African American and Afro-Indigenous people were among the earliest settlers in Indian Territory. In the first half of the 20th century L’Ouverture was the school attended by African Amercian students in McAlester beginning in 1908. In 1968, the 115 high school students integrated with McAlester High School. The school sits on a prominent hill in the southeast part of town and features buildings from different eras.
The gymnasium/auditorium was constructed in 1933 by the Civil Works Authority and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. It featured an arched roof and art deco motifs typical of the WPA style of buildings. The gymnasium walls appear solid, but the roof has collapsed in parts over the last few years.
The rest of the school was demolished in 1952 and a new, mid-century school took its place. It is a long, L-shaped, red brick building and is directly to the east of the gymnasium. This building featured modern classrooms and a new auditorium. The school was used as an alternative school for several years but has sat vacant for over ten years. Windows have been smashed, graffiti can be found down the halls, and vegetation is finding its way indoors.
There are plans to preserve the building for future generations. Graduates of the class of 1965 purchased the building in 2014 and renamed it L’Ouverture Historical Center. A nonprofit organization is being established by graduates and there are plans to update the National Register listing to include the now-eligible addition