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Shumla was established in 1882 as a section station on the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. It was named for a Turkish fort in the Balkans that was surrounded by hills much like those found near the Shumla School. At a site just 1 mile east of the Shumla School, east meets west. The railroad tracks from the east and the tracks from the west were ceremoniously connected at this location by a silver spike on January 12, 1883. All that remains today of the once bustling community of Shumla are memories and an inoperative railroad depot and section house. SHUMLA is also an acronym for what we do - education through Studying Human Use of Materials, Land, and Art. Combined with hands-on learning, people that attend our programs discover the flexibility, ingenuity, and teamwork that their ancestors brought to the problem of survival. The Shumla School's goal is to empower children and adults to take responsibility for their social and natural environment and begin to bridge the cultural, social, and economic gaps that mark our society today. We are truly more alike than we are different, and by celebrating our similarities, we can learn to better appreciate and respect our differences. Recognizing the importance of our mission, Jack and Missy Harrington of Comstock, Texas, made their Shumla Ranch available for the establishment of the School. Located about 50 miles west of Del Rio, our 1600 acre campus features a large covered pavilion complete with kitchen and shower house. The major activities of the School include adult and youth education programs that embrace a hands-on, learning-by-doing approach to teaching. Programs focus upon the cultural and ecological resources present within this archeological heartland of Texas. In the region surrounding the Shumla School there are more than two hundred rockshelters, many of these rockshelters house elaborately painted murals that are over four thousand years old. The broad expanse of undeveloped land surrounding the School makes this site well suited for instruction and innovative studies in archeology, ecology, natural history, prehistoric lifeways, and art. Students of all ages study local plants and their uses, make stone tools, baskets, and replicate prehistoric paint using locally available resources. They study local geology, history, Native American lifeways, and much more. Since completion of our facilities in November 2003, we have provided educational programs to over 2,000 children from Del Rio and Eagle Pass and 750 adults from around the world. None of this would have been possible if it had not been for the generous giving of time, talent, and finances by so many within our community. For this, we will be always grateful. If you are interested in participating in Shumla School activities, either as a volunteer or as a student, visit our website at www.shumla.org or call our office at 432-292-4848. Watch for the Shumla Drumbeat monthly! We will keep you updated on all the Shumla news.