This year, gifts made during Giving Tuesday support the installation of a Toni Morrison “Bench by the Road” at the Neill-Cochran House Museum. The Bench will be installed in June 2026 during our Juneteenth Celebration.
The NCHM Toni Morrison “Bench by the Road” will be the 35th (or 36th). The first Bench was installed on Sullivan Island, South Carolina, in 2008.
The Bench will be located in the Centennial Courtyard near the NCHM Slave Quarters, oriented north towards the former site of the Wheatville Freedom Colony.
What is Giving Tuesday?
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy.
When does it take place?
This year, Giving Tuesday takes place on December 3rd. Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Why should I participate?
The Neill-Cochran House Museum (NCHM) is deeply honored to announce that it will soon be the site of the 35th (or 36th) Toni Morrison “Bench by the Road.” This national program, founded by the Toni Morrison Society, places commemorative benches at locations around the world that hold significance to the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Each bench serves as a quiet monument—a place for reflection, remembrance, and dialogue about the past and its ongoing resonance in the present.
We now invite our friends, neighbors, and supporters to help us bring this vision to life. The Neill-Cochran House Museum is responsible for the costs of installation, landscaping, and the creation of interpretive materials to honor the bench’s meaning, estimated to be $10,000. Your contribution will ensure that this space is both beautiful and worthy of the history it represents—a place for learning, reflection, and connection for generations to come.
Learn more about the NCHM Toni Morrison “Bench by the Road” here.
How can I help?
Make a donation to the Neill-Cochran House Museum on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Then, help spread the word by sharing our message on social media, sending it in an email, or simply telling your friends and family. Thank you for your invaluable support!