Bullion Plaza was opened as a grammar school in 1923.

It now houses the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum.

The main two story-building contains over 20 classrooms and a small theater-auditorium. Bullion is an excellent example of neoclassical architecture reflecting pride and commitment to public education and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed with lightly reinforced, cast-in-place concrete and plaster exterior walls, wood frame first and second floors and a wood frame roof. Interior walls are typically plaster on wood frame. The foundation consists of continuous spread wall footings and isolated pier footings. The construction methods and materials are typical for structures of this age and type.

Bullion Plaza served as a grammar school from 1923 to 1994 when it was closed because of concern that it had fallen into a state of disrepair making it unsuitable for use as a public school.

Bullion was operated most of its lifetime as the town’s “Mexican” school reflecting the segregation pattern which prevailed in many Arizona communities including the public school system. Bullion was desegregated during the 1950-51 school year and began integrating Anglo students into Bullion Plaza.

During its segregated years, the teaching staff consisted only of Anglo teachers. These teachers uniformly reflected an almost missionary sense of devotion to the students. High academic standards and expectations plus strict discipline were the rule of the day. A system of physical punishment was used on students who would forget the “English only” rule. A trip to the principal’s office where the paddling was administered for speaking Spanish and for other infractions was something the students tried to avoid at all costs in those days.

Loyalty to the school and pride in its history remain characteristic hallmarks of its graduates despite the school’s rigid segregation culture.

During World War II the main lobby was occupied by a booth set up by the students where they would eagerly sell “defense stamps”. The volume of defense stamps sold was reflected by stamps pasted over giant-sized posters of Japan’s leader Tojo and Germany’s Adolph Hitler.

Patriotic competition was generated by students’ efforts at covering up those faces with purchases of defense stamps to help the war effort. During those years graduation night would bring out a large number of the town’s residents to share the excitement of the students and their proud parents. The town’s officials would cooperate by putting up road barriers to close off the street fronting the school from car traffic. Folding chairs would fill the street and the overflow crowds would sit along the curbside to witness the graduation ceremonies that were held on the school’s front steps.

While the classrooms have been slightly modified from the original design, the building remains essentially unchanged. A favorite of former student visitors is the Library Room which still contains a colorful mural painted in the late 1930’s by grammar school students Alice Mendez and “Canuto” Hernandez under the watchful guidance of Librarian and art instructor Miss Amber Yocum.

In 1997 the Town of Miami purchased the school from the school district and committed to using it as a cultural center and museum.