Renewed Effort to Restore Historic R.F. Hardin School in Brownwood

Community leaders aim to transform the former segregation-era school into a museum and cultural center

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:45pm

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The historic R.F. Hardin school in Brownwood, Texas, which first opened in 1918 as the Brownwood Colored High School, is the focus of a renewed restoration effort led by local officials and community members. The goal is to transform the building into a museum and cultural center to preserve and share the school's rich history. Fundraising is underway to rebuild windows, recreate original doors, and provide a new roof, with the ultimate aim of fully restoring the stone structure.

Why it matters

The R.F. Hardin school is a significant piece of Brownwood's history, representing both the injustices of segregation as well as the resilience and achievements of the African American community during that era. Restoring the building and turning it into a museum will help preserve this important legacy and educate future generations about the African American experience in the region.

The details

The Brownwood Colored High School opened in 1918, later becoming R.F. Hardin High School and then R.F. Hardin Elementary School before closing in 1966 in compliance with the Civil Rights Act. The building then housed Head Start and other community programs through the 1980s. Now, a renewed effort led by City Council member Draco Miller and Rufus Hardin Heritage Center Board President Hank Hunter aims to fully restore the stone structure and transform it into a museum with exhibits, artifacts, and educational programming to tell the school's history.

  • The Brownwood Colored High School opened in 1918.
  • The school later became R.F. Hardin High School and then R.F. Hardin Elementary School.
  • The school closed in 1966 in compliance with the Civil Rights Act.
  • Head Start and other community programs used the building from 1966 to 1975, and through the 1980s.
  • The current restoration effort was launched in the mid-1990s by the school's alumni.

The players

Draco Miller

A Brownwood City Council member and president of ROC (Revitalizing Our Community).

Hank Hunter

President of the Rufus Hardin Heritage Center Board of Directors, who has been a driving force behind the restoration effort since the mid-1990s.

Rufus F. Hardin Heritage Center

A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic R.F. Hardin school and sharing the history and experiences of African Americans in the region.

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What they’re saying

“You have literally stepped into history.”

— Draco Miller, Brownwood City Council member

“There is so much history that happened here. The reason it's here is not good because segregation was not right. But what happened in here during those years was a whole lot of good, a whole lot of care and love.”

— Hank Hunter, President, Rufus Hardin Heritage Center Board of Directors

“We are here to breathe life into a lifeless building that lived for decades and decades and decades. We are here to finally revitalize the R.F. Hardin school that started off as the high school and then an elementary school, and then essentially a community center with Head Start.”

— Draco Miller, Brownwood City Council member

What’s next

The Rufus Hardin Heritage Center board will soon announce a date for the community to tour the school, view a recently restored window, and learn more about the restoration plans. The organization is also seeking personal memories, stories, and memorabilia related to the school to incorporate into the future museum exhibits.

The takeaway

The restoration of the historic R.F. Hardin school represents an important effort to preserve and share the African American history and experiences in Brownwood. By transforming the former segregation-era school into a museum and cultural center, the community can honor the past while also fostering greater understanding and appreciation for this significant chapter in the region's history.