Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site

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Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site About the legendary president of Morehouse College from 1940-1967 who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King The Benjamin E.

Mays Historic Preservation Site contains Dr. Mays' birth home which was rescued from its original location in Epworth in southeast Greenwood County and furnished with period furniture circa 1900. In addition, there is a barn-like structure that serves as as modern museum and theater. The museum chronologically displays Dr. Mays' long life in photographs and wall narrative and contains a large collection of his books, writings, films, speeches, and personal items. The theater holds about 50 people and can be used as a conference room as well as a theater to play two documentary films about the life of Dr. Mays and many of his CD audio speeches. The third building on site is the original Burns Springs one room African-American school that was originally located in Epworth. The yard surrounding the home site is reminiscent of a 1900 era sharecropper homestead that includes a cedar post clothes line, wash pot with rinsing tubs, chopping block, tree swing, old well, an original outhouse, and a family garden. The homestead is accented with a cotton field. There are picnic tables under a large oak tree nearby and ample parking is available, as well as sidewalks to all of the buildings. The house and musuem are accessible by the handicapped. Tours can be booked by appointment by calling 864-229-8801.

Historians Terence Finnegan and Vernon Burton, and their wives, Lori Finnegan and Georgianna Burton, visited the Dr. Ben...
10/24/2026

Historians Terence Finnegan and Vernon Burton, and their wives, Lori Finnegan and Georgianna Burton, visited the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site today. Pictured with Loy Sartin, Director Emeritus of the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site.

Dr. Terence Finnegan is a professor in the Department of History, Liberal Studies, and Philosophy at William Paterson University, and a former student of Dr. Burton. He is the author of A Deed So Accursed: Lynching in Mississippi and South Carolina, 1881-1940. The book offers a comprehensive comparative study of racial violence and mob rule in two Deep South states during the height of the Jim Crow era.

Our Lander University interns are busy at work polishing Mrs. Sadie Gray Mays’ silver punch bowl set. Never a dull momen...
10/23/2026

Our Lander University interns are busy at work polishing Mrs. Sadie Gray Mays’ silver punch bowl set. Never a dull moment at the Mays Site.

Lander University offers specific courses dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays (HIST 250 or 350: Civ...
10/14/2026

Lander University offers specific courses dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays (HIST 250 or 350: Civil Rights & Benjamin Mays). Our director is always honored with the opportunity to go and lecture during this course. Today’s lecture: The Morehouse Years 1940-67

The Discover Greenwood Destination Center is now welcoming visitors at 104 Main Street! There are wonderful Dr. Benjamin...
10/14/2026

The Discover Greenwood Destination Center is now welcoming visitors at 104 Main Street! There are wonderful Dr. Benjamin E. Mays quotes throughout the center.

DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYS WAS AWARDED THE PRESTIGIOUS SPINGARN MEDAL AT THE 1982 ANNUAL NAACP CONVENTION IN BOSTON, MA. WHE...
10/13/2026

DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYS WAS AWARDED THE PRESTIGIOUS SPINGARN MEDAL AT THE 1982 ANNUAL NAACP CONVENTION IN BOSTON, MA. WHEN DR. MAYS PASSED ON MARCH 28, 1984, HE WILLED THE MEDAL TO HIS BELOVED GREAT NEPHEW, REV. DWIGHT POWELL OF WASHINGTON, DC. REV. POWELL LOVINGLY PRESERVED THE MEDAL FOR 42 YEARS AND DONATED IT TO THE DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SITE ON APRIL 25, 2026, AT THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. THE MEDAL IS NOW PERMANENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE SITE.

Steve Coleman (Director of MODELS Academy at Piedmont Technical College), Courtney Smith (Criminal Justice Instructor at...
10/07/2026

Steve Coleman (Director of MODELS Academy at Piedmont Technical College), Courtney Smith (Criminal Justice Instructor at Piedmont Technical College), Chris Thomas (Director of the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site) were honored to be presenters at the SC Student Empowerment Conference of the SC Technical College System in Columbia, SC. Their presentation was on the MODELS Academy program. These three men started this mentoring program for African American boys twelve years ago. The program now serves 600+ middle school and high school in seven counties (Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda). In MODELS Academy we use the life and educational philosophy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays as a model for for life and the pursuit of excellence. It was great to be able to share about MODELS Academy and the legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays with educators within our state technical college system.

10/06/2026

Explore Dr. Mays’s lasting influence as an educator, mentor, and civil rights leader, his relationship with Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook, and the enduring importance of mentorship and opportunities for student scholarship. A panel discussion will follow the documentary. This event is part of We the People: A Duke and Durham Initiative. PLEASE REGISTER IN THE LINK BELOW IN THE COMMENTS. REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY.

The documentary The Legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, presented by Left Side of the Lion Media and narrated by the late Lo...
09/30/2026

The documentary The Legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, presented by Left Side of the Lion Media and narrated by the late Louis Gossett Jr., will have a screening on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at the Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University.

The living legend Mr. Cecil Williams was the recipient Denmark Vesey Tourism Pioneer Award at the 2026 South Carolina Af...
09/26/2026

The living legend Mr. Cecil Williams was the recipient Denmark Vesey Tourism Pioneer Award at the 2026 South Carolina African-American Tourism Conference (SCAATC).

Address

229 N. Hospital Street
Greenwood, SC
29649

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 12:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 12:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 2:30pm
Thursday 9am - 2:30pm
Friday 9am - 2:30pm

Telephone

+18642239456

Website

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