Historic Edenton State Historic Site (NC)
Read MoreHistoric Edenton Historic Site Visitor Center (Ziegler House -- ca. 1892)
My historic tour would begin here, at the State Historic Site Visitor Center on Broad Street. Though small, it is home to a decent amount of info on the history of the town and is a good place to get oriented before heading out...
Penelope Barker House (ca. 1782)
Built by Penelope and Thomas Barker, this old home originally stood two blocks north of its original location. Penelope Barker was an early and ardent advocate for colonial independence, organizing a petition known as the 'Edenton Tea Party' in 1774. The home was expanded and enlarged by subsequent owners but now serves as a small museum and visitor center for the historic district of Edenton...
Penelope Barker House (ca. 1782)
Built by Penelope and Thomas Barker, this old home originally stood two blocks north of its original location. Penelope Barker was an early and ardent advocate for colonial independence, organizing a petition known as the 'Edenton Tea Party' in 1774. The home was expanded and enlarged by subsequent owners but now serves as a small museum and visitor center for the historic district of Edenton...
Penelope Barker House (ca. 1782) -- Interior
Built by Penelope and Thomas Barker, this old home originally stood two blocks north of its original location. Penelope Barker was an early and ardent advocate for colonial independence, organizing a petition known as the 'Edenton Tea Party' in 1774. The home was expanded and enlarged by subsequent owners but now serves as a small museum and visitor center for the historic district of Edenton...
Penelope Barker House (ca. 1782)
Built by Penelope and Thomas Barker, this old home originally stood two blocks north of its original location. Penelope Barker was an early and ardent advocate for colonial independence, organizing a petition known as the 'Edenton Tea Party' in 1774. The home was expanded and enlarged by subsequent owners but now serves as a small museum and visitor center for the historic district of Edenton...
Born in 1739 in New Jersey, Joseph Hewes moved to Edenton in 1760 and begun a thriving business as a merchant in town. Hewes began his political career in 1763 being elected to the NC Legislature and later was picked to be one of three representatives of the state to the Continental Congress. Hewes is an original signer of the Declaration of Independence and was instrumental in the creation of what would become the U.S. Navy...
Born in 1739 in New Jersey, Joseph Hewes moved to Edenton in 1760 and begun a thriving business as a merchant in town. Hewes began his political career in 1763 being elected to the NC Legislature and later was picked to be one of three representatives of the state to the Continental Congress. Hewes is an original signer of the Declaration of Independence and was instrumental in the creation of what would become the U.S. Navy...
This structure represents the fifth county jail built in Edenton (the first being built in 1722 when the town was incorporated). It was generally used for short-term incarcerations. Most notably it once housed 19 slaves involved in a nearby uprising in Virginia in 1831. Surprisingly, all 19 were eventually released due to lack of evidence. The old jail remained in use until 1979 when a more modern facility was constructed...
This small bronze sculpture is the creation of artist Frank Baldwin. It is a symbolic memorial to the event now known as the 'Edenton Tea Party.' On October 25th, 1774 fifty-one women of Edenton signed a petition sent to King George of Great Britain stating their resolve to no longer purchase cloth or tea from England. It stands as one of the earliest such 'independence-minded' documents sent to the king by the increasingly disgruntled colonies. The teapot sculpture stands along Colonial Street not far from the old Chowan County Courthouse...
Chowan County Courthouse (ca. 1767)
The old Chowan County Courthouse is the third such building built in Edenton, the first being built in 1718. The magnificent Georgian-style building is simultaneously the oldest public building in North Carolina as well as the state's oldest active courthouse...
Chowan County Courthouse (ca. 1767)
The old Chowan County Courthouse is the third such building built in Edenton, the first being built in 1718. The magnificent Georgian-style building is simultaneously the oldest public building in North Carolina as well as the state's oldest active courthouse...
The magnificent Cupola House was originally built by colonial land agent Francis Corbin. It stands just inland from Edenton Bay and is fronted by beautiful colonial-style gardens. The home was sold to Dr. Samuel Dickenson after Corbin's death in 1767 and Dickenson's family owned the building for a subsequent 141-years. By the early 20th Century, however, the home had fallen into serious disrepair and an local organization formed to preserve it. Today, it looks as it once did and is a magnificent example of early colonial architecture...
James Iredell House (ca. 1773)
This was built by James Iredell, Sr...one of this country's original Supreme Court Justices, appointed by President George Washington in 1790. Later his son, James Iredell, Jr, Governor of North Carolina, also lived here. The original 1773 home is on the right while the left side (with the covered porches) was added in 1810...
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (ca. 1736)
This historic structure is both the second oldest church in North Carolina as well as the states oldest still-operating church. It is the second Episcopal church built in Edenton, the first being built in 1702. The building was expanded and a steeple was added in the 1800's before, in 1949, a large fire destroyed much of said steeple, the roof, and the interior. Fortunately, much of the interior furnishings and floor of the church had been removed as the church was undergoing renovation at the time. So today the church stands proudly much as it has for the better part of 300 years...
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (ca. 1736)
This historic structure is both the second oldest church in North Carolina as well as the states oldest still-operating church. It is the second Episcopal church built in Edenton, the first being built in 1702. The building was expanded and a steeple was added in the 1800's before, in 1949, a large fire destroyed much of said steeple, the roof, and the interior. Fortunately, much of the interior furnishings and floor of the church had been removed as the church was undergoing renovation at the time. So today the church stands proudly much as it has for the better part of 300 years...
St. Anne Roman Catholic Church (ca. 1857)
The Catholic Church in Edenton was organized in 1821 but didn't have its own building to call home until this stately structure was built between 1858-1868. The tall steeple was added in 1897. Most recently restored in the 1980's the church remains the church home of Catholics in the Edenton area to this day...
St. Anne Roman Catholic Church (ca. 1857)
The Catholic Church in Edenton was organized in 1821 but didn't have its own building to call home until this stately structure was built between 1858-1868. The tall steeple was added in 1897. Most recently restored in the 1980's the church remains the church home of Catholics in the Edenton area to this day...
Josephine L. Leary Building (ca. 1894)
Born a slave in 1856, Josephine Leary moved to Edenton with her husband following the Civil War and set up shop as barbers. They did well for themselves and were soon buying real estate in downtown Edenton. Unfortunately, in 1893, fire swept through and destroyed all the property they had acquired. Undeterred, Josephine rebuilt this magnificent structure which she used as rental property. Due to medical expenses late in life she was eventually forced to sell the building but, as you can see, her pride and joy once again stands proud, though now used as commercial space, in downtown Edenton...
Roanoke River Lighthouse (ca. 1887)
In 1834 the U.S. Congress authorized a lightship to be stationed at the entrance to the Roanoke River in Albemarle Sound to help safely direct shipping headed to and from the busy nearby port of Plymouth. It was soon determined that a permanent lighthouse would be cheaper to maintain and, in 1857, approval was given to build it. Unfortunately, the Civil War delayed the construction of the light until 1867. This original screw-pile light was destroyed by fire in 1885, rebuilt the next year before almost immediately being destroyed again when ice flows caused the piles to collapse sending the whole structure toppling into the Sound. By 1887 the current lighthouse was erected and it managed to serve faithfully until 1941 when it was decommissioned. Soon after a local resident by the name of Elijah Tate purchased the old Roanoke River Light and two other decommissioned lights from the Coast Guard for the hefty sum of $10 a piece. Unfortunately two of the three collapsed and sunk when Tate attempted to move them. Fortunately he managed to move the Roanoke River Light without incident and it soon arrived at its current location on the waterfront in Edenton in 1955. Over the following years it was used as both a private residence and as rental housing but by the early 2000's it stood empty and in a serious state of disrepair. In 2009 though the State of North Carolina appropriated over $1 million to restore the old light and it was reopened in 2014 to the public...
Roanoke River Lighthouse (ca. 1887)
In 1834 the U.S. Congress authorized a lightship to be stationed at the entrance to the Roanoke River in Albemarle Sound to help safely direct shipping headed to and from the busy nearby port of Plymouth. It was soon determined that a permanent lighthouse would be cheaper to maintain and, in 1857, approval was given to build it. Unfortunately, the Civil War delayed the construction of the light until 1867. This original screw-pile light was destroyed by fire in 1885, rebuilt the next year before almost immediately being destroyed again when ice flows caused the piles to collapse sending the whole structure toppling into the Sound. By 1887 the current lighthouse was erected and it managed to serve faithfully until 1941 when it was decommissioned. Soon after a local resident by the name of Elijah Tate purchased the old Roanoke River Light and two other decommissioned lights from the Coast Guard for the hefty sum of $10 a piece. Unfortunately two of the three collapsed and sunk when Tate attempted to move them. Fortunately he managed to move the Roanoke River Light without incident and it soon arrived at its current location on the waterfront in Edenton in 1955. Over the following years it was used as both a private residence and as rental housing but by the early 2000's it stood empty and in a serious state of disrepair. In 2009 though the State of North Carolina appropriated over $1 million to restore the old light and it was reopened in 2014 to the public...
Roanoke River Lighthouse (ca. 1887)
In 1834 the U.S. Congress authorized a lightship to be stationed at the entrance to the Roanoke River in Albemarle Sound to help safely direct shipping headed to and from the busy nearby port of Plymouth. It was soon determined that a permanent lighthouse would be cheaper to maintain and, in 1857, approval was given to build it. Unfortunately, the Civil War delayed the construction of the light until 1867. This original screw-pile light was destroyed by fire in 1885, rebuilt the next year before almost immediately being destroyed again when ice flows caused the piles to collapse sending the whole structure toppling into the Sound. By 1887 the current lighthouse was erected and it managed to serve faithfully until 1941 when it was decommissioned. Soon after a local resident by the name of Elijah Tate purchased the old Roanoke River Light and two other decommissioned lights from the Coast Guard for the hefty sum of $10 a piece. Unfortunately two of the three collapsed and sunk when Tate attempted to move them. Fortunately he managed to move the Roanoke River Light without incident and it soon arrived at its current location on the waterfront in Edenton in 1955. Over the following years it was used as both a private residence and as rental housing but by the early 2000's it stood empty and in a serious state of disrepair. In 2009 though the State of North Carolina appropriated over $1 million to restore the old light and it was reopened in 2014 to the public...
Roanoke River Lighthouse (ca. 1887)
In 1834 the U.S. Congress authorized a lightship to be stationed at the entrance to the Roanoke River in Albemarle Sound to help safely direct shipping headed to and from the busy nearby port of Plymouth. It was soon determined that a permanent lighthouse would be cheaper to maintain and, in 1857, approval was given to build it. Unfortunately, the Civil War delayed the construction of the light until 1867. This original screw-pile light was destroyed by fire in 1885, rebuilt the next year before almost immediately being destroyed again when ice flows caused the piles to collapse sending the whole structure toppling into the Sound. By 1887 the current lighthouse was erected and it managed to serve faithfully until 1941 when it was decommissioned. Soon after a local resident by the name of Elijah Tate purchased the old Roanoke River Light and two other decommissioned lights from the Coast Guard for the hefty sum of $10 a piece. Unfortunately two of the three collapsed and sunk when Tate attempted to move them. Fortunately he managed to move the Roanoke River Light without incident and it soon arrived at its current location on the waterfront in Edenton in 1955. Over the following years it was used as both a private residence and as rental housing but by the early 2000's it stood empty and in a serious state of disrepair. In 2009 though the State of North Carolina appropriated over $1 million to restore the old light and it was reopened in 2014 to the public...
Dave Kathy Weemhoff
on October 22, 2017This is such a cool little town to visit and think back on just a bit of a taste of history -- we've been there several times and see something new and different with one house of another each time -- thanks for the bit of history connecting it all!!