Preserving a Cornerstone of Black Cultural History
In a powerful act of cultural preservation, the childhood home of Nina Simone — the legendary singer, pianist, and civil rights voice — has been fully restored in Tryon, North Carolina. The project was led by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and supported by artists and philanthropists who recognize the importance of honoring Black artistic heritage.
Originally built in the early 1900s, the modest house where Simone (born Eunice Waymon) lived from 1933 to 1937 had fallen into disrepair and was at risk of being lost to time. The restoration — completed in late 2025 — revives the 650-square-foot structure with historically accurate materials and details. It will serve as a cultural landmark and future public space celebrating Simone’s artistry and influence.
A Legacy Worth Protecting
Simone’s music was both beautiful and bold — blending jazz, blues, and gospel while addressing racial injustice with fearless clarity. Scholars, artists, and community leaders hailed the restoration as an act of historic justice, saying that preserving physical spaces tied to Black excellence helps anchor cultural memory and community pride.
“We choose what we honor,” said one Action Fund leader. “And preserving this home affirms her rightful place in America’s artistic and cultural landscape.”
The site is expected to open to the public as part of a broader creative district by 2027, where visitors can learn about Simone’s early life and the community that shaped her extraordinary voice.
Why It Matters
Uptown Sunday celebrates stories that honor Black history in the world we live in today. Saving Nina Simone’s childhood home is more than a preservation project — it’s an acknowledgment that spaces where Black greatness began deserve to be protected, remembered, and shared with future generations.
