Pullen Park pool protest in 1962 challenged segregation in Raleigh

In 1962 four Black teenagers and two White friends entered the Pullen Park pool in Raleigh, prompting a temporary closure; the city reopened pools in 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 integrated public facilities.

The outdoor swimming pool at Raleigh's Pullen Park no longer exists and is marked by a plaque that recounts its Jim Crow–era history. In the summer of 1962, four Black teenagers and two White friends entered the Pullen Park pool, which had been reserved for White people for decades. Their presence drew an immediate reaction from other parkgoers and officials, and the pool was closed that day. The incident took place amid wider struggles over integrating public pools and facilities in North Carolina in the early 1960s. Key facts: - In summer 1962 four Black teenagers, joined by two White companions, entered the Pullen Park pool and remained in the water for about 45 minutes while others reacted around the pool. - An announcement ordered Black people and their friends to leave the pool because it was designated for White patrons, and a photograph from the day shows NAACP member Percy High leaving under official supervision. - City officials responded by closing both the Pullen Park and John Chavis Memorial Park pools; the pools were drained and left empty after the incident. - In February 1963 the Raleigh City Council voted 5-2 to reopen all city pools to the public. - The Civil Rights Act of 1964 then integrated public city facilities, and the Pullen Park pool site is now commemorated with a plaque. - Individuals who recalled the episode include Herman Hinton, a Black competitive swimmer who trained at Chavis, and Ray Raphael, a White teenager who helped the group buy tickets and later said he felt they were on the right side of history. Summary: The Pullen Park pool episode brought local attention to segregated recreation and prompted an immediate municipal response, including temporary pool closures and later a council vote to reopen pools in 1963. Federal civil rights legislation in 1964 then integrated public facilities, and the former pool site is now marked by a plaque noting its place in Raleigh's civil rights history.