Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site

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 coll

ection 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.

08/23/2026
Rev. Gregory E. Singleton and the members of Pine Grove AME Church-Hodges visited the GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Histo...
08/22/2026

Rev. Gregory E. Singleton and the members of Pine Grove AME Church-Hodges visited the GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site today.

Organized annually by the Greenwood County Democratic Party, this gala honors the enduring legacies of three iconic publ...
08/17/2026

Organized annually by the Greenwood County Democratic Party, this gala honors the enduring legacies of three iconic public servants and social justice figures from Greenwood County: Representative Marion P. Carnell, Senator John Drummond, and Dr. Benjamin E. Mays.

08/15/2026

Lander Students Receive Scholarships from Mays Endowment

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) highlighted our efforts in Greenwood County at the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Pr...
08/07/2026

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) highlighted our efforts in Greenwood County at the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site and our recent lynching historical marker unveiling ceremony that honored Greenwood County, SC lynching victims Robert Davis (lynched August 16, 1906) and Bennie Thompson (lynched October 8, 1933).

Greenwood County Partners with EJI to Dedicate Historical Markers 08.06.26 On August 1, EJI and a coalition of community members, local leaders, and public officials in Greenwood County, South Carolina, dedicated historical markers commemorating Robert Davis, who was lynched on August 16, 1906, near...

The 2026 recipients of the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Scholarship at the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Endowment through the Greenwood ...
08/02/2026

The 2026 recipients of the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Scholarship at the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Endowment through the Greenwood County Community Foundation.

Pictured L-R: Dr. Lucas McMillian (Dean College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, Lander University), Reverend Doug Kauffmann, Mr. Arthur Radcliffe (father of scholarship recipient and Lander University student Madalin Radcliffe), Kaleb Christian (scholarship recipient and Lander University student), Amaiya Nichols (scholarship recipient and Lander University student), Icelynn Thomas (scholarship recipient and Lander University student), and Christopher B. Thomas (Director, GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site)

Dr. Alvin H. "Skip" Darden III is a retired Morehouse College administrator, educator, and alumnus who served the instit...
08/02/2026

Dr. Alvin H. "Skip" Darden III is a retired Morehouse College administrator, educator, and alumnus who served the institution for 25 years as an associate dean and class dean.

Today, Dr. Darden was able visit the GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site before traveling to Pacolet, SC where he was the keynote speaker at the birthday celebration for Dr. Ma at the Benjamin E. Mays Family Center. Always great to have Morehouse Men of his caliber visit the Mays Site.

Markers unveiled at Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site honored those involved in lynchings during the early 1900s. Read more...
08/02/2026

Markers unveiled at Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site honored those involved in lynchings during the early 1900s. Read more below.

Photos by Bobby Rettew from the Anderson County Remembrance Project of today’s lynching memorial marker unveiling ceremo...
08/01/2026

Photos by Bobby Rettew from the Anderson County Remembrance Project of today’s lynching memorial marker unveiling ceremony!

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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