Historic stagville preserves the past by providing visitors with the opportunity to explore original structures that still stand on what once was a. Down the gravel road in durham, trees cover the land of what used to be one of north carolinas largest plantations. So kids, get ready to take a walk down history lane. Department of cultural resources offers outstanding ways to study and celebrate black history. These parcels are the sites of horton grove and the great barn. Visit stagville state historic site on your trip to durham. Among structures on the stagville site are several historic houses and barns, including the original bennehan house and some of the original slave quarters, which were in an area known as horton grove. They hosted stagville under the stars with morehead planetarium staff from unc. Dr craig thompson friend department of history nc state. Once among the souths largest plantation holdings, the site features an 18thcentury house, slave quarters, and a unique great barn at this historic site dedicated to preservation and africanamerican cultural, historic studies. Documents tell story of stagville plantation in north carolina. The stagville farm and quarters was one of the oldest sections of this enormous plantation complex. Other things to do near stagville state historic site whether youre wanting to venture off the main tourist route or explore the more wellknown attractions, you wont run out of things to do after you visit stagville state historic site. Aug 11, 2015 historic stagville preserves the past by providing visitors with the opportunity to explore original structures that still stand on what once was a precivil war plantation.
The bennehan house, built 1787 and 1799, was listed on the national register of historic places in 1973. Stagville state historic site durham 2020 all you need to know. Today, somerset place and historic stagville operate as north carolina state. Historic stagville, civil war history traveling adventures. The plantation holdings of the bennehancameron families were among the largest in precivil war north carolina, and among the largest of the entire south. The divining sticks assured this spirit residence in the new home. Some of the acreage from the original estate were donated to the state of north carolina in 1976, by liggett and meyers tobacco company, which had owned and worked the land for decades. Michael twitty, a culinary historian and livinghistory interpreter at the stagville plantation in durham, north carolina. Bennehan came to north carolina in 1768 to manage a store on little river owned by scottish merchant william joh. Presumably there were tenant farmers and hired labor who tended to horses, livestock, and crops. Its a very rapid read, and a wellwritten concise history.
Jul 15, 2017 hundreds visited the historic stagville state historic site in durham county in 20 to see how enslaved and free black people prepared meals during antebellum times. Whilst the grand estate house with its gracious proportions and delicate furnishings revealed a story of success for a family made rich through slaves and farming, the sparse timber buildings that made up the slave quarters a mile down the road had. The history of the mutual, the north carolina mutual life insurance company 411 w. Historic stagville, durham, nc history visit stagville state historic. This was an amazing guided look back in history to the time of slavery in the south. May 10, 2019 vera cecelski, site manager at historic stagville, says the plantation has a special history. I think for those of us that grew up in the north, the plantation and slavery times are. Family history day, 10 to 2 open house about genealogy and researching enslaved ancestors in nc. Our selection includes books for children and primary and secondary students. Whilst there i had the opportunity to visit historic stagville, the site of one of the largest plantations in north carolina and the precivil war south at its peak during the 1850s and early 1860s. It was a great place to host this event, since historic. This book features family history and transcripts of enslaved peoples names from.
Stagville is rich in history in both the written and oral accounts of the slaves memories long after they were freed after the civil war. While the state owns the land that these resources sit on, the parcels are so small that they afford little lasting stability for the structures. Historic stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of the one of the largest plantations in north. Visitors to your site will appreciate you offering them help with planning their vacation.
I had a nice time at historic stagville last friday night. Interpreting the lives, families, culture, and work of enslaved people on the bennehancameron plantations. Durham is proud of, and shaped by the contributions of this extraordinary community. Contains a few pages of north carolina agricultural history, numerous pictures, and bibliographical references. Courtesy duke rare book and manuscript collection wyatt dixon collection. This is a list of plantations in north carolina that are national historic landmarks, listed on the national register of historic places, listed on a heritage register, or are otherwise significant for their history, association with significant events or people, or their architecture and design.
It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site. Visit stagville state historic site historic stagville. Her tour personalizes and dignifies the generations of people who lived and labored at the largest plantation in north carolina before going on to create durhams black professional class, black wall street, and the many families who return to stagville today for reunions and for memory and history. Our staff can consult with descendants, researchers, and community members seeking to learn more about stagville s history. North carolina is strongly urging residents and visitors to take precautions relating to the coronavirus covid19, including social distancing and avoiding nonessential travel. History of stagville plantation stagville was one of the largest plantations in north carolina prior to the civil war and among the largest of the entire south. Stagville, a plantation of several thousand acres, lay at the center of this enormous estate. Historic stagville is a state historic site in durham, north carolina. The history of this place needs to be in our textbooks.
Stagville have worked hard to make slavery the emphasis of interpretation. This short history of north carolina is a selective history, told from a very summary level, but thats not a criticism as much as simply a general observation. Great guides both at the big house and at the remarkably preserved slave. Their combined holdings totalled around 30,000 acres of land by the time 1860 hit.
Searching for women and african americans at historic stagville. Jun 22, 2017 historic stagville sits outside of durham, north carolina. The green book was an annual guidebook for africanamerican travelers, published from 1936 1966, to help them avoid business owners who refused to serve them. So many of the families who left plantation land here followed the road, and followed the railroad.
She changed the world traveling exhibit various locations the month of march. Get to see some very old historic homes of both the slave owners and the enslaved. Jan 18, 2018 african american history in north carolina involves the pursuit of freedom, equality and excellence. The visitors increased from 6000 in 2007 to nearly 00 in 2008. We also have historic games, local peanuts and honey, and the infamous pennsylvania dutch candy sticks.
Open house about genealogy and researching enslaved ancestors in nc. Food historian reckons with the black roots of southern. A dirt road with pine trees towering on both sides leads to stagville plantation, a place that helped define north carolina. Other 5828 old oxford highway durham nc 27712 united states work phone. Historic stagville state historic site continues to research and teach about the lives of enslaved and freed people.
Events visit stagville state historic site historic stagville. A book about individual farms in north carolina that have been owned by the same family for a century. The nc african american heritage commission aahc proposes to partner with the nc division of historical resources dhr to complete the mapping of nc green book sites by identifying the status of all sites, writing brief entries on each location, and presenting them to the public via a web portal. While visiting friends, we were truly blessed with an opportunity to visit stagville state historic site. Stagville historic site features stories of enslaved women wunc. Like much of the antebellum south, durham was home to a number of plantations during the 1800s, including stagville, one of the largest in the region. Over 900 enslaved people worked and lived at stagville, owned by the wealthy bennehancameron family. Here, you will find the remnants of one of the largest plantations that existed of the precivil war south. In 2003 book 3852, arlen park, llc bought land that surrounds two small, outlying parcels of state property. The tour guide was very informative and invested in sharing the history, though our group was really too big. Comprises the remains of north carolinas largest precivil war plantation and one of the souths largest. The following programs from venues of the north carolina department of natural and cultural resources celebrate the lives and contributions of african americans to the state. The exhibit highlights a complex statewide network of business owners and green book sites that allowed african american communities to thrive, and that created oasis.
I toured this fascinating site with rose hammitt while in chapel hill for the north american travel journalist conference. Bennehan came to north carolina in 1768 to manage a store on little river owned by scottish merchant william johnston. Stagville was one of the largest plantations in north carolina, maybe even. Two divining sticks discovered in the wall of an enslaved dwelling at stagville might indicate a west african practice of ensuring that the guardian spirit that protected the home would not be forgotten when the family moved into a new dwelling. Stagville under the stars, 6 pm storytelling and stargazing with the morehead planetarium. The remains of historic stagville consist of 71 acres 290,000 m 2, in three tracts, and provide a unique look at north carolinas history and general infrastructure in the antebellum south.
There is so much history there, if it was all in a book it would be an encyclopaedia. Girl addy walker is based on a true story from durham county, north carolina. African american history in north carolina involves the pursuit of freedom, equality and excellence. Paying tribute to the past at historic stagville, nc. Within the year north carolina repealed the act ceding the land. Stagville is an important if painful part of north carolinas history the states largest slave plantation. Stagville historic 5828 old oxford rd durham nc 27712. Though the buildings were marvelous, the real star of the tour was our guide and i wish i knew her name because she was absolutely amazing. Ring in 2020 with upcoming ghl events state library of. Stagville plantation is located in durham county, north carolina. Historic stagville, consisting of 71 acres 290,000 m2 in three tracts, provides a unique look at north carolinas history and infrastructure in the antebellum south.
The bennehancameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land, and claimed ownership over about 900 people who were enslaved on this property. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Stagville historic 5828 old oxford rd durham, nc historical. In 1784 north carolina ceded its western lands to the united states, spurring the transmontane people to organize a new, shortlived government see franklin, state of. Stagville supporters get a 10% discount on any purchases. Hotels near stagville state historic site, raleigh. North carolina celebrates black history all year the. The state now operates the property as historic stagville. This year celebrates the 57th year of the north carolina council for women and youth involvement. This mothers day weekend, the stagville state historic site in durham.
By 1860, the cameron family owned almost 30,000 acres and nearly 900 slaves. Phasing and mean ceramic dates can be found on the chronology page. Enslaved community visit stagville state historic site. Abstract the nc african american heritage commission aahc proposes to partner with the nc division of historical resources dhr to complete the mapping of sites listed in the negro motorist green book. Stagville plantation bahama 2020 all you need to know. Approximately 900 slaves lived and worked on its 30,000 acres. Fairntosh and stagville languished during the mid20th century, falling again into disrepair. May 18, 2015 shortly after joining adam matthew this year i set off to north carolina for an archive research trip. New terminology at stagville state historic site in durham. List of books and articles about north carolina history. The book listed over 300 north carolina businessesfrom restaurants and hotels, to tourist homes, nightclubs and beauty salonsin the three decades that it was published.
Historic stagville preserves a small fraction of the plantation holdings of the. Stagville, an eastern orange county now durham county plantation of several thousand acres, initially belonged to virginiaborn merchant richard bennehan 17431825. We visited stagville, while visiting cary, nc from seattle. Popup library at family history day, historic stagville sunday, february 8th, historic stagville, 10. Essays on agricultural history, the south, and south carolina, coedited with john r. He began to purchase plantation lands near the johnston store in 1776, and in the. By 1860, the family owned almost 30,000 acres and nearly 900 slaves. Today stagville is a historic site dedicated to interpreting the lives, culture, and labors of enslaved people on the bennehancameron plantations. This database is comprised of over 300 sites including. This historic site shares the story of a precivil war farm. Named a top 20 event by the southeast tourism society, the19th annual daylong african american cultural celebration features scores of musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors and. For best results, use the customized trip planning widget for stagville state historic site on your website. Museum grants for african american history and culture.
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history and construction of the farm. While wandering the grounds of this state historic site, whose mission focuses on educating visitors about the lives of formerly enslaved. By 1897, he had moved to raleigh, and fairntosh remained, as stagville, under the guidance of an overseer. Only 15 miles max from downtown durham on old oxford rd, its easily accessible.
The park preserves two homes dating from the 1700s, original slave cabins, barns, a graveyard and other features of a 30,000 acre plantation that was the largest in north carolina. Enjoy the great outdoors by spending the day at west point on the eno, a large recreational area. Historic stagville state historic site directory welcome to aaams global directory of african american museums and affiliate institutions. The entire complex was owned by the bennehan, mantack and cameron families. African american heritage sights in durham, north carolina. Historic stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of the one of the largest plantations in north carolina. With buildings constructed from the late 18th century to the mid19th century, stagville was part of one of the largest plantation complexes in the american south. And as of friday, march, north carolinas nine welcome centers are closed until april 1. Completely free and full of a lot of facts and history. Historic stagville north carolina historic sites nc.
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