Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Mann-Simons Site
This property once featured homes, businesses and rental properties that belonged to the same African American family for more than 125 years. The remaining house, built between 1872 and 1883, replaced the earlier home of midwife Celia Mann (1799-1867) and her husband, boatman Ben Delane (1800-1890). Enslaved at birth, both achieved freedom and became members of antebellum Columbia's small community of free people of color.
Three Baptist churches (First Calvary, Second Calvary, and Zion) trace their origins to services held on this site. After Mann's death, her daughter, Agnes Jackson Simons (1831-1907), inherited the property. Descendants remained here until 1970. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and has been a museum since 1978.
Erected 2003 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History, sponsored by First Calvary Baptist Church, Second Calvary Baptist Church, and Zion Baptist Church. (Marker Number 40-126.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.
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Location. 34° 0.706′ N, 81° 2.057′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It is on Richland Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1403 Richland St, Columbia SC 29201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named The Mann-Simons Site (here, next to this marker); Agnes Jackson's Home (here, next to this marker); Making History One Generation at a Time (a few steps from this marker); The Family's First Home
Another marker is no longer nearby. Mann-Simons Cottage (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
