Honoring a Legacy: Mecklenburg County, Alumni Foundation Celebrate Second Ward High School’s 100th Anniversary

Residents are invited to join Mecklenburg County and the Second Ward High School Alumni Foundation on July 15 for Tiger Day, a free centennial celebration of Charlotte’s first high school for Black students.

Named for the school’s mascot, Tiger Day is a free and family-friendly event that will honor the legacy and impact of the high school. Community members are invited to Second Ward Gymnasium, the school’s only remaining facility, at 710 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Charlotte, on July 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will enjoy historical exhibits and displays, music, a kids zone with crafts, remarks from local leaders, and a buffet lunch served between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Second Ward High School opened in 1923. It closed in 1969 and was torn down as part of “urban renewal” efforts that effaced Brooklyn, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Second Ward.

“Tiger Day is more than a historic centennial celebration, it’s a remembrance that Second Ward High School teachers made us believe we could do anything,” said County Commissioner Arthur Griffin, a 1966 graduate of the high school. “Come celebrate with us.” 

The event is free, but registration is required. Additional details are also available on the registration page.