National Register
Bullion Plaza School
Gila County, AZ
Listed: 01/04/2001
The Bullion Plaza School is being nominated to the National Register under Criterion A, for its association with the history of Mexican Americans and school segregation in Arizona, and Criterion C, as an example of late Neo classical Revival architecture in public buildings in Miami. Segregation of Mexican-American students was a common practice in Arizona schools from the early decades of the 1900s until the early 1950s precisely the period during which Bullion Plaza School served as a segregated school for Miami's Mexican-American children. The school also is representative of "Mexican schools" because of its configuration and operation as a vocational training center, which school administrators at the time thought was needed for Mexican-American students because of their supposed inability to perform well in traditional scholastic subjects.
Unfortunately, the history of the segregation of Mexican-American students is not well known, and there are few properties in Arizona on the National Register commemorating this important aspect of the state's ethnic history. This omission can be remedied by placing this building on the National Register. Given the rarity of other Mexican-American school buildings on the Register, the Bullion Plaza School is historically significant at the state level.
As an example of Neo-Classical Revival architecture, the Bullion Plaza School is significant at the local level. Only two of the existing buildings in Miami are in this style (the other is the Miami YMCA), and none is currently listed on the National Register. Architect-designed buildings were rare in Miami during the period when the Bullion Plaza School was constructed, and buildings that were executed in a recognized architectural style were even rarer. As a result, this Neo-Classical building has exerted a marked influence on the town's built environment that should be recognized through listing on the National Register.
Bullion Plaza School
Gila County, AZ
Listed: 01/04/2001
The Bullion Plaza School is being nominated to the National Register under Criterion A, for its association with the history of Mexican Americans and school segregation in Arizona, and Criterion C, as an example of late Neo classical Revival architecture in public buildings in Miami. Segregation of Mexican-American students was a common practice in Arizona schools from the early decades of the 1900s until the early 1950s precisely the period during which Bullion Plaza School served as a segregated school for Miami's Mexican-American children. The school also is representative of "Mexican schools" because of its configuration and operation as a vocational training center, which school administrators at the time thought was needed for Mexican-American students because of their supposed inability to perform well in traditional scholastic subjects.
Unfortunately, the history of the segregation of Mexican-American students is not well known, and there are few properties in Arizona on the National Register commemorating this important aspect of the state's ethnic history. This omission can be remedied by placing this building on the National Register. Given the rarity of other Mexican-American school buildings on the Register, the Bullion Plaza School is historically significant at the state level.
As an example of Neo-Classical Revival architecture, the Bullion Plaza School is significant at the local level. Only two of the existing buildings in Miami are in this style (the other is the Miami YMCA), and none is currently listed on the National Register. Architect-designed buildings were rare in Miami during the period when the Bullion Plaza School was constructed, and buildings that were executed in a recognized architectural style were even rarer. As a result, this Neo-Classical building has exerted a marked influence on the town's built environment that should be recognized through listing on the National Register.