Washington, Booker T., High School
Why it's listed
Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta was the city's first public high school for Black students, opening in September 1924 after years of lobbying by Black leaders who had supported earlier bond campaigns without receiving a school. Architect Eugene C. Wachendorff designed the four-story reinforced concrete building with brick veneer in a medieval-eclectic style, marked by a five-arch terra cotta entrance and brick corbeled cornice. A 1927 statue of Booker T. Washington by Charles Keck stands at the front, and a 1928 mural by student Wilmer Jennings sits inside the entrance. The school was the only Black high school in Atlanta until 1947, drew students from outside the city, and graduated many professional and civic leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. Charles L. Harper served as its first principal. Additions in 1938 and 1948 completed the original design, while later gymnasium, theater and vocational buildings were added. The school remains in educational use today.
Significance in brief: It was the first public high school for Black students in Atlanta and became an important cultural institution that produced many community leaders. It is also significant for its medieval-style design from Atlanta's 1920s school building program, for a statue of Booker T. Washington by sculptor Charles Keck, and for a 1928 student mural by Wilmer Jennings. The form also credits its first principal, Charles L. Harper.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000437, listed March 18, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 45 Whitehouse Dr. SW, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Eugene C. Wachendorff |
| Architectural style | Medieval-eclectic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Black, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and still in use as a school; condition listed as excellent and altered, with additions made in 1938, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1965 and 1968. |
| Acreage | 21.4 |
| Within district | Washington Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.75344, -84.42174 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.