The Dixie Schoolhouse is a historic one-room schoolhouse located in San Rafael, Marin County, Northern California. It was built in 1864, in the Victorian Italianate style.
Dixie Schoolhouse | |
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| Location | 2255 Las Gallinas Ave, San Rafael, California |
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| Coordinates | 38°1′45.65″N 122°32′46.29″W / 38.0293472°N 122.5461917°W |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000236 |
| Added to NRHP | December 26, 1972 |
History
editThe school was the project of Irish immigrant and Marin pioneer James Miller.[1] A few traditions attempt to explain why Miller selected the name "Dixie", a nickname for the Southern United States. Some say the schoolhouse was built by Southern carpenters, while others believe the name honors Mary Dixie, a local Indian woman; still others believe that "Dixie" is derived from the French word for "ten".[2]
The school was in use for classes from 1864 until 1958.[3] The Dixie School District (now the Miller Creek Elementary School District) got its name from this first school.[4] The school district changed its name in 2020 after considering the association with the 11 states in the South that seceded from the U.S. to form the Confederacy.[5]
In June 1971,[6] the schoolhouse was moved to its current location, near Miller Creek Middle School, also in San Rafael. It was restored and renovated prior to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[3]
Museum
editThe school is currently preserved by the Old Dixie School Foundation, and is open to the public for visits on the first Sunday of every month from 2-4 P.M.[7]
See also
edit
Gallery
edit-
One-room schoolhouse interior -
Classroom interior -
Classroom interior -
Dixie schoolhouse from the side -
Ornamentation on Dixie schoolhouse -
Dixie Schoolhouse plaque -
Front gate to Dixie Schoolhouse -
Dixie Schoolhouse sign over door
References
edit- ^ Jerry and Catherine, "Old Dixie Schoolhouse", Jerry Graham's more Bay Area backroads, Perennial Library, 1990, p. 14
- ^ "The fight over Dixie: Why does a Marin County school district even have that name?". Marin Independent Journal. January 16, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Roberts, George and Jan, Discover historic California: a travel guide to over 1,800 places you can see, p 46
- ^ Lam, Kristin (February 13, 2019). "Confederate debate: Dixie School District in California votes to keep its name". Ventura County Star. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ Fry, Hannah (February 8, 2019). "A district named Dixie: Marin County schools' name sparks controversy over racism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
- ^ "Old Schoolhouse Starts New Life". San Rafael Daily Independent Journal. June 11, 1971. p. 5. Retrieved February 24, 2020 – via newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ Berg, Sheila, "A Treasure in your Midst? Archived October 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", New Valley Vibration, Lucas Valley Homeowners Association, November 2009, No. 436
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