Born in 1887 in nearby Pickens County, Shoeless Joe Jackson is one of Greenville, South Carolina’s native sons and was known as one of baseball’s best players. Jackson’s career, however, was derailed in 1919 when he was playing for the Chicago White Sox. Getting caught up in the Black Sox Scandal in which several members of the team accepted bribes to throw the World Series, Jackson would be banned for life from the major leagues, though his participation in the scandal is still hotly contested. After continuing to play baseball all around the South following his banishment and living in Savannah for a time, Shoeless Joe would return to his hometown of Greenville and live out the remainder of his life there as the owner of a liquor store. Today, his legacy lives on at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, where visitors can unravel his story through the informative exhibits and artifacts which decorate the interior of his old home.

The Museum

Joe Jackson and his wife Katie moved back to Greenville in 1933 and, seven years later, built the home in which they’d both reside until their respective passings. Located originally at 119 E. Wilburn Street, the house was moved carefully from its foundation to a plot of land across the street from the newly constructed Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive, in 2006. The museum was given the address of 356 Field Street, honoring Jackson’s lifetime batting average of .356, baseball’s third highest ever. After two years of heavy renovations and a much-needed facelift, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum was opened for the first time in 2008.

The brick house boasts five rooms, each chock full of memorabilia relating to the life and times of Jackson. On display are a few of his personal belongings, replica White Sox uniforms, autographed bats & balls and historic photographs. More than 2,000 books relating to baseball are also tucked away in the quiet wood-clad library. After yet another move down the street in 2020, the footprint of the museum doubled in size thanks to a new addition. The extra space enabled the creation of a gift shop and allowed more relics to be displayed in the home itself.

Coinciding with the move, luxury apartments were constructed along Field Street next to the museum, christened “.408 Jackson” in honor of Joe’s rookie batting average in 1911, which remains the all-time record. All together, the complex makes up District 356, a name which mirrors the museum’s address and pays further homage to Jackson’s accomplishments. Open occasionally during Drive home games, the museum is available to tour every Saturday from 10a-2p. Guides delve deep into the lives of the Jacksons and share fascinating facts about Joe’s career, though self-guided tours are also an option.

The Gravesite

In 1951, Joe Jackson suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 64. He was the first of the eight banned Black Sox players to die and is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park, about 4 miles from the present-day site of the museum. His wife Katie, who died 8 years later, is buried at his side.

Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum: 356 Field St, Greenville, SC 29601
Joe and Katie Jackson’s Gravesite: Woodlawn Memorial Park, Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29609