Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act

Sponsor: Richard J. Durbin (Democratic-IL)February 25, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

Creates a new National Historical Park and network to honor Julius Rosenwald and historic Black schools.

This bill would create the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park, a new part of the National Park System. It would also set up a national network to connect and share the stories of these historic schools. This means more places for Americans to learn about Julius Rosenwald's legacy and the impact of schools built for African American children in the segregated South.

What Would Change

Today, there is no national park or network specifically dedicated to Julius Rosenwald or the Rosenwald Schools. If this bill passes, it would create a new National Historical Park in Chicago, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia, and launch a national network to connect related sites across the U.S. This would mean more formal recognition and preservation efforts for the schools that educated over 600,000 African American children.

Key Provisions

Creates a new National Historical Park dedicated to Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools, once enough land is acquired.
Requires the National Park Service to manage parts of the new Park, which would include sites in Chicago and Maryland. Other schools in South Carolina and Virginia would be associated with the Park but not directly managed by the National Park Service.
Launches a national network within the National Park Service to link and promote Rosenwald School sites across the country.
Allows the National Park Service to partner with states, cities, and private groups to support educational programs and preserve historic sites.
Adds information about Julius Rosenwald's life to existing exhibits at the Lincoln Home and Tuskegee Institute National Historic Sites.

View on Congress.gov

S 3925 · 119th Congress · February 25, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity