Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Edenton (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Barker House, Cupola House, and Roanoke River Light. Also, be sure to include Chowan County Courthouse in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Edenton (North Carolina).
Table of Contents
Barker House
Historical place museum in Edenton, North Carolina. Barker House is a historic home located at Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. The original house was built about 1782, and expanded during the 19th century. It is a 2+1⁄2-story frame dwelling with Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival style design elements. It sits on a brick foundation and has at both ends a pair of single-shoulder exterior chimneys. The front facade features a full-length, two-tier porch carried on superimposed fluted pillars under a shed roof.
The house commemorates the life of Penelope Barker of Edenton who organized 51 ladies to sign a petition to King George III saying NO to taxation on tea and cloth. Unlike the tea party at Boston, the women at Edenton not only signed their names to the petition but sent it to the King and caused British newspapers to decry the first political demonstration by women in North America.
The Barker House serves as the Welcome Center for Edenton. It is owned, preserved and opened seven days a week by the Edenton Historical Commission and complements several sites of Historic Edenton. Their other historic sites open for tour include the James Iredell House (home of George Washington's youngest appointee to the first US Supreme Court), the Roanoke River Lighthouse, Chowan County Courthouse (this 1767 courthouse is the oldest in-use courthouse in the country), the Cupola House and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
The Barker House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1]
Address: 505 S Broad St, 27932-1937 Edenton
Cupola House
Museum in Edenton, North Carolina. The Cupola House is a historic house museum in Edenton, North Carolina. Built in 1756–1758, it is the second oldest building in Edenton, and the only known surviving example in the American South of a "jutt," or overhanging second floor. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2]
Address: 408 S Broad St, 27932-1936 Edenton
Roanoke River Light
Lighthouse in Edenton, North Carolina. The Roanoke River Lighthouse is a historic, decommissioned lighthouse, located on the waterfront of Edenton, North Carolina. The lighthouse once stood in Albemarle Sound at the mouth of the Roanoke River, across the Sound from its current location. The only surviving screw-pile lighthouse in the state, it has since been moved twice, and a replica of a predecessor light has been erected at a fourth location.[3]
Address: 7 Dock Street, 27932-1855 Edenton
Chowan County Courthouse
Courthouse. The Chowan County Courthouse is a historic courthouse in Edenton, the county seat of Chowan County, North Carolina. Built in 1767, it is one of the finest examples of public Georgian architecture in the American South. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[4]
Address: 117 E King St, 27932-1968 Edenton
James Iredell House
Museum in Edenton, North Carolina. The James Iredell House is a historic home located at Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. The original section was built 1800, and expanded to its present configuration about 1827. It is a two-story, "L"-shaped frame dwelling with Georgian and Federal style design elements. It was the home of James Iredell, an ardent patriot and Justice of the Supreme Court.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The house is now a historic house museum, one of several sites of Historic Edenton, and belongs to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural resources. Other historic sites open for tour include the Roanoke River Light, Chowan County Courthouse, Barker House, Cupola House and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.[5]
Edenton Baptist Church
Edenton Historic District is a national historic district located at Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. The district encompasses 342 contributing buildings, 4 contributing sites, and 3 contributing structures. It includes several buildings that are individually listed on the National Register. The Lane House, possibly the oldest surviving house in North Carolina, is owned by Steve and Linda Lane and is located within the district. Also located in the district are the Dixon-Powell House, William Leary House, and Louis Ziegler House designed by architect George Franklin Barber.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, with boundary increases in 2001 and 2007.[6]
Address: 200 S Granville St, 27932-1848 Edenton
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Church in Edenton, North Carolina. St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard is a historic Episcopal church located at W. Church and Broad Streets in Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. It was built between 1736 and 1766, and is a five-bay, brick church building with a gable roof. It features a slightly engaged square tower. The interior was restored to its 19th-century appearance following a fire in 1949. The churchyard includes the graves of a number of prominent personages including Stephen Cabarrus, Governor Charles Eden, Governor Thomas Pollock, and Henderson Walker.
St. Paul's Parish was established in 1701, as part of the colonial Church of England. The church is the second oldest church building in North Carolina, and the only colonial church still in regular parish use.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[7]
Address: 101 W Gale St, 27932-1815 Edenton
Wessington House
Wessington House is a historic home located at Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. It was built about 1851, and is a 3-story house with a full English basement, brick dwelling with a center hall plan. The front facade features a two-tiered full-length porch with elaborate iron railings and balustrade.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[8]
Historic Edenton State Historic Site
Park, Relax in park
Address: 108 N Broad St, Edenton
Pembroke Hall
Pembroke Hall is a historic home located at Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. It was built about 1849, and is a two-story, Greek Revival style frame dwelling with a low hip roof. It has a two-story, three bay, frame wing. The front and rear facades feature full-length, three-bay superimposed porticoes.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[9]
Address: 121 W King St, Edenton
Lane House
Building in Edenton, North Carolina. Lane House is an historic house in Edenton, North Carolina that is the oldest house in North Carolina identified by dendrochronology.
The 1+1⁄2-story house is located within the Edenton National Register Historic District. The earliest part was built 1718–19 and possibly moved to the site from nearby. The house is currently owned by Steve and Linda Lane. During renovations of the house, which they were using as a rental property, the contractor discovered older hand-hewn beams within the structure. Researchers from Williamsburg and elsewhere were contacted to conduct dendrochronological research on the building.[10]