Historic Mann-Simmons Cottage
A trip to beautiful Columbia, South Carolina means a visit to the Mann-Simmons cottage located at 1403 Richland Street. This is a lovely little stop that can be quite interesting and educational for your whole family. You will enjoy looking through this little slice of South Carolina history. It is believed that this cottage had actually started as a one-room house way back in either 1825 or 1830. This historical site is one of only a handful of houses in the state that had been owned by free blacks in days gone by. Now, this house along with the others, have been preserved as house museums so that they can be viewed and enjoyed by the general public.
The Mann-Simmons Cottage was a property that was owned by Celia Mann, who was a woman born into slavery in Charleston, South Carolina back in 1799. Over the years, this one-room cottage that Celia Mann lived in has had several additions put on, making it the small house that it is today. It is quite interesting to stop by and be able to see and hear all of the stories. If the walls could talk, you would be sure to listen!
While you visit the Mann-Simmons cottage, you can view different exhibits where you can learn all about Celia Mann as well as her descendants. There are also different displays and information on the restoration project that went underway at the cottage. You will want to be sure that you bring along your camera with plenty of film, because it is quite interesting to step back in time at the Mann-Simmons Cottage.
