House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site Announces Construction Will Begin on New Visitor Center in December

A major visitor enhancement project at the House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site is scheduled to start in December. At the heart of the effort is the construction of a new $5 million visitor center, complete with fresh exhibits that interpret the rich history of the site. The 1772 Alston House, a surviving structure from the American Revolution, will also get needed repairs and restoration. The House in the Horseshoe is administered by N.C. Historic Sites, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The site will close for approximately a year during construction. Saturday, Dec. 6 is the last day House in the Horseshoe will be open to visitors until the project is finished in early 2027.

"For more than two centuries, the House in the Horseshoe has served as a place where North Carolinians come to reflect on our shared past and the events that helped shape our nation," said Site Manager Kevin Melvin. "This restoration project, along with the addition of a new visitor center and museum, will enhance our ability to tell those stories with accuracy, respect, and community engagement at the heart of our work. We appreciate the public's patience during this temporary closure and look forward to reopening with a more educational, inclusive, and inspiring experience for all."

Staff currently greet visitors and orient them to the site in a cramped 700-square-foot repurposed 1940s residence. The new facility will be nearly five times larger, at approximately 4,000 square feet, offering an improved experience for visiting school groups and the public. In addition to a contemporary exhibit gallery, modern restrooms, and paved parking, the new building will have an expanded gift shop, lobby, and office spaces for staff. In 2023, the N.C. General Assembly appropriated funds for four new visitor center projects at State Historic Sites, including House in the Horseshoe, to support the state's multi-year commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Thanks to a grant from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund in 2023, the Alston House will continue to be studied, repaired, and restored while construction on the visitor center is underway. The house will get a new HVAC system, wiring, interior and exterior painting, and structural repairs. Historic preservation specialists will conduct paint analysis and other research as part of a historic structure report to document the unique features and evolution of the home.

The public is encouraged to follow the site on Facebook and Instagram (HouseInTheHorseshoe) for progress and updates throughout the closure.

About House in the Horseshoe
The House in the Horseshoe, named for its location on a horseshoe bend in the Deep River, was owned by Philip Alston. In 1781, British loyalists led by David Fanning attacked Alston and a band of colonists here during the American Revolution. Bullet holes from the skirmish are still visible in the front of the house. Later, four-term governor Benjamin Williams lived in the house, which now features collections from the Colonial and Revolutionary War eras. For more information about the site, call (910) 947-2051 or visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/house-horseshoe.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov.

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