Two Garland sites tied to Black community—Sims Chapel and The Flats—approved for Texas Historical Markers

Students at the Garland Colored School in The Flats

Sims Chapel Missionary Baptist Church is Garland's oldest site for Black worship

The Texas Historical Commission has approved Texas Historical Markers for two important Garland sites—The Flats and Sims Chapel Missionary Baptist Church—for 2025. Both of these Garland sites were nominated (and are being fully funded by) by Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street. They are two among six markers the THC approved for Dallas County and 123 statewide.

The Sims Chapel marker will recognize Garland's oldest house of worship (founded in 1915) for the Black community. The Flats marker recognizes the early residential/business/educational district for Garland's Black community.

The markers will be 27 x 42-inches and will be pole-mounted and installed in appropriate spots when they return from the foundry.

These two are among four Garland markers that have been awarded to Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street in the organization's history. The state marker for the Travis College Hill Historic District was installed in 2015 on 11th Street in front of Garland's Historic Pace House. The state marker honoring the Manuel and Maria Valle Family, Garland's first Latino family of record, was installed in 2023 on Avenue C at Santa Fe.

The Flats was a free-standing area with its own houses, businesses, school, and church that existed in the early half of the last century during days of racial segregation. It occupied an area in downtown Garland that is now home to the Granville Arts Center and the city hall complex, among other structures. It was the subject of an original musical drama, "The Flats: Cradle of a Community", produced by Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street in April 2024. It was performed to a sell-out audience in The Atrium, the original site of the Garland Colored School.

Sims Chapel, which observes its 110th anniversary next weekend, originated on Roosevelt Street in Garland's west end. The congregation in 1969 moved to its present site on Parker Drive. It began with nine congregants and continues to be a pillar in Garland's religious scene.

Installation will occur on appropriate locations in the future; more details to follow.