Booker T. Washington National Monument visitor center expansion under way

LAURIE EDWARDS | Laker Weekly

The Booker T. Washington National Monument's management plan calls for renovating the former Booker T. Washington Elementary School into an education center.

LAURIE EDWARDS | Laker Weekly

Work is under way to expand the Booker T. Washington National Monument visitor center, which will include a 944-square-foot multi-purpose room.

The visitor center at Booker T. Washington National Monument is undergoing an expansion. Carla Whitfield, park superintendent, said the facility, which opened in 1966, is too small to accommodate the park's growing number of visitors.

The expansion will be done in two phases. The first, which began on July 26 and has a 90-day buildout, will be about 1,446 square feet. Whitfield said it will include a 944-square-foot multi-purpose room. It can accommodate up to 134 people for special events, meetings and programs. It also will serve as a movie theater.

The current movie theater, which is approximately 534 square feet and has an occupancy of 36, will be converted into exhibit space, said Whitfield. Currently, the visitor center does not have a designated exhibit area. Whitfield said temporary exhibits have been displayed in the lobby, which crowds the area. Giving them a permanent home will be a bonus for visitors, said Whitfield.

"About 90 percent of what visitors learn comes from exhibits," she said. "They get their appreciation for the park and connect with the park through the rangers, but the information they retain comes from exhibits."

The first phase is made possible by a $500,000 appropriation introduced in Congress by former 5th District Rep. Virgil Goode.

The second phase can't begin until an additional $500,000 is secured, said Whitfield. The expansion will include additional office space for park rangers. It also will allow the park's library to be relocated from the maintenance facility.

Whitfield said the park's management plan calls for additional projects. After the visitor center expansion is complete, the next big project will involve the former Booker T. Washington Elementary School.

The Franklin County School Board donated the school to the park in 1973. It is used by the park's administrative and maintenance offices. Whitfield said the management plan calls for new, separate facilities constructed for the two departments. The estimated cost is $450,000.

Whitfield said relocating the maintenance department would make the school grounds more attractive. Keeping it separate from the administrative department is a health issue because of chemicals used by maintenance workers.

The school would be renovated at a cost of about $208,000 and converted into a learning center.

"We want to return it to its former glory of being an education center," said Whitfield.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the visitor center expansion will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.

For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/bowa.