Gadsden State HBCU campus building listed on the Alabama Register of
Landmarks & Heritage

GADSDEN, AL – The Eugene N. Prater Administration Building, located on
Gadsden State Community College’s Valley Street Campus, has been
officially listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage by the
Alabama Historical Commission. The designation was granted on November
19, 2024, recognizing the building’s historical significance to
education and the local community.

Originally constructed in 1965, the Administration Building has served
as a cornerstone for academic and vocational education at the Valley
Street Campus. The groundbreaking ceremony in 1964 was attended by
faculty, staff, students, city and state officials, community
stakeholders, and former Alabama Governor George C. Wallace. Upon its
completion, the building housed the administrative offices on the first
floor, while the second floor accommodated programs such as general
clerical, barbering, tailoring/sewing, and Practical Nursing.

Today, the Eugene N. Prater Administration Building continues to serve
as a vital educational hub. The first floor features the campus lobby
and the HBCU Administrative Office, while the second floor houses the
Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, the Practical Nursing program, a
campus computer lab, faculty offices, a student break room, and the
campus library.

The inclusion of the Eugene N. Prater Administration Building on the
Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage underscores its historical and
cultural importance in Alabama’s educational landscape. Gadsden State
Community College remains committed to preserving its legacy while
continuing to provide quality education and resources to students.

For more information, please contact Ricky Tillis – Valley Street Campus
Director – at rtillis@gadsdenstate.edu or by phone: 256-549-8678.