Duke Homestead State Historic Site

Duke Homestead State Historic Site From the Museum to the First Factory, from the Pack House to the Kitchen, you just can't get enough of the place the Duke family came to call "The Homestead."

If you're in the area, you won't want to miss it!

Magnets of the Duke house and the packhouse are back in stock, as well as house lapel pins! Take home a piece of history...
09/03/2026

Magnets of the Duke house and the packhouse are back in stock, as well as house lapel pins! Take home a piece of history on your next trip to the homestead!

Had such a great time at our recent Brightleaf Harvest Day event! Here is a collection of photos taken by Helen Coats Ph...
08/28/2026

Had such a great time at our recent Brightleaf Harvest Day event! Here is a collection of photos taken by Helen Coats Photography! More photos to come! Thanks so much to everyone who came out to support us, whether as a volunteer or as a guest!

08/26/2026

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to volunteer, and everyone who came out to visit and support us! Thanks also to Spectrum News 1 North Carolina for coming out to capture footage and spread the word about what we do here!

Picking to***co, known in the industry as "priming" is a crucial step in to***co production. The leaves of the to***co p...
08/22/2026

Picking to***co, known in the industry as "priming" is a crucial step in to***co production. The leaves of the to***co plant are not all harvested at once. Rather, the leaves are primed in order of ripeness, and the to***co plant ripens from the bottom up. Here is a photo of some of our to***co plants halfway primed. Priming the leaves at peak ripeness makes for the best final product, so if you've ever wondered why some to***co plants look half-picked, that is why!

Come out and see us prime and loop to***co today during Brightleaf Harvest Day here at Duke Homestead State Historic Site.

Tomorrow is the big day! Come on down to our Bright Leaf Harvest Day, August 22nd, and learn about historic to***co farm...
08/21/2026

Tomorrow is the big day! Come on down to our Bright Leaf Harvest Day, August 22nd, and learn about historic to***co farming in North Carolina! While the event is free, we will also be offering local BBQ for our hungry visitors at only $12 a plate. Not only will you get a tasty meal, but you will also be supporting local history education, as all proceeds go to the Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation. We can’t wait to see you there!

On this day in history, August 20, 1858, Artelia Roney Duke dies from typhoid fever.Artelia Roney was born to John and M...
08/20/2026

On this day in history, August 20, 1858, Artelia Roney Duke dies from typhoid fever.

Artelia Roney was born to John and Mary Trollinger Roney of Haw River, NC on June 28, 1829. Artelia was the fourth of nine documented siblings and would have been 23 years old when she married Washington Duke on December 9, 1852.

The story we tell here is that Artelia met Washington at a Methodist revival and they fell in love from there. Artelia gave birth to her first child, Mary Elizabeth Duke on November 17, 1853, likely at her parents' house in Haw River. Her son Benjamin Newton Duke was born April 27, 1855 and that same year, Washington purchased an eleven-year-old enslaved girl named Caroline. Artelia gave birth to her final child, James Buchanan "Buck" Duke on December 23, 1856.

In 1858, Washington's eldest son from his first marriage to Mary Caroline Clinton, Sidney Taylor Duke, got sick with typhoid fever. Artelia took to nursing her stepson, and to keep the rest of the family from getting sick, cordoned herself and Sidney off away from the rest of the household, potentially at her parents' home in Haw River. Despite her efforts, Sidney would pass away from typhoid fever on August 10, 1858. Artelia, who caught typhoid fever while nursing Sidney, would pass away ten days later. Artelia was only 29 years old when she died.

Artelia's death would have certainly shaken the Duke family. Washington never remarried despite being only 38 when Artelia passed. Artelia's children, who would have been very young when she passed, mourned their mother throughout their lives. The only image of Artelia was a portrait painted posthumously which was commissioned by her children. Brodie no doubt mourned losing yet another mother figure, and any work Artelia did around the house would have been added to Caroline's workload. Artelia's unmarried sisters would come in and out of the homestead to assist with the children, and Anne Roney would later become housekeeper at the Duke's Fairview estate.

Pictured here: Detail of the posthumous portrait of Artelia Roney and a photo of her headstone.

To read more about what Artelia's life and her role as mother might have been like: https://chbmuseum.medium.com/artelia-roney-duke-55bffeead2e8

Our Art-O-Mat has been restocked and is full of fresh new art! Here's a photo of some of our newest additions posed for ...
08/20/2026

Our Art-O-Mat has been restocked and is full of fresh new art! Here's a photo of some of our newest additions posed for a scene.

In the background is a sailboat pocket landscape by Lori Wallace, in the mid ground are two inanimate pets in handmade sweaters made by Leticia Miller and in the foreground is a poke-licious poke bowl in a recycled bottle cap made by Ann Shirra.

In 1852, the same year Washington Duke had his homestead built in Durham, a new type of to***co became popularized. New ...
08/19/2026

In 1852, the same year Washington Duke had his homestead built in Durham, a new type of to***co became popularized. New flue-curing methods gave this to***co bright golden leaves, hence the name Bright Leaf To***co. In 1850, North Carolina was already producing 12 million pounds of to***co a year, but with the popularity of the new Bright Leaf To***co, production continued to increase. By 1860, the state was producing 33 million pounds of to***co annually.

Come see Bright Leaf To***co yourself by coming to our Bright Leaf Harvest Day on August 22nd, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m!

(Image Source: "George Barbee, 13 years old topping. Lives near Bell School." Location: Nicholas County, Kentucky / Lewis W. Hine. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ncl2004004828/PP/)

Some of our staff recently went out to To***co Farm Life Museum to help with their August Curiosity Cured: Science in th...
08/15/2026

Some of our staff recently went out to To***co Farm Life Museum to help with their August Curiosity Cured: Science in the Summer event! Here are some pictures from that event! Lucas showcased how simple machines like wheels, axels, screws, and pulleys could form a more complex machine like a sewing machine.

For more educational events and living history come visit us at Duke Homestead, and visit our friends over at To***co Farm Life Museum and tell them we sent you!

Address

2828 Duke Homestead Road
Durham, NC
27705

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19196276990

Website

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