Pembroke High School, Former
Also known as: Indian Education Resource Center
Why it's listed
Pembroke High School is a symmetrical one-story brick school in Pembroke, North Carolina, completed in 1939 with Public Works Administration funds. Its central entrance leads to a hallway, east and west classroom wings, and an auditorium block extending from the north side. The walls are common-bond brick trimmed with sandstone, and the original nine-over-nine wooden windows survive. It was built for Native American students in Robeson County, where Lumbee children had long been schooled separately and often without adequate facilities. The county school board began planning in 1936, construction started in 1938, and classes opened in the fall of 1939. The first class graduated in 1940. It served as a high school until 1968, then as a middle school, and was abandoned by the school system in 1991. After community concern over vandalism and decay, volunteers and community service workers renovated it in 1992. It now houses the Indian Education Resource Center, with exhibits of Native American artifacts, art galleries, and classroom instruction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for Education and Ethnic Heritage (Native American). It was built to house a high school for the Lumbee and other Native American students of Robeson County after decades of educational neglect. It now serves the Indian Education Resource Center, which preserves Native American history and culture and keeps the building in community use.
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 95001071, listed September 1, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of the jct. of Hwy. 711 and NC 1561, Pembroke |
|---|---|
| County | Robeson County |
| Listed | September 1, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001071 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1945 |
| Architectural style | Other: WPA School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Native American |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as the Indian Education Resource Center, leased from the Robeson County Board of Education, after a volunteer renovation in late 1992 following years of vacancy. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.68623, -79.20425 (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 95001071.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19817702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.