Mary McLeod Bethune Home

Located on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona, Florida, the house was home to Mary McLeod Bethune.

Born in 1875 in a small cabin in South Carolina, Bethune became an activist and educator. Her parents were formerly enslaved and were not allowed to learn to read or write.

From an early age Bethune recognized the power of education to transform people’s lives. When Bethune heard about an African American community living in Daytona, Florida, she decided to move to the area and establish a school for girls.

The school eventually merged with the nearby boys school, forming Bethune-Cookman College.

Bethune also served as advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and founded the National Council of Negro Women. She was a tireless advocate for African Americans and women.

Both the Mary McLeod Bethune Home and Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic House are part of the African American Civil Rights Network.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark on December 2, 1974.