Marian Costner Selby Peace Garden
Marian Costner Selby Peace Garden
On May 18, 2025, hundreds of guests celebrated the joyous ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Marian Costner Selby Peace Garden on the fifth floor of Meridian High School in Falls Church, VA. Marian Costner Selby was the first African American student to attend George Mason High School in 1961 and the first Black graduate in 1964. The inside and outside of the garden tell her life story, as well as the history of segregation and integration in the United States, Virginia, and Falls Church. Marian’s story challenges students to learn from the past and do better in the future. Elements in the exhibit are designed to make the garden a welcoming place for all students to experience a moment of peace in their busy days.
In his remarks, Superintendent Peter Noonan said, “When FCCPS renamed the high school from George Mason to Meridian High School, we made a promise to the community that we would not just change the name but we would educate our community on our history as we strive to make Falls Church the most equitable place possible,” Superintendent Noonan said to launch the ribbon-cutting ceremony…. “And this garden, and naming it after you, Marian, is part of that promise.”
Marian Costner Selby Peace Garden elements include:
- A Path of Her Own, a 10 x 14.5 ft. mural by local artist Asia Anderson, depicts Selby’s determined yet isolated walk to school.
- Life-size steel silhouette of teenage Marian Costner Selby
- History panels that tell her story through words and photographs
- Sunflower window decals using images from the mural
- New park benches and a table
- Sedum green roof plantings
- Cedar planter boxes made by Meridian High School teacher and students
▶️ Watch the video recording of the ribbon-cutting ceremony here.
