Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument

In 1954, shortly after Brown vs. Board of Education ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, Medgar Evers became the NAACP’s first field secretary for Mississippi. A decorated World War II veteran, Medgar fought for voting rights, access to public facilities, and economic opportunity. With help from his wife, Myrlie, he led public investigations into the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till and challenged segregation in parks, education, and public transportation. Medgar even applied to law school in an effort to desegregate the University of Mississippi. Amidst constant death threats, Medgar and Myrlie fought for racial justice. The Evers home was firebombed in 1962. In 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated in their home’s carport.

Leading the fight for civil rights in Mississippi was one of the most dangerous jobs in America. As activists on the front lines of the civil rights movement, Medgar and Myrlie Evers were repeated targets of racist violence. After Medgar’s assassination, Myrlie continued fighting for racial justice, advocating for equality over four decades. Their house was designated a national monument in 2020, but sat unopen to the public except for limited public tours starting in 2022. Only a single sign and photos outside provided visitors with a glimpse into the rich story of the Evers’ lives. In 2023, Trust for Public Land partnered with the National Park Service and others to help to restore the home and grounds and open it to the public.

In June 2023, we celebrated the grand opening of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, now open to the public for guided tours. It is the first completed project in our Alliance for Civil Rights Historic Sites, where, in partnership with the National Park Service, community leaders, and philanthropic leaders, we’re restoring and investing in seven historic National Park Service sites in Alabama and Mississippi.

Of the nearly 100,000 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, only 3 percent focus on the experiences of Black Americans.  We are proud to be part of a growing movement to end this disparity by preserving Black history and culture sites in Mississippi and nationwide.