Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site in Tuskegee, Alabama, includes the historic campus of Tuskegee Institute. The site is on the campus of what is now Tuskegee University.
Loading the player...George Washington Carver at Tuskegee Institute
African American educator Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in 1881 as a vocational school for blacks. The school had modest beginnings in a dilapidated church and neighboring shanty. Its first class consisted of only 30 students.
As the school’s principal, Washington had three main goals: (1) the development of occupational skills; (2) teacher training; and (3) the personal refinement of his students. He stressed practical experience as the basis of education. Washington believed that learning trades and using them to prosper economically would help African Americans gain civil and political rights. In 1896, black scientist George Washington Carver joined the faculty of the institute as head of the agricultural department. His scientific work there, along with Washington’s leadership, helped win fame and respect for the school.
Despite its humble beginnings, Tuskegee Institute gained the support of wealthy and influential donors. By the time of Washington’s death in 1915, the school had become internationally known. The establishment of the College Department in 1927 shifted some emphasis away from vocational training and enabled students to earn college degrees. In 1985, Tuskegee Institute became Tuskegee University.
Congress established the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site in 1974. The Historic Campus District on the site features early school buildings constructed by the students. Other attractions include the George Washington Carver Museum and The Oaks, the former home of Booker T. Washington. The Carver Museum displays artwork by Carver, as well as scientific items. The site’s Chappie James Museum honors Daniel James, Jr., a Tuskegee student who became the first African American four-star general in United States history.
