Durham Attractions

To those who follow the history of the US Civil War, Bennett Place will be a familiar locale. Not farm from Durham, it was here, in this simple farmhouse, that the Southern Armies signed the surrender papers. Bennett Place was recreated and restored to its former appearance in 1960 from drawings after a fire destroyed the original building in 1921.

For those interested in the cultivation and history of tobacco, the Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum in Durham should be on their itinerary. The Duke family have been heavily involved in the tobacco trade over the years and their background and history is well laid out for all to view. The homestead has several interesting buildings on the property including a wonderfully restored 19th Century mansion that can be toured by visitors.

Historic Stagville was originally the property of the Bennehan-Cameron families and was one of the largest plantations in the southern USA in the last half of the 19th Century. Today visitors can come here to learn about plantation life in the 1800s.

Historic Stagville consists of a number of buildings including the Bennehan House, and a timber framed barn, along with the Bennehan Family cemetery.

When in Durham visiting some of the many attractions, be sure to stop in at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science. Here you will find a plethora of interactive displays sure to delight young and old. Of particular note is the Butterfly house, and for those that can handle them, an Insectarium. If you get hungry there is an on-site café and a gift shop sells take home mementos.

West Point on the Eno in Durham is an historic park with a reconstructed water-powered grist mill, along with a blacksmith shop and the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography. The Museum of Photography displays old photos done using early methods.

West Point on the Eno is also a fun place for outdoor recreational opportunities with walking trails and canoeing or rafting.