Lincoln School

The Lincoln School, located at 1400 E. Pony Thomas Street in West Plains, is a treasured landmark that once served as the only educational option for Black students in the region during segregation. On January 29, 2025, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places—a milestone in honoring its 100-year legacy.

Thanks to the vision and dedication of local residents Crockett and Tonya Oaks, the school has been fully restored and reimagined as a vibrant cultural center through the Lincoln School Project. Inside, history meets art in powerful ways. A stunning stained-glass installation by Heather Legler filters light across original hardwood floors. The mural Just Kids by Paul Jones reimagines Lincoln School recess in the 1940s, while Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo’s dramatic piece, By God’s Grace, anchors the space with color and emotion.

Adding to the experience, antique desks have been transformed into works of art by renowned creators, including Tammy Schultz, Cbabi Bayoc, Charly Palmer, Jessie Ujazi, Solomon Thurman and Ogunwo. Each painted desk reflects stories of heritage, struggle and triumph—honoring the past while inspiring the future.

Also on the site is Reflection Plaza, a sacred space of remembrance and reverence, located on the historic grounds of the school. Created to honor the lives and legacies of those who taught, learned, and lived in the segregated community once known as “The Hill,” the plaza stands as a permanent tribute to resilience, dignity and the enduring spirit of Black education in the rural Ozarks.