Modjeska Monteith Simkins House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
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Modjeska Simkins House, c. 2020
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2025 Marion St., Columbia, South Carolina |
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| Built | c. 1890–1900 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000263 |
| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1994 |
The Modjeska Monteith Simkins House is a very important place in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. This house belonged to Modjeska Monteith Simkins, a brave leader who fought for equal rights. It is located at 2025 Marion Street in Columbia, South Carolina. On March 25, 1994, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special place worth protecting.
What the House Looks Like
The house sits on a plot of land about 50 feet wide and 172 feet long. It is a simple, one-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a front porch where people could relax.
The outside of the house still has its original wooden siding. The roof is covered with asphalt shingles. The house has three chimneys made of brick. The top half-story of the house was used for storage.
The windows look like they are the original ones. The front of the house has two windows on each side of the main door. The front door is made of wood and has small windows above and beside it. The porch covers the door and two windows.
Inside, the house has a main hallway in the middle. There is a living room and a bedroom at the front. Two more bedrooms are located at the back. Each of these four rooms has a fireplace. The original floor was replaced with wooden pine boards.
Later, a bathroom was added to the back of the house. In the 1960s, iron bars were put on the windows for safety.
Behind the main house, there is another small building. It has three rooms and was probably built around the same time. This building was likely used as a guest house. It provided a place for civil rights workers to stay when they visited.
History of the House
People believe the house was built around 1900. The Simkins family moved into this house in 1932.
After Modjeska Simkins passed away in 1992, the house was empty for a while. In 1995, a group called the Collaborative for Community Trust worked to save the house. They raised money to buy it. They also received help from the state of South Carolina and the City of Columbia.
The goal was to turn the house into a museum about Modjeska Simkins and her important work. It also became a headquarters for their organization. Other groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation also helped.
Today, the Historic Columbia Foundation manages the house. It is not always open for tours, but groups can arrange to visit.
Why This House is Important
This house was more than just a home for Modjeska Simkins. It was also her private office. It was a safe place for civil rights workers to stay.
Modjeska Simkins made a huge difference in the fight for equal rights. One of her most important contributions was her work on the Briggs v. Elliott case. This case was a big part of the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision. That decision said that having separate public schools for children of different races was unfair and against the law.
Famous civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall even stayed at this house. At the time, many hotels would not allow African-Americans to stay. So, Modjeska Simkins' home became a safe haven for him and others working for justice.
A special historical marker has been placed at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House. It helps people remember Modjeska Simkins and other important African American historic sites in Columbia.
