of the Bulge (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Legato School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fairfax Court House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Joshua Gunnell House (approx. 0.6 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.

Another marker is no longer nearby. First Confederate Officer Killed (was approx. half a mile away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. George Mason Boulevard, the 2009 realignment of University Drive, was cut through the Eleven Oaks School property after the school was razed.

Also see . . . African American Education in the Town/City of Fairfax (pdf file)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 20, 2010

2. Fairfax Rosenwald School Marker

. The Fare Facs Gazette, Winter 2006 (Submitted on March 29, 2016.)

Site of the Fairfax Rosenwald School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 20, 2010

3. Site of the Fairfax Rosenwald School

Marker is difficult to see in this photo. It is to the right of the stop sign.

City of Fairfax image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 7, 2018

4. City of Fairfax

Fairfax City Seal on the Fairfax Rosenwald School Marker.

Julius Rosenwald image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

5. Julius Rosenwald

From Bertie Charles Forbes Men Who are Making America, 1917.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,400 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 4, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on August 3, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.