Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory facts for kids
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Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory
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Tobacco Barns at Duke Homestead
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Durham, North Carolina |
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| Area | 43.8 acres (17.7 ha) |
| Built | 1852 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000590 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
The Duke Homestead State Historic Site is a special place in Durham, North Carolina. It's a National Historic Landmark, which means it's an important historical spot for the whole country! This site celebrates the farm where Washington Duke started his family's tobacco business. This business eventually grew into the American Tobacco Company, which became one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world in the early 1900s. Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about the Duke family and the history of tobacco farming.
Contents
A Look Back at History
The Duke Homestead house was built around 1852 by Washington Duke. His farm was quite large, about 300 acres (120 ha), before the American Civil War began. During the war, like many farms, the property was damaged and had things taken by soldiers. After the war, the Duke family had very little left, except for some tobacco.
From Farm to Factory
Instead of just growing tobacco, the Duke family decided to start processing it. This meant they would prepare the tobacco for people to use. In 1881, they even started making cigarettes to sell, competing with loose tobacco. The Duke family did their early tobacco processing right here on this farm. Later, in 1874, they moved their growing business into downtown Durham.
In 1890, the Duke business officially became the American Tobacco Company. It grew to be the largest tobacco company in the world! However, because it became so big, the government later decided to split it into several smaller companies in 1911 to encourage fair competition.
Becoming a Landmark
In 1931, Duke University bought the farm. Years later, in 1966, the Duke Homestead was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. This made it a nationally recognized historic place. Then, in 1974, it became a North Carolina State Historic Site. This means it's now managed by the state of North Carolina to preserve its history.
What You Can See Today
The Duke Homestead site today covers more than 40 acres (16 ha) of the original Duke family land. You can see the original Duke Homestead house, which was built in 1852. There are also several barn-like buildings, which were used as "factories" where the Dukes dried, processed, and packed their tobacco. The very first building they used for work, a log barn, was unfortunately destroyed by fire. But don't worry, it was rebuilt in 1931 so visitors can still see what it looked like!
The Tobacco Museum
Today, the Duke Homestead is a fun museum for visitors. You can explore the restored 1852 Duke Homestead house, which has four rooms filled with furniture and items from that time. You can also see the tobacco barns and various old tools and objects, called artifacts, that were used on the farm.
The visitor center has a special Tobacco Museum. Here, you'll find exhibits that teach you all about tobacco farming, how tobacco was processed, and the history of tobacco in North Carolina. You can also enjoy different talks and presentations in the Visitor Center. It's a great place to learn about a big part of North Carolina's past!
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