Backed in Part By The Ford Foundation, Nina Simone’s Childhood Home Named a National Treasure by National Trust
Nina Simone is truly one of my great inspirations in life. Through grace, beauty, hard work, and perseverance she became an integral part of spreading the Civil Rights Movement across the country through her music and activism. Originally from Tyron, North Carolina, the home where Nina learned how to play the piano was named a National Treasure by the National Trust today.
Recently purchased by four black artists to maintain Simone’s legacy, this now-vacant yet nationally significant property serves as an ever-existing legacy connected to Nina Simone and her impact on black excellence. This campaign is backed through the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, an initiative with the Ford Foundation and actress Phylicia Rashad to “uplift stories of African American achievement, activism, and community.”
“Nina Simone’s distinctive voice and social critique in the mid-20th century was unlike anything America had ever heard before,” said Stephanie Meeks, president, and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “And while her musical and social justice legacy burns bright, her childhood home has been neglected. We’re delighted to work with the home’s new owners and the local community to chart a new future for the property that will honor her tremendous...