A St. Louis preservation organization is pushing for north St. Louis’ Sumner High School to receive a National Historic Landmark designation through the National Park Service.

Members of Protect, Restore, Forever, Celebrate Sumner Inc., want to preserve Sumner's rich history and legacy because it is the first high school west of the Mississippi River to graduate African American students. Sumner High School has been in existence for 150 years.

“Currently, it is the only African American high school that was built over 100 years ago that's still standing,” said Patricia Murray, co-founder of PRFC Sumner Inc. and a Sumner alum. “That structure at 4248 W. Cottage was built in 1910, so that building is 115 years old; no other African American high school in the country can claim that.”

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