Background

Shelley House: A Landmark of Civil Rights

Visit the Shelley House, a National Historic Landmark in St. Louis, and discover the story behind a landmark civil rights case.

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The Shelley House, a modest two-story duplex in St. Louis, Missouri, stands as a powerful symbol in the fight against racial discrimination in housing. It was the center of the landmark 1948 Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer, which challenged the enforcement of racially restrictive covenants.

A brief summary to Shelley House

  • 4600 Labadie Ave, St. Louis, Greater Ville, Missouri, 63115, US
  • Visit website

Local tips

  • The Shelley House is a private residence and is not open to the public.
  • Consider visiting nearby Fairground Park, a 131-acre park established in 1908, for recreational activities.
  • Explore the Greater Ville neighborhood, which has a rich history and several architecturally significant school buildings.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From downtown St. Louis, the #19 MetroBus provides direct service to the vicinity of the Shelley House. Board the #19 bus at the Civic Center Transit Center and ride to the stop at Labadie Avenue and Goodfellow Boulevard. From there, walk east on Labadie Avenue for about half a mile to reach the Shelley House at 4600 Labadie Avenue. The bus fare is $1 for a single ride.

  • Walking

    If you are already in the Greater Ville neighborhood, the Shelley House is accessible by foot. From the intersection of Goodfellow Boulevard and Labadie Avenue, head east on Labadie Avenue for approximately 0.5 miles. The Shelley House will be on your right at 4600 Labadie Avenue. Be mindful of local traffic and street conditions.

  • Taxi/Ride-share

    From downtown St. Louis, a taxi or ride-sharing service (Uber/Lyft) offers a direct route to the Shelley House. The trip is approximately 5 miles and typically takes 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Expect to pay between $12 and $15 for the ride. Note that prices may surge during peak hours.

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Discover more about Shelley House

Located at 4600 Labadie Avenue in the Greater Ville neighborhood of St. Louis, the Shelley House is a physical reminder of a pivotal moment in American civil rights history. Built in 1906, this unassuming brick duplex became the home of J.D. Shelley, his wife, and their six children, who migrated from Mississippi in 1930 seeking refuge from the pervasive racial oppression of the South. Unbeknownst to the Shelleys, their new property was subject to a racially restrictive covenant, a common practice at the time that barred the sale of property to anyone of the "Negro or Mongolian race". When a neighbor, Louis Kraemer, sued to enforce the covenant, the Shelleys fought back, leading to a legal battle that ultimately reached the United States Supreme Court. In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled in Shelley v. Kraemer that state enforcement of racially restrictive covenants was unconstitutional, violating the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. While the ruling did not outlaw the covenants themselves, it prevented the state from enforcing them, marking a significant victory for African Americans and a major step forward in the fight for fair housing. The Shelley House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990 and added to the African American Civil Rights Network. Today, the Shelley House remains a private residence, a living testament to the Shelley family's courage and their enduring impact on American society.

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