3 Best Landmarks in Durham, NC

“Bennett Place is created to provide financial help and support to Bennett Place State Historic Site. The place has an extensive collection of artifacts that share the stories of the Bennett Family and the final weeks of the American Civil War. This site is the last surrender of a major Confederate army in the American Civil War when Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to William T. Sherman. The visitors can enjoy the museum gallery and the theatre, which shows the 17-minute film, "dawn of peace." The place has a farmhouse, a kitchen, and a smokehouse, reminiscent of the lifestyle of a typical Southern farmer during the Civil War. Bennett Place has a Handicap accessible and ample parking spaces.”

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“Duke Homestead surrounds the historic home, farm, and factory buildings of Washington Duke and his family as they lived on the property from 1852 until 1874. The site explains the early farming life of the Duke family and the beginnings of their tobacco manufacturing business on the property after the Civil War. Washington Duke built the Duke Homestead on a farm that was about 300 acres in size when the American Civil War broke out. The historic site includes the restored mid-1800s family home of the Dukes, tobacco barns, the original factory, and the farm. The museum contains exhibits regarding tobacco farming, manufacturing, and marketing. The museum offers a two-hour orientation film, a giant tobacco museum, and guided tours of the surviving historic buildings on the grounds. Guests can take one of the 45-minute guided tours through the historic area or explore on their own in the visitor center and museum.”

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“Historic Stagville has 30,000 acres of land and has asserted possession of over 900 people who were enslaved on this property. The site interprets enslaved people's lives, families, culture, and work on the Bennehan-Cameron plantations. The museum offers a holistic explanation through tours and special events that tell the story of the free and enslaved who called Stagville home. Historic Stagville also preserves the remnants of one of the most extensive plantations in North Carolina. The place offers various educational programs for students of all ages, and picnic tables and chairs are available on-site for groups. Admission to Historic Stagville is free and open to the public.”

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