North Carolina Genealogy

North Carolina has some wonderful historic sites, one of which is Somerset Place in Washington County. Somerset Place was one of the largest North Carolina Plantations before the Civil War. (The slave population was among the largest in NC). Through most of its existence it was operated by the Collins family. The current Historical Site includes the main Plantation house as well as 8 other original structures and 4 reconstructed buildings (including the Plantation Hospital and Overseers House.)

This plantation is representative of the structure and norms of southern Plantations of it’s time. The historic site is near Lake Phelps in Washington County (not far from Creswell and the line of Tyrell County.) The first ever gathering of descendants of former slaves was held in 1986 at Somerset. This idea has since been done at other former plantations.

Somerset Place is open to the public. Admission is FREE although donations are requested.

From their website (linked above.)

HOURS OF OPERATION:
April 1 through October 31
Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.
November 1 through March 31
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Call ahead for hours of operation for state and federal holidays.