Visiting the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is located in the Elraine Subdivision of Jackson, Mississippi. The monument stands as a solemn reminder of the courage and resilience of two pivotal figures in the American Civil Rights Movement.
This modest ranch-style house, once Medgar and Myrlie Evers’s family home, now serves as a place of reflection and education, inviting visitors to delve into the legacy of the Evers family.
A Home at the Heart of the Movement
The Evers home was built in 1956 and is situated in Mississippi’s first modern subdivision designed for middle-class African Americans. Medgar Evers, a World War II veteran and the first NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, along with his wife Myrlie, used the home as a base to promote the advancement of civil rights for African Americans.
The home served as the heart of the movement. Within its walls, the Evers organized voter registration drives, boycotts, and investigations into racial violence.
They chose that particular house because its design and layout helped with security concerns, as the family faced constant threats of violence. It does not have a front door. Instead, it has a semi-secluded entrance in the carport. They even placed heavy furniture in front of windows to block gunfire in case of an attack, and their kids knew to army crawl to the iron bathtub in the bathroom in case of an emergency.
“It may seem incredible to the average American homebuyer, but security from attack was a consideration we discussed at length.” – Myrlie Evers-Williams
Even with the precautions, violence still found them. On May 24, 1963, someone threw a Molotov cocktail onto the Evers’ carport. Police dismissed the incident as a “prank.” That so-called prank would quickly escalate into a national tragedy.
The Tragedy That Shook a Nation
In the early morning hours of June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated in the driveway of his home.
Medgar arrived home just after midnight. Myrlie and the children had stayed up to greet him when he arrived. Soon after hearing the car pull into the driveway… they heard a shot. His son Darrell, who was nine years old at the time, later recalled that night, saying, “We were ready to greet him because every time he came home, it was special for us. He was traveling a lot at that time. All of a sudden, we heard a shot. We knew what it was.“
Myrlie and neighbors came to Medgar’s aid, but it was too late. Medgar Evers died at the hospital an hour later. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. White supremacist and KKK member Byron De La Beckwith was prosecuted twice for the murder in 1964. Both trials ended in hung juries, and De La Beckwith would remain free for 30 years.
Medgar Evers Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Then, in 1994, new evidence surfaced, including that he boasted about committing the murder at a KKK rally. The then 71-year-old was tried for a third time. He was convicted of the murder of Medgar Evans. He died in 2001.
“As long as God gives me strength to work and try to make things real for my children, I’m going to work for it – even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.” – Medgar Evers
Preserving a Legacy
After Medgar’s assassination, Myrlie Evers-Williams continued their shared mission, becoming a prominent civil rights activist and eventually serving as chairperson of the NAACP. In 1993, she donated the home to Tougaloo College, which later transferred ownership to the National Park Service. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017 and officially established as a National Monument in 2020.
We visited the home on a late spring afternoon. The house has been meticulously restored to reflect its appearance during the Evers’ residency. Unfortunately, no tours were available that day, so we could not go inside. However, walking around the property was still a powerful experience. Park Rangers offer guided tours that provide insight into the Evers family’s life and the broader civil rights movement.
If you are in the Jackson, Mississippi, area, I highly recommend visiting the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. It’s an opportunity to honor the fight for justice and equality. While paying respect to the sacrifices made, we’re reminded of the profound impact that determined individuals can have on shaping a more equitable society.
