The city of San Marcos is preparing to further restore the Dunbar neighborhood and celebrate the community’s history. Phase 2 of the historic Dunbar School Home Economics Building’s restoration has been completed.
The overview
The Dunbar School Home Economics Building’s rededication ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. May 12 at 801 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in San Marcos. Community members may park at the Dunbar Recreation Center. The Home Economics Building is the last remaining building from the former Dunbar School campus, according to a San Marcos news release.
The building stands as a reminder of the area’s history and the community members who shaped the Dunbar neighborhood. Its preservation ensures the building will withstand the test of time.
“This building means a great deal to our community,” Alison Brake, San Marcos historic preservation officer, said in the news release. “Restoring it is about more than preserving an old structure. It’s about honoring the people connected to this place and making sure their stories continue to be told.”
Phase 1 of the restoration project was completed in May 2024, according to the news release. The scope of the work included stabilizing the building’s pier-and-beam foundation.
The project’s second phase began in September 2025 and consisted of replacing the existing metal roof and the missing or severely deteriorated wood siding, according to the news release. Window repairs were made as well.
The restoration weatherproofed the building and secured the structure from further deterioration. The project was funded in part by a $150,000 Partners in Preservation grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to the news release.
Looking back
The Dunbar School Home Economics Building was originally constructed as a school for white students during the Jim Crow era, according to the news release. It was later relocated around 1930 to serve San Marcos’ African American community and became part of what would be known as Dunbar School, named after Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1961.
Born in 1872, Dunbar was an established black author from Dayton, Ohio, according to the city of San Marcos. He graduated from high school in 1891 and devoted himself to literature and journalism. The school board voted to change the school’s name to the Dunbar School in 1961.
The campus became part of Dunbar Park in 1964 after integration. The Home Economics Building was the only remaining structure from the school following a 1987 fire.
San Marcos launched a new initiative in 2026 to honor the places and people significant to the history of the Dunbar neighborhood. The Dunbar History Walk will be installed in Dunbar Park and feature markers honoring individuals important to the area’s history.
Community members had the opportunity to nominate honorees. The markers will be installed this fall, and new markers will be added annually.
