After the American Civil War the Freeman's Bureau was tasked with educating the newly freed black children.

[2] After the school's closure, the building was bought by local gangster Frank "Screw" Andrews.

In 1985, The Southgate Street School was listed as a contributing property to the Mansion Hill Historic District.

Museum displays remind visitors of school life in the early twentieth century.

This project was initiated by Scott Clark, Newport's Historic Preservation officer and students from Northern Kentucky University's Master of Public History Program.