Unfortunately we came across this gem on a Sunday so it was closed.We did walk around the building, felt the vibes. We read some of the informational signs and looked at the beautiful mural across the street.From the other reviews it seems to be a very educational and life changing experience.It felt very honorable to be in the place of such an important aspect to our country’s history.Hope to see the inside one day

Absolutely fantastic place. So much history and to even walk down these famous halls. Especially being an educator, I put on my teacher lens and thought about all of the children. We spoke to an amazing park ranger named Dexter who met some of these famous individuals in the pictures. Be sure to ask for him. Wonderful place.

Very inspirational site to visit. Even though it was closed it was definitely worth seeing!!

Really would have liked to see inside, but being on the grounds was inspiring. There is a beautiful mural here as well.

We took our two young boys to this museum today, and the content, layout, and informative guides blew us away. Of special note, the first two rangers we came across were Joan and Dexter. Joan greeted us outside, gave us a bit of background of Brown v. Board and explained what wed see inside. Once inside, Dexter took over and did an outstanding job of helping us not just understand things by imagining things, but he made things relatable. He has a gift of explaining and teaching, and Im walking away from this experience hungry to learn more and really processing the content of this site and the words of Dexter.This site is a true treasure, and I will be recommending all my friends and family to come see it and really spend some good time here. My family and I were here for about two hours, but I would have loved to have spend a lot more time here (With two small children, their attention span was waning.) ;) Thanks Dexter! You made our day by taking the time to talk with us, and we are looking forward to the good, but hard, conversations our family can begin having with each other because of it.

I have a hard time rating this accurately because its such an important historical site, but unfortunately it was closed to the public for COVID so we werent able to go inside, but rather just able to walk around and read the few signs outside.

I was sad the building was closed, but still moving nonetheless to walk on the grounds. Given the current climate were in, even more powerful and meaningful

A good place to pay your respects -- to the never-ending quest for equality for all -- if youre in the neighborhood. The pivotal Brown v. Board of Ed case began here in 1951 at Monroe School, where black students were sent in Topeka’s segregated school system. Monroe, built in 1926, is well cared-for by the National Park Service, with several sober displays in former classrooms, and the auditorium. It’s conventional stuff, but it never hurts to be reminded of how our society got where it is. The staff was friendly and attentive.

Incredibly eye opening visit. Learned a lot in a short time and the ranger Dexter was by far and away the most engaging person i have met at any national park. If hes there make sure to take a few minutes to talk to him, adds a lot to the experience

This is an important site for America’s history. There is lots of information about segregation here, but the information on the actual Brown case was a bit light. The ranger was friendly and the Junior Ranger book was well done.

Amazing! Wonderful preservation of such an important piece of history. Will definitely be back.

A great experience of the journey toward equality for black and brown folks in the U.S. Please give yourself an hour to see this place if you have a strong sense of this history or give yourself more time to dive in to the history that might have been missing in your social studies class.Everyone here was super friendly and helpful!

The only national park thats fully open right now! Very informative. Great guides and rangers.

This historic site is a great way to spend an afternoon. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the exhibits are very well done and highly interesting. Little kids might not be super keen, but if you grab a junior ranger booklet and do the activities as your walk through, it can be a fun journey for the whole family.

Learning our history is so important and being able to be in the actual school that such a landmark case was decided is amazing. This is a must see if you are in Topeka. The school is in immaculate condition and the staff are very knowledgeable and engaging.

Great bit of history

Very moving exhibit. Well done and the rangers were extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter. Would definitely recommend for those who like historical events and/or support our National Park Units.

The exhibits at this site are very well-done and display such an important part of American history. I would highly recommend a visit to this site even if youre just passing through on I-70. Well worth the visit.

Only had a few minutes while passing through Topeka to visit this famous historical site. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time here. Just happened to be the103rd birthday at the National Park service :-)

If you are American and love America then go here.

Very educational. Definitely recommend stopping by of you have an extra hour or so

Fantastic experience and it is free! This site led to one of the most important human rights victories! Tour guides were helpful and facilities were clean.

This was a wonderful yet insightful tour. Ranger Spencer and her staff were so knowledgeable and gave our group an in depth account of the Brown decision and how it has impacted integration. I was very impressed and grateful for the opportunity to be in the presence of a school that was part of such a landmark decision that changed Black America.The school has been well preserved with lots of historic timelines for those who are self guided.

Wondering, enlightening, and rewarding experience. Thank you Dexter for being a wonderful guide.

Well kept, educational, historical site. Worth a visit.

Predation Webb is an excellent park ranger! Gave us a great starting tour, also time to be alone and explore on our own time. Being able to take in all this history, seeing it in person is impressive.Worth stopping and seeing !Thanks Preston!

Self-guided tour. Helpful and knowledgeable greeter. Wish wed had more time to spend here today. Well definitely return!

Amazing experience. Really humbling. Small place with small exhibits, so it was perfect for a family traveling with kids. The Ranger was so kind to the kids and talked to them about their Jr ranger badge to make sure they knew and understood what happened here. Gave my kids a chance to see injustice and hopefully develop some empathy, even though we dont live in a diverse community.

March 2020. The museum provides a very clear historical perspective and judiciary timeline without too much technicality. Must see. Loved it.

Fascinating museum, with interesting and educational exhibits. Any guests from out of town would absolutely love a trip here.

This is a thoughtfully curated collection that helps put the landmark case into the broader context of the struggle that has spanned 400 years. The combination of artifacts, historical footage, dramatic recreations (film), and documents doesn’t overwhelm - but it’s a powerful learning experience. The interpretive staff are knowledgeable and very helpful, really enriching the experience. Thank you!

Wasnt able to be there for that long, but Ill definitely be coming back. In the short time I was there, I learned a lot; our tour guide Dexter was very informative and encouraged us to think in depth about what was going on and why it happened. Very interesting place to visit!

As usual the National Park Service did a great job, in this case with a difficult subject. The movie was very well done and very good at starting a conversation on the subject. The museum was also well presented and left you feeling like you knew more when you left than when you had arrived even if you had thought you were well informed before getting there. Parking could definitely be improved.

The National Park Service outdid itself again with a well executed interactive site with an engaging introductory film highlighting the history of segregation. The kindergarten room was open and showcased early childhood education. Two other rooms highlighted several decades showing the persistence and dedication of civil rights activists. Had I explored this park even 5 years ago, I would have thought “thank God we have evolved beyond this” but now know we have still so far to go.

You should visit to learn about the roots.

Well maintained and important site.

I know this is a smaller park so I wasnt expecting much, but I was blown away! The school building itself is beautiful and well restored, the kindergarten classroom is really cool to see how things were when the room was in use, the exhibit rooms were amazing! I teared up walking through and reading some of the information. The exhibits go through the history of segregation, which is horrible, but very interesting to see. The ranger was very kind and accommodating and you could tell she really cared about the site and the information there. This is a fantastic place to visit if you are in the area, and if you arent in the area it is with going out of your way to visit! Even my small children were interested. The kindergarten room, in addition to being informative, has blocked and other toys that the students would have used that children visiting can play with. The gift shop has lots of interesting books about segregation, Jim Crow, and Brown v. Board.

This is a powerful and beautiful museum. Our guide was so informative. I wish I had more time there.

It’s is a beautifully maintained building! Probably the two National Park Rangers who greeted us as we walked in Dexter ( Tuskegee alum) and his co-worker (Baylor alum) made our stop EXCEPTIONAL! They love what they do and helping individuals see the importance of this piece of American History!!! You are able to walk the halls of this once segregated Elementary school and see a bit of history first hand...This is a GREAT stop while in Topeka, KS

Has lots of history that is not taught in Kansas schools

Great site, wish we had more time to explore all the rooms. Its in an old elementary school and each room is setup with a different timeframe relating to civil rights and before/after Brown v Board of education. The rangers were very friendly and informative. You could definitely spend at least 2 hours here and you still wouldnt read everything.

Ranger Dexter was wonderful and so informative. Our tour with him was very enjoyable.

A very well done historic site, with loads of information, more than we had time for! The building itself is lovely and perfectly preserved, and the rangers posted inside were eager to answer questions.Good for a brief visit or a multi-hour in-depth journey, this stop is worth your attention!

Very informative movie. Good film with history of slavery to equality. In an actual old elementary school. Hands in interactive play. National park site. Kids can earn Jr Ranger stamp for National Parks.

I loved our visit here! We walked around the museum and watched the little movie they had and just enjoyed all the interesting history they preserve. I also loved the little gift shop too. This well worth a stop if you are passing through!

People of all ages would benefit from visiting this historic site. Its very important!

It was closed to the public.

Learn everything about the historic Brown Vs Board of Education court decision. The place is stroller and toddler friendly. There is a kindergarten room with small desks and toys for kids to play with. You can see most of everything in an hour or less.Admission is free. There is a gift shop.

My friend and I arrived right at 5 pm so we couldnt enter the building but Dexter was kind enough to sit with us outside and discuss the history of Brown v. Board. He was very knowledgeable and passionate. We will definitely be traveling back to Topeka because of him!

Loved the whole case of Brown vs the board of education. The guides here are amazing and explained the whole case in a very unique fashion through role plays and asking the visitors to prove their stance on different issues.

Very interesting, learn alot I would highly recommend stopping.

Very educational and eye opening. My children had no idea how intense the fight for civil rights were. This was a wonderful experience. Thank you!

This is one of the most powerful and educational sites we have visited with friendly, welcoming staff and excellent exhibits and something for all ages. I wish we had spent far more time there and highly recommend it.

Great place to learn about painful chapters in our nation, which are still unfolding. The park rangers are great with kids and adults.

Excellent presentation on the background and impact of this historical court case that had its origins in this school building. Very well curated, and the staff is knowledeable and helpful.

Well interpreted historically significant site. Easy access in town. The huge grassy area was the football field. The nearby impressive mural was a community effort and warrants close scrutiny.Spend several hours and absorb the whole story.

Historical, accessible, and informative

Very interesting. Great learning experience. Would recommend to anyone to see. Will help give a better understanding of how much further the world could be.

Love it!

This school was amazing. The movie in the gym was really informative.

This is a wonderful National Park Site. They have good displays and timelines, and they really demonstrate how separate-but-equal was not equal at all.

Very informative on what took place in the school systems in the day. My mother was apart of a segregated school growing up so to see what she experience as a little girl is humbling.

Great background information from the ranger. Fascinating look at the Civil Rights struggle.

Really powerful place. Puts into perspective some of the struggles faced by many in our nation. Ranger Dexter gave an unbelievable tour. He was knowledgeable and passionate and presented well. He was very understanding that we had a toddler with us and worked things around that. Thank you Dexter, we appreciate your hard work.

An ever important part of history for all young and old. Dexter was an exceptional guide. 10/10 would highly recommend.

Great place to learn about Black American history. The building is really historical. The video I saw there and all the information I got were touching.

Excellent and informative staff who took extra time with our kids.

Everyone should visit. Dexter did a great job with the tour and the discussion. Well worth the time to go.

EXCELLENT! Everyone who has a public education in this country should go through this well put together and informative historical museum. And then thank the Brown family for going to the lengths they went to so that every child in this country has the opportunity to receive an education!

Loved visiting. We were warmly welcome and given a quick explanation of the exhibits. We earned a lot. If you’re coming with a camper, the parking lot is big enough to park there.

Another example of the National Park Service getting it right. The displays and the material presentation forced you to think about why separate but equal was not good enough. Wish the signage leading to the site was better.

Very informative. Just being in the same school that was segregated was amazing. Seeing the White and Colored sign was deeply felt.

Excellent historical localeVery worthwhile. Forgetting something doesnt make it stop existing, this happened! Never forgetDont forget tissues!

It gave me an eye opener on Black history and what we had to go through and what we endured in those days. So it make me wont to appreciate life and thins more on life then I have been doing.

Informative experience! Dexter was a great guide!

Historical sight in topeka, the school was converted into a museum even if you have no interest in history its worth seeing and experiencing Ive been there a few times

The restrooms were beautiful and each stall had enough space

Nice location close to the state capital, self guided tour with a movie to watch, and if you have a national park passport you can get a stamp

Very educational and really nice tour guide!

Never forget the sacrifices made...

The grounds were immaculately kept which can be a challenge considering its location. I felt like I was in a special place although I didnt get to go in the building itself.

This historic site has been so beautifully preserved. I cannot remember what the exhibit was called but NPS has put together the most immersive and moving exhibit I have ever been in. I dont want to ruin anything for anyone but its a hallway if you go.

Intense. Effective. Powerful.

A wonderful museum with one of the most knowledgable tour guides Ive ever encountered. He not only wanted you to learn the material, but discover it through critical thinking in a way I didnt think possible in a short tour.

My father, Donald Benson and his 2 brothers Richard and William (Gene)can be seen in class pictures at this historical landmark. They attended Monroe School while SCOTUS pondered Separate but Equal and integration in schools. They have really created a very interactive and relatable monument to the struggles of the parents, teachers, and students forever bound to that transitional period that progressed the Civil Rights movement. One small step at a time because one man was brave enough to attach his name to a lawsuit involving many families from parts near and far. Stay vigilant. Were not done. This National Parks historical site one is a fine reminder of how far weve come, but also the way forward. Get involved. Get educated. Get in the way.

A great monument to the struggle for racial equality. The video is a must-watch; very powerful and very informative.

This was surprisingly impressive and quite interesting. I definitely recommend it.

Amazing. Wish everyone could visit this American treasure. Incredible Park staff.

Excellent historical represenration and commemoration to Brown v Board. Saw my brothers classroom photo.

Excellent museum about segregation and integration in US society. Worth a visit.

Cool site. Was a working school till not so long ago.

Closed for covid

Very informative, I did go with a group, so one of the park rangers explained and answered questions.

Ive been here a number of times. This is a Beautiful Historical Place to visit.

Great place to visit for residents and tourist. You must go see for a touch of history right here in Topeka, KS.

It was a great community event. Very diverse multi-cultural event

This place may be small but it is very educational and the workers are very nice

Not classy because it needs to be real. Great staff and the video and interactive learning were wonderful.

Clean. Very historic. Not very busy. Nice displays

This is an amazing national museum. The tour guide was phenomenal and the best thing, its completely free.