Nina Simone's Childhood Home Reopens After $850,000 Makeover
The childhood home of legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone has finally been restored after over two decades of neglect. The 650 square-foot three-room house in Tryon, North Carolina, where Simone spent her formative years from 1933 to 1937, has undergone a significant transformation with the help of a collective of four Black artists - Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, and Ellen Gallagher.
The project, which took nearly three years to complete, involved a team led by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF) and cost $850,000 in materials, construction, and engineering costs. The renovation aimed to preserve Simone's legacy while also serving as an example of how privately funded projects can help preserve Black history during a time when federally funded programs are under threat.
The restored home has been meticulously preserved, with the original wooden floor intact and many of its original features still visible. A small piece of the Great Depression-era linoleum sits on the newly restored wooden floor like an island in the present-day interior design. The walls now display a shadow box containing the rust-brown varnish from the original home's ceiling.
Samuel Waymon, Nina Simone's youngest sibling and an award-winning composer, was among the first to visit the renovated house after its completion in 2025. He expressed his joy at seeing the restored home, saying that it brings back memories of playing organ with his mother as a child and cooking on the potbelly stove.
Pendleton, who spearheaded the restoration project, described the home as a symbol of Simone's contributions to American culture. "Her music is powerful from a formal standpoint, but also from a political and cultural one," he said. "Everything starts somewhere."
The AACHAF has already demonstrated its commitment to preserving Black history with other high-profile projects, including the restoration of John Coltrane's homes in Long Island and Philadelphia, as well as the preservation of Louis Armstrong's home in New York and Muddy Waters' home in Chicago.
With the Simone home now complete, the AACHAF is working on a long-term management and programming plan for the site. The goal is to create a cultural district around the house that will be open to the public by 2027. Pendleton hopes that the home will serve as a site where artists can draw inspiration and write music or perform.
The project has also been recognized with an auction and fundraiser at the Pace Gallery in New York, which raised funds for the preservation of Black cultural sites. The involvement of tennis player Venus Williams underlines the significance of this initiative.
As Waymon reflected on the restored home, he expressed his gratitude that it has been preserved, saying that Simone would be amazed and grateful if she were to visit today. To honor her legacy, Waymon will release a new duet with his sister featuring Simone's iconic voice in mid-January 2026.
The childhood home of legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone has finally been restored after over two decades of neglect. The 650 square-foot three-room house in Tryon, North Carolina, where Simone spent her formative years from 1933 to 1937, has undergone a significant transformation with the help of a collective of four Black artists - Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, and Ellen Gallagher.
The project, which took nearly three years to complete, involved a team led by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF) and cost $850,000 in materials, construction, and engineering costs. The renovation aimed to preserve Simone's legacy while also serving as an example of how privately funded projects can help preserve Black history during a time when federally funded programs are under threat.
The restored home has been meticulously preserved, with the original wooden floor intact and many of its original features still visible. A small piece of the Great Depression-era linoleum sits on the newly restored wooden floor like an island in the present-day interior design. The walls now display a shadow box containing the rust-brown varnish from the original home's ceiling.
Samuel Waymon, Nina Simone's youngest sibling and an award-winning composer, was among the first to visit the renovated house after its completion in 2025. He expressed his joy at seeing the restored home, saying that it brings back memories of playing organ with his mother as a child and cooking on the potbelly stove.
Pendleton, who spearheaded the restoration project, described the home as a symbol of Simone's contributions to American culture. "Her music is powerful from a formal standpoint, but also from a political and cultural one," he said. "Everything starts somewhere."
The AACHAF has already demonstrated its commitment to preserving Black history with other high-profile projects, including the restoration of John Coltrane's homes in Long Island and Philadelphia, as well as the preservation of Louis Armstrong's home in New York and Muddy Waters' home in Chicago.
With the Simone home now complete, the AACHAF is working on a long-term management and programming plan for the site. The goal is to create a cultural district around the house that will be open to the public by 2027. Pendleton hopes that the home will serve as a site where artists can draw inspiration and write music or perform.
The project has also been recognized with an auction and fundraiser at the Pace Gallery in New York, which raised funds for the preservation of Black cultural sites. The involvement of tennis player Venus Williams underlines the significance of this initiative.
As Waymon reflected on the restored home, he expressed his gratitude that it has been preserved, saying that Simone would be amazed and grateful if she were to visit today. To honor her legacy, Waymon will release a new duet with his sister featuring Simone's iconic voice in mid-January 2026.
it's like they took the past and brought it back into the present day i wonder how many people from tryon, north carolina visit this house every year now that it's open to the public do you think adam pendleton and the other artists involved in the project had any favorite things about the home when they were restoring it?
it brings back memories of my own grandma's old house, how much love and care goes into preserving those spaces for future generations 
the fact that this project was spearheaded by black artists is a beautiful representation of the power of community and art in shaping our cultural heritage 
ellen gallagher, adam pendleton, rashid johnson & julie mehretu are true heroes 
I think its so cool that the childhood home of Nina Simone has been restored! $850k might seem like a lot but its worth it to preserve history, especially Black culture. Its great that private projects can help fill the gap when fed funds are scarce 
. The fact that they've kept most of the original features is amazing - its like stepping into a piece of history 
. I'm hyped for the cultural district plans too! Can't wait to see more Black landmarks preserved and shared with the world 
. This place is gonna be a major hub for art and culture in the future, 'n' I'm low-key hyped about it! The fact that Samuel Waymon got to see his sis's old stompin' grounds all fixed up must've been like goin' home, fam 
. Can't wait to hear that new duet with Nina Simone's voice on it... it's gonna be FIRE 
I think its amazing what these artists have done to bring Nina Simone's childhood home back to life. It's like a piece of history that's been lost for so long, and now we get to see it again. The fact that it was privately funded is also super cool, because sometimes thats all you need - people who care enough to make a difference. 
Its like we need more of those people out there who want to help preserve our history and culture.
this is so cool! its about time we had more of these kinds of projects happening 
but i love that there are people like adam pendleton and the aachaf working tirelessly to preserve black history 
the way they've maintained the original features of the house is just amazing, its like stepping into a different era 
I think its so cool that they got to restore this house back to its former glory...I mean its like we're bringing the past into the present...nina simone was such an icon and her music is still giving us life...im not surprised they chose these four black artists to lead the project its about time were see some love for our heritage...the fact that its privately funded is even more awesome cuz then you know its not just some gov't program that gets cut...cuz sometimes those do get cut...anyway i think its a beautiful tribute and now im hyped to visit this house in 2027 
This is amazing I mean what's the point of all this preservation effort right? So that some home looks like it did back then and we can all go visit? I get it, Nina Simone was a legend but come on $850k for just the house? 
And now they're gonna turn it into some kinda cultural center thingy...I dunno
The AACHAF is doing some amazing work preserving Black history, and I'm so hyped for the release of Waymon's new duet with his sister featuring Simone's iconic voice 
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. I mean, can you imagine growing up in such a small house with all those amazing memories being made there? 
Samuel Waymon must be loving every minute of seeing his aunt's old spot all fixed up 
. It's like they're building a whole cultural district around these legendary figures 
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. And can't wait to hear Samuel Waymon's new duet with his sister featuring Simone's iconic voice 
! Ellen Gallagher, Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, & Julie Mehretu are like total art heroes 
I hope it does happen by 2027! Samuel Waymon's story about his childhood memories playing organ with his mom is giving me all the feels 
