The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

This stuff is phenomenal! It is beautiful, well deserved, well maintained, and well staffed. The…read moreRoanoke River is absolutely gorgeous and the accompanying grounds are immaculate. There is the Welcome Center there that we went into and the women were total sweethearts. It didn't appear that they got much business because they were very glad to hear that the three of us were all from different cities in Florida so when we signed the register book it was three different cities along with three different names. These women were totally in character for this part of the country and you could feel the butter melt with their warmth and kindness. The National refuge was really unexpected and quite beautiful. It was informational and educational. This was one of the best stops we unexpectedly made on our road trip. Just goes to show you never know what you're going to find when you pull over and stop in to someplace new, no matter where it is in the country. What's a girl to do? Hey, when you're on a road trip you want to stop and see and do everything so take your time and see as much as you can.

The Cashie River Center at the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge is an amazing, little-known…read moreresource in the area. I live just 20 miles away and had overlooked the place. I didn't know what I was missing! It has a nice little museum-type display inside with info about local wildlife--animals and plants. The carry all the science type of stuff that you'd expect, and it fascinated my daughter. The people who work there are volunteers, and they are absolutely knowledgable about the area. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I discovered that they give free nature boat rides in the summer. I will def come back for that when it starts for the season.

The Chowan County Courthouse was completed in 1767 and is the oldest courthouse still in active use…read morein North Carolina. The courthouse's design is attributed either to John Hawks, architect of Tryon Palace in New Bern, or Gilbert Leigh, a local builder. It features a T-shaped layout with Flemish bond brickwork, a central courtroom, and a second-floor assembly room often referred to as a ballroom. The building has a two-stage wooden cupola with a weathervane atop the structure, reflecting classical British architectural influences. During the Revolutionary era, the courthouse was a hub of political and legal activity. Figures such as Joseph Hewes (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), James Iredell (later a U.S. Supreme Court Justice), and Samuel Johnston (Governor and U.S. Senator) practiced law and held meetings there. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Edenton and well worth a stop. [Review 838 of 2025 - 4268 in North Carolina - 24397 overall]

Tons of history in this building! Very cool to stand on original stone floors that were imported…read morefrom Britain. It's still an active courtroom and we learned that the NC Supreme Court holds court here once in a while. You can walk around freely and sit in the judge's seat which was a cool experience. The guided tour with Lucas was fun and informative.

The only screw-pile lighthouse still standing in North Carolina is the Roanoke River Lighthouse…read morenear Edenton, a unique and durable piece of maritime history. It was constructed in 1886 and lit in 1887 with the intention of directing ships into the Roanoke River from the Albemarle Sound. An inventive answer to the delicate, changing soils of coastal rivers was its distinctive screw-pile foundation, which consisted of steel pilings that were physically screwed into the riverbed. In contrast to the majority of lighthouses of its type, this one was two floors tall and had a lantern tower with a fourth-order Fresnel lens positioned on a corner of the roof instead of in the middle. The Coast Guard sold the lighthouse to Elijah Tate in 1955 after it was discontinued in 1941 because of dwindling river traffic. The building was severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, which led to a preservation effort. With the help of the public and private sectors, the Edenton Historical Commission bought it in 2007, relocated it to Colonial Waterfront Park, and repaired it. It now proudly sits on Edenton's port as a museum and a testament to the tenacity of the local community and historical preservation. The lighthouse is free to tour and the "grounds" are accessible 24 hours. It is well worth a stop. I'm only bummed that I wasn't here to see it at sunrise or at sunset as I am sure it is quite magical. [Round number review 24000 overall - 841 of 2025 - 4271 in North Carolina]

Very cute and quaint lighthouse in an amazing part of North Carolina! The history is fascinating,…read morethe building is well-preserved, and the surrounding waterfront views make it a great stop to explore and take photos.

Hope Plantation is in Windsor, NC. It was the home of former NC Governor David Stone…read more Hope Mansion and the King-Bazemore House can be toured with a docent on certain days and times so check the website before visiting to make sure it will be open. You start your visit and buy your ticket at the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center. It has restrooms, a gift shop and two rooms to view that provide background information about the property. You can either walk or drive to the houses as they are a distance away. I was not sure what to expect when I decided to visit Hope Plantation and did not expect that the tour would be as long as it was and so thorough. It is possible that my tour was longer than normal as I was very interested in all of the facts provided. I was very impressed with this property; the history and the restoration. I try my best to find the hidden gems to visit so was excited that I found another. Both houses are on the National Registry for Historic Places. The land of the plantation sits was from a land grant by King Charles II of England. It was to lure settlers from Virginia and was given to Francis and Elizabeth Hobson. Elizabeth inherited the property after her husband died and later married Zedekiah Stone. The story told is that Elizabeth missed her homeland Hope Parish so the property was named Hope. David Stone was given the Hope tract of land as a wedding present. He constructed the Hope Mansion. The house was completed in 1803. It is of a Georgian style with Federal Period influences. The enslaved community provided the labor to run the plantation. The highly skilled labor can be seen with the craftsmanship of the home. After David Stone died, his son sold the property. It changed owners many times. In 1960 though the property was deteriorated and Bertie Country residents worked to save the property. They created a historical association and raised the funds to purchase the property. Then went on to restoring the mansion through research. The outside was completed in 1969 and by 1972 the restoration was completed. The King-Bazemore House was relocated to the plantation in 1974 to be restored. It is an example of a colonial home and would be compared to the Hobson-Stone House that was destroyed when the mansion was built. I highly recommend visiting this property in Bertie County if you love history and historic properties. You will not be disappointed. These properties are amazing and the restorations impeccable.

Traveling around and reviewing historical markers, a few names here and there seem to be a bit more…read morefamous than others. This is one of those. The marker reads, "William Blount. Member of Continental Congress, signer of the Federal Constitution, governor S.W. Territory, Senator from Tennessee. Birthplace 1/5 mi. southwest." It is marker number A-41 and it was erected in 1951. William Blount came from one of North Carolina's most prominent families and was educated in private academies in both North Carolina and Virginia. He served in the American Revolution as a paymaster and later held multiple terms in the state legislature, contributing to the adoption of the United States Constitution and the cession of western lands. As Governor of the Southwest Territory, he played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Holston with the Cherokee and helped establish the state of Tennessee, chairing its constitutional convention. Blount College, now the University of Tennessee, was named in his honor. Though elected to the United States Senate, he was expelled in 1797 for involvement in a plot related to British expansion, but was later acquitted and returned to Tennessee politics. He died in Knoxville in 1800, leaving behind his wife Mary Moseley Grainger and seven children. Blount County Tennessee is named for him, as are both Blount Street in Raleigh North Carolina and Madison Wisconsin. Interestingly, Blount County in Alabama is named not for William, but for his half-brother Willie Blount. [Review 835 of 2025 - 4265 in North Carolina - 24394 overall]

This marker near Edenton's Historic District points out how people got around back in the days…read morebefore concrete and steel bridges. The marker reads, "Mackey's Ferry. Established 1735 over Albemarle Sound, succeeding Bells Ferry. Discontinued in 1938. Northern terminus was four blocks south." It is marker number A-27. In the early 1700s, ferries like Mackey's and Street's were vital for transporting people and goods across eastern North Carolina's waterways, especially as settlement in the Albemarle region grew. These ferries were typically flatboats or rope-pulled vessels. One key crossing, established in the 1730s on Kendrick's Creek in present-day Washington County, began as Thomas Bell's Ferry and was later acquired by William Mackey in 1735. Mackey operated the ferry into the 1750s, adjusting fees and responding to growing demand. Though the ferry evolved over time--from rope-pulled to sail, steam, and diesel--it remained in use until 1938, when a steel bridge replaced it near Kendrick's Creek. The marker was erected in 1942 by the North Carolina State Historical Commission. There is room to stop here. Or continue four blocks south to see where it used to land. [Review 855 of 2025 - 4285 in North Carolina - 24412 overall] [13/20]

I spotted this marker in the Edenton Historic District and had to know more. It provides a very…read morebrief synopsis of the life of a man who did great things for the United States. The marker reads, "A signer of the U.S. Constitution. Scholar, Congressman, and Surgeon General of North Carolina Militia. Home was 4 blocks SE." It is marker number A-34 and it was erected in 1949 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. Online, there is more information. Hugh Williamson (1735-1819), born in Pennsylvania and educated at the College of Philadelphia, initially pursued ministry before turning to medicine, earning his degree in Europe. A respected scientist and member of the American Philosophical Society, he gained recognition for his climate and electrical studies and became politically active after witnessing the unrest in Boston in 1773, later warning British officials of impending revolution. After returning to America, Williamson settled in Edenton, North Carolina, where he ran several businesses and served as surgeon general during the Revolutionary War. He entered politics in 1782, representing North Carolina in the Continental Congress and playing a key role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A committed Federalist, he supported ratification of the Constitution and served in the first two U.S. Congresses, though he opposed federal assumption of state debts. After marrying Maria Apthorpe and losing her shortly after childbirth, Williamson retired to New York, where he devoted himself to writing and philanthropy, including authoring A History of North Carolina and helping found the University of North Carolina. He died in 1819 and was buried in Trinity Cemetery in New York City. There is room to stop here and read the marker. There is also more information online. [Review 857 of 2025 - 4287 in North Carolina - 24414 overall] [15/20]