George Washington Carver National Monument is pleased to announce the park’s annual Carver Day celebration, to be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This special event honors the life of George Washington Carver and the establishment of the national monument created in his memory. This year marks the 82nd anniversary of Carver’s passing and the subsequent creation of the park on July 14, 1943—the first national monument dedicated to an African American. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s guest speaker is Michelle Brooks, whose presentation is titled Tuskegee Airmen from Lincoln University. Brooks is the author of Jefferson City Civil Pilots: From Lincoln University to Tuskegee Airmen (2024). Her book uncovers the identities of more than two dozen Lincoln University of Missouri students and professors who played a role in forming the first military aviation corps for Black airmen, known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. For many of them, the journey began in the university’s Civilian Pilot Training Program—the only one west of the Mississippi exclusively for Black pilots.
Music is always a major highlight of Carver Day. This year’s musical performers include Cherry and Jerry, a dynamic duo who will explore the contributions of Black composers through ragtime, blues, jazz, and Broadway. Local church choirs will also be invited to share musical selections throughout the day.
Carver Day is also a time for children to explore the park and connect with the story of the child who was born here more than 150 years ago. Activities will include guided tours, Junior Ranger programs, and more. The Diamond Lions Club will be on hand to provide food concessions.
The celebration honors the African American experience through speakers, storytelling, music, and educational programming. In the spirit of George Washington Carver’s belief in accessible and affordable education, Carver Day—and all park programs—remain free of charge. The event is presented in partnership with the Carver Birthplace Association.
Administered by the National Park Service, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and boyhood home of George Washington Carver—renowned scientist, educator, and humanitarian. The park is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri, on Highway V, then 1/4 mile south on Carver Road.
For more information, please call the park at 417-325-4151 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., visit the park website at www.nps.gov/gwca, or follow the park on Facebook.
