Somerset Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Somerset Place State Historic Site
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Somerset Place
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pettigrew State Park, near Creswell, North Carolina |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| Architectural style | "double-pile" plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000481 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
Somerset Place is a historic site in North Carolina. It was once a very large plantation near Creswell. Plantations were big farms where crops like cotton or tobacco were grown. Enslaved people were forced to work on these farms.
Somerset Place is located along the northern shore of Lake Phelps. It operated as a plantation from 1785 until 1865. This was when the American Civil War ended. Before the war, Somerset Place was one of the biggest plantations in the southern United States.
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A Look at Somerset Place History
In 1969, Somerset Place became a State Historic Site. This means it is protected and open for people to visit. It helps us learn about the past.
Remembering the Past
In 1986, something special happened. Descendants of the African American people who were enslaved at Somerset Place gathered there. This event was called "Somerset Homecoming."
The gathering was very important. It inspired a book called "Somerset Homecoming." The book was written by Dorothy Spruill Redford. She used to manage the historic site.
What You Can See at Somerset Place
Visitors to Somerset Place can explore many buildings. These buildings help show what life was like long ago.
Exploring the Main House
You can tour the main plantation house. It was built in the 1830s. This house shows how the plantation owners lived.
Other Important Buildings
There are also other buildings to see. These include the dairy and the kitchen/laundry building. You can also see the kitchen rations building. This is where food supplies were kept. There is also a smokehouse and a salting house. These were used to preserve food.
Learning About Enslaved People's Lives
The site also has reconstructed buildings. These show where the enslaved people lived. There are two homes and a plantation hospital. The grounds also have reconstructed stocks. These were used as a form of punishment for enslaved people.
Visitor Center and Nature
The visitor center at Somerset Place has exhibits. These exhibits tell the history of the site. They also explain what North Carolina was like before the Civil War. There is also a gift shop where you can find souvenirs.
Nature trails connect Somerset Place to Pettigrew State Park. This park is right next to the historic site. You can enjoy walking through nature there.
How Big Was Somerset Place?
Somerset Place was very large. It had more than 2,000 acres of farmland. It also had 125,000 acres of cypress and white cedar forests.
