Whitney Young Birthplace and Museum

The Whitney Young Birthplace is a two-story wooden house with clapboard siding, hip roof, and front porch supported by stuccoed square columns in Simpsonville. The house was Young's home during his early years before he went on to take important positions in the civil rights movement.

The house became a museum after Whitney Young's death, a leader who expanded the National Urban League from 38 to over 1000 employees between 1961 and 1971. His work there helped open doors for African Americans to better access jobs and opportunities.

The house shows how Whitney Young grew up in an African American community that organized itself despite severe restrictions. The rooms convey the daily life of a family that valued education and justice.

The museum sits on the campus of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center, reachable from United States Route 60 southwest of Simpsonville. It is easy to find and offers straightforward access from the main road.

The grounds stand on what was once Lincoln Institute, founded in 1912 after Kentucky law banned mixed-race education at Berea College. This heritage shows the segregation of that era and how communities created alternatives.

Location: Kentucky

GPS coordinates: 38.22267,-85.37222

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:41