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Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

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Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

Built between 1890 and 1895, this one-story cottage was home to Modjeska Monteith Simkins, one of South Carolina's greatest human rights advocates, from 1932 until her death on April 5, 1992. Today visitors learn about her pivotal role in the long civil rights movement through the multimedia exhibit, “An Advocate of the People."

  • Times & Tickets

    Tours of the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House are available as part of the Journey to Freedom Combined Tour: 
    Wednesday – Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. 

    ** Historic Columbia will be closed on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The Gift Shop will be closed and no tours will be offered on this day.


    Tickets may be purchased in advance online up until midnight the day prior to the tour, OR tickets may be purchased the day of the tour at the Robert Mills Gift Shop. All tours begin at the Robert Mills Gift Shop, 1616 Blanding Street; please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Tours are guided and last approximately 75 minutes.

  • Location

    2025 Marion Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    All tours begin at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills. 

  • Resources

    Learn more about the life and work of Modjeska Monteith Simkins here. 

History

From a young age, Modjeska Monteith Simkins practiced social activism. Her career involved working with local and national civil rights leaders and NAACP lawyers such as Thurgood Marshall, who stayed at her home. Simkins' efforts in the realm of education, public health, and human rights led her to receive the Order of the Palmetto-the State of South Carolina's highest honor-before her death in 1992.

Today, her former residence continues to be a meeting space for people committed to improving the lives of the most underrepresented citizens in the community.

Photo Gallery

  • Organize Wall at Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

  • Resist exhibit at Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

  • Rise up exhibit at Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

  • Letter Wall at Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

Virtual Tour

Take a virtual tour of "Modjeska Monteith Simkins: An Advocate of the People" and learn more about the life of one of South Carolina’s greatest human rights advocates.

National Park ServiceThis material was produced with assistance from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

 

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Historic Columbia

© 2023 Historic Columbia

Administrative Offices
1601 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Tours
All historic house and garden tours start at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
1616 Blanding Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

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