Nina Simone's Childhood Home Finally Gets Long-Awaited Rehabilitation
The childhood home of legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone has been given a long-awaited makeover. Dr Samuel Waymon, her youngest sibling, was overjoyed to see the home he grew up in with his mother, who also preached at nearby St Luke's CME church, restored after decades of neglect.
The $850,000 renovation was carried out by Daydream Therapy LLC, a collective of Black artists including Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, and Ellen Gallagher. The project is part of an effort to preserve Black history and culture in the face of federal funding cuts for programs focused on race.
For Waymon, the experience of walking into his childhood home was emotional. "It does conjure up wonderful tears of joy in my heart and in my eyes when I stand in that house," he said. "It's like time travel." The home has been restored to its original structure while also incorporating modern amenities.
The restoration project is part of a broader effort by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF) to preserve historic sites and cultural institutions that are significant to Black history and culture.
"We are the ones we have been waiting for," said Pendleton, reflecting on why he felt compelled to act on his vision. "It was a gesture, an act that I thought could have more impact if it was a group of people joining forces to protect and preserve Nina Simone's childhood home."
The AACHAF has also worked on preserving the homes of other notable figures such as jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and blues singer Muddy Waters. The organization offers direct grants for preservation projects, which is part of its mission to promote cultural heritage.
With the restoration complete, the future plans for the Simone home are ambitious. AACHAF hopes to create a cultural district around the property, which will open to the public in 2027. The site will also serve as a space for artistic inspiration and reflection.
"It's become a place where artists go with intention to write music or perform," said Pendleton. "In other words, if it can be a mechanism that propels history."
For Waymon, the restoration of his sister's childhood home is a personal milestone. He plans to release a new duet with Simone's voice, which he recorded in 1967. The project will be a tribute to her legacy and a celebration of their shared musical heritage.
The restored home is now a testament to the enduring power of Nina Simone's music and legacy, serving as a reminder that we must preserve our collective history for future generations to learn from and build upon.
The childhood home of legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone has been given a long-awaited makeover. Dr Samuel Waymon, her youngest sibling, was overjoyed to see the home he grew up in with his mother, who also preached at nearby St Luke's CME church, restored after decades of neglect.
The $850,000 renovation was carried out by Daydream Therapy LLC, a collective of Black artists including Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, and Ellen Gallagher. The project is part of an effort to preserve Black history and culture in the face of federal funding cuts for programs focused on race.
For Waymon, the experience of walking into his childhood home was emotional. "It does conjure up wonderful tears of joy in my heart and in my eyes when I stand in that house," he said. "It's like time travel." The home has been restored to its original structure while also incorporating modern amenities.
The restoration project is part of a broader effort by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF) to preserve historic sites and cultural institutions that are significant to Black history and culture.
"We are the ones we have been waiting for," said Pendleton, reflecting on why he felt compelled to act on his vision. "It was a gesture, an act that I thought could have more impact if it was a group of people joining forces to protect and preserve Nina Simone's childhood home."
The AACHAF has also worked on preserving the homes of other notable figures such as jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and blues singer Muddy Waters. The organization offers direct grants for preservation projects, which is part of its mission to promote cultural heritage.
With the restoration complete, the future plans for the Simone home are ambitious. AACHAF hopes to create a cultural district around the property, which will open to the public in 2027. The site will also serve as a space for artistic inspiration and reflection.
"It's become a place where artists go with intention to write music or perform," said Pendleton. "In other words, if it can be a mechanism that propels history."
For Waymon, the restoration of his sister's childhood home is a personal milestone. He plans to release a new duet with Simone's voice, which he recorded in 1967. The project will be a tribute to her legacy and a celebration of their shared musical heritage.
The restored home is now a testament to the enduring power of Nina Simone's music and legacy, serving as a reminder that we must preserve our collective history for future generations to learn from and build upon.
... i'm totally feelin' the nostalgia vibes rn 
... it's amazing how some ppl are workin hard to save black history & culture, like aachaf is doin 
... and now u can even visit this place in 2027? what an incredible way 2 preserve her legacy & inspire new artists 
]
The renovation of Nina Simone's childhood home is just amazing! I mean, $850k is a decent budget, but it's crazy how much impact these artists can make with their combined efforts 
Daydream Therapy LLC has done an incredible job restoring the house to its original structure while still adding modern amenities. It's so cool that Adam Pendleton and the rest of the team joined forces to protect and preserve this piece of history 
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I mean, can you believe it? Some rich artists group together and slap 850k into renovating some old house just because... 
It's all good vibes and stuff but come on, isn't there a better way to spend that kind of cash? AACHAF might have good intentions, but the whole thing feels like a PR stunt. And what's with the plans for a 'cultural district' around the property? Sounds like some artsy-fartsy nonsense. Just let Nina Simone's legacy speak for itself and don't need to create a whole new tourist trap around it. 
, if we can come together like that collective in New York to restore a home that was neglected for decades... it shows us that when we have a common goal, we can make some amazing things happen 
!
[ Nina's voice ] "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" indeed 
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it's like steppin back in time but with modern amenities & a new lease on life 
I'm so stoked to see Nina Simone's childhood home gettin' some serious TLC! $850k is a lotta dough, but it's worth it to preserve this piece of history. I mean, can you imagine walkin' into a place that was once your home and seein' all the memories just flood back? It's like bein' transported back in time, for sure! 
The fact that it's part of an effort to preserve Black history and culture is pretty cool too. I'm all about keepin' the past alive, you know? 
And now we get to see a cultural district poppin' up around the property? That's like, totally a win in my books! 
. Can't wait to see what kind of magic happens there 
! It's amazing to see how much love and care has gone into restoring Nina Simone's childhood home 
. It's not just about the past, it's about giving future generations a platform to learn from and grow with 
. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF) is doing some amazing work here 
. It'll be an incredible space for artists to find inspiration and for the public to learn about Nina Simone's legacy 
.