Bennett Place State Historic Site will host the Old Hillsborough Road Market and living history demonstrations on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. The event is free to attend. Bennett Place is administered by North Carolina Historic Sites, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
A major thoroughfare in the 1800s, the road passed through the Bennett property and connected the towns of Hillsborough and Raleigh. The Bennetts frequently sold goods and services to travelers along the road, ensuring economic stability for the family.
To honor that entrepreneurial spirit, local vendors selling crafts, jewelry, toys, and art will set up market stalls along a 100-yard section of the historic roadway within the boundary of the site, interspersed with costumed historic interpreters demonstrating tailoring, blacksmithing and woodworking. The Bennett house and kitchen will also be open for viewing.
About Bennett Place State Historic Site
Once the home of James and Nancy Bennett, this 189-acre farm in the North Carolina Piedmont became the location of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War. Over the course of three days in April 1865, General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston deliberated the terms of surrender and peace, which helped reunite this country. Today, the Bennetts' reconstructed farmhouse, kitchen, and smokehouse recall the lifestyle of an ordinary Southern farmer during the Civil War. Bennett Place State Historic Site is located at 4409 Bennett Memorial Rd., Durham, NC 27705.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.