Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, Columbia

The Modjeska Monteith Simkins House is a significant landmark in the history of the civil rights movement. This modest, 1½-story wooden frame house features an L-shaped plan, side-gabled roof, and a shed-roof front porch. Retaining its original wooden weatherboard siding, the house stands as a testament to its historical integrity. Initially constructed on clay brick piers, the foundation's open spaces were later filled in with brick, and the original windows remain intact. Behind the main house, there is a one-story, three-room building of similar construction, likely used as a guest house for visiting civil rights workers, further highlighting the property's historical importance.

While there is an oral tradition suggesting that the house predates the Civil War, it is more likely that the house was built around 1900. The Simkins family moved into the house in 1932, and it became the lifelong home of Modjeska Monteith Simkins, a prominent social activist from a young age. Throughout her career, Simkins collaborated with notable civil rights leaders and NAACP lawyers, including Thurgood Marshall, who often stayed at her home. Her tireless efforts in education, public health, and human rights advocacy earned her the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, before her passing in 1992.

Today, the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House serves as more than a historical monument; it is an active meeting space for those dedicated to improving the lives of underrepresented citizens in the community. This ongoing use reflects Simkins' enduring legacy of activism and community engagement. The house not only commemorates her significant contributions to the civil rights movement but also continues to inspire and facilitate contemporary social justice efforts.