Learn about NC Civil War history at these 8 spots

If you want to learn more about NC Civil War history, check out these eight sites across the state.

One of the most famous and bloody conflicts in American history was the Civil War, which lasted four years, from the Confederate secession in 1861 to their surrender to the Union in 1865. Of the 34 states that made up the United States before the conflict, 11 seceded rather than emancipate the enslaved people living within their borders, including North Carolina. Today, this brutal chapter in the Tarheel State’s history is recognized in schools, museums, and public heritage sites. Let’s talk about NC civil war history.

Civil War history is extensive and encompasses a wide range of topics, from traditional military history to the political thought of the era and the lives of enslaved people, military conscripts, and others during and immediately after the war. With the Juneteenth federal holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, fast approaching, it’s no surprise that many Americans, in North Carolina and elsewhere, are reflecting on the Civil War and its place in American history.

Want to learn more about the harrowing, fascinating history of the Civil War in North Carolina? From battlefield sites to museums and local history events, there are numerous ways to explore North Carolina’s Civil War history. Here are some of the best Civil War history spots in the Tarheel State for you to explore:

1. Averasboro Battlefield Museum — 3300 Highway 82, Dunn

Part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails program, the Averasboro Battlefield Museum maintains 150 acres of the Civil War battlefield, where educational displays and reenactments are regularly held. Beyond the actual battlefield, visitors can explore the on-site museum Tuesdays through Saturdays, where Civil War items, such as guns and ammunition, are displayed.

2. Bentonville Battlefield — 5466 Harper House Rd, Four Oaks

The Battle of Bentonville was the largest Civil War battle fought in North Carolina, and today, Bentonville Battlefield is preserved as a historic site. Visitors to this state park can explore the site of the battle, as well as the Harper House, the only building in the vicinity of the battlefield that dates from the time of the battle. It served as a field hospital for Union soldiers during the war.

3. Fort Macon State Park — 2303 East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach

A North Carolina state park today, Fort Macon was built in the mid-19th century to defend the North Carolina coast. Before it was used in the Civil War, it served as a beacon of defense against the pirates who sailed off the North Carolina coast. During the war, the fort was the site of an important battle, known as the Siege of Fort Macon. Today, the fort and the surrounding land are maintained by the Parks Division, offering not only historical education but also hiking trails and campgrounds for visitors to experience the natural beauty and ecological importance of the Outer Banks.

4. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture — 551 South Tryon Street, Charlotte

Although Charlotte’s Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture was founded in 1974, over a century after the Civil War, it’s a great place to learn about how the Civil War shaped African-American arts and culture. The museum’s galleries feature rotating exhibitions by contemporary African American artists, including a semi-permanent photography collection with items dating back to the nineteenth century.

5. Historic Edenton/The Maritime Underground Railroad — 108 N Broad Street, Edenton

You’ve likely heard about the Underground Railroad, the network of people and places that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North, but did you know about the Maritime Underground Railroad and its role in North Carolina’s history? The Maritime Underground Railroad was a network of African American watermen who worked to help enslaved people travel North to freedom via boat, with the coast of North Carolina serving as a vital launch point for many of these boats. Today, you can visit the waterfront that served as a crucial point along the way, as well as other Civil War attractions in Edenton, including trolley tours of the historic district, a Georgian visitor’s center, and the Edenton Museum Trail, which includes a stop at North Carolina’s oldest house.

6. Historic Stagville — 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham

Once part of a plantation where over 900 people were enslaved, Historic Stagville stands today as a Site of Conscience. It’s part of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC), a network of preserved sites of human rights violations now used for education and remembrance. Visitors to Historic Stagville can take outdoor or self-guided tours at no cost, and guided tours are available for a small fee. The site includes the former home of the Benneham family, the Horton Grove slave quarters, and over 160 acres of preserved land.

7. The North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center — 824 Branson Street, Fayetteville

The full name of this archaeological site, museum, and education center is the North Carolina History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction. Although it may be a mouthful, it accurately reflects the Center’s thorough approach to exploring Civil War history and educating visitors.

When you visit the Center, which is scheduled to fully open in 2028, you’ll find exhibitions tracing North Carolina history from the Antebellum period through to post-Reconstruction, debunking the “Lost Cause” narrative that emerged in the 1880s. The VanStory History Village is now open for visits from K-12 and higher education students and faculty. You can also contribute any stories from your own family’s North Carolina Civil War history to their story collection.

8. Somerset Place — 2572 Lake Shore Road, Creswell

Once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina, which at one time occupied over 110,000 acres of swampland, Somerset Place is a historic site that was once home to over 800 enslaved individuals. Today, it has been preserved for educational purposes and is open to visitors for a small fee. As a local historical site of interest, there are markers downtown to help visitors find the site.

Somerset Place also offers 90-minute guided tours, which focus on social history as well as the lives of the enslaved and free people who lived at Somerset Place before, during, and after the Civil War.