Bennett Place Historic Site

05/30/2026

05/12/2026

MARKET PROGRAM THIS WEEKEND!
James and Nancy Bennett lived along the Hillsborough Road, a major throughway between the county seat of Hillsborough and the state capital of Raleigh. They made money by selling goods & services to passers-by on the roadway.

This Saturday, Bennett Place State Historic Site brings back that entrepreneurial, small-business spirit with the Old Hillsborough Road Market. Shop local craft, retail, and food vendors while exploring our historic site!

03/25/2026

Bennett Place will be closed on Friday March 27 for a professional development opportunity for staff.

01/24/2026

Partial Closure - Saturday 1/24

A wintry mix is forecast for this weekend, bringing ice, snow, and below-freezing temperatures to much of NC. The storm is predicted to start tomorrow afternoon, and as such, we will be closing early at 12 pm. The 11 am guided tour is still being offered.

We hope all have a safe and warm weekend!

01/10/2026

Metal Detecting at Bennett Place

Unfortunately, we have noticed evidence of metal detecting here at the site. Several holes were found in our field with soil removed, then replaced. Over the past year, we have seen other evidence as well, but this seems to be the largest single act.

To make it clear, in North Carolina, metal detecting at historic sites is illegal. It is also illegal to remove any artifact from the site.

For many of you who have been following our page, in just the last year alone, we have found several interesting artifacts that have since been shared with the office of state archeology, helping to flesh out the story of our site's history. Having folks remove these artifacts is not only a crime, but it also erases future research at the site.

12/20/2025

Please note our holiday closures below. We wish everyone a wonderful and peaceful holiday season!

12/17/2025

New artifact found at Bennett Place!

During the installation of a new fiber optic cable at the site, this horseshoe was unearthed behind the visitor center under ~8 inches of soil!

Measuring 5.75” by 4.75”, this shoe was likely affixed to a horse due to its size, with smaller, longer shoes commonly fitted to mules during this period.

The task of shoeing was often done by a farrier, a job combining blacksmithing skills with animal care, creating a custom-fitted metal shoe that would allow the animal to still walk and work comfortably, while protecting their hooves from excessive wear.

12/09/2025

Bennett Place will open at noon today, December 9th, due to road conditions. If you choose to visit us this afternoon, please drive with caution!

11/26/2025

Bennett Place will be closed November 27th & 28th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will reopen this Saturday. Enjoy the festivities!

11/26/2025

Last Thanksgiving Tour this Saturday!

We have been thrilled with the turnout for this month's Thanksgiving tours! Two of our three weekends sold out completely, and we've really enjoyed sharing this holiday's history with visitors.

If you're interested in this year's final tour, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early to secure your ticket. Tickets are first-come, first-served, and must be picked up in person. Because the program takes place in our kitchen, our tour cap is around 25. Call ahead if you plan on bringing a large group!

Again, that start time is 1 pm.

We hope to see you out here this week, Happy Thanksgiving!