Bennett Place Historic Site

Love history? Head to Bennett Place Historic Site in North Carolina where kids can learn all about this simple yet important farmhouse.

Picture this. It's April 1865 and Confederate General Joseph E Johnston and Union General William T Sherman meet at this location to signed surrender papers for the Southern armies in the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia.

Sounds a pretty important event doesn't it? That's because it was! In fact, it was the largest troop surrender of the American Civil War. 

A man named James Bennett, his wife and their three children settled on a 325 acre farm where they grew corn and raised hogs. In 1921 a fire actually destroyed the farmhouse and kitchen, and only the chimney survived.

Today, you'll find carefully reconstructed buildings that used Civil war sketches and early photographs as a guide. The kitchen is even fully furnished to what life would have been like during the times of the Bennett Family.

When you arrive, head to the modern visitor center first. This features a museum gallery of three rooms filled with exhibits that tell the story of the family and the war. 

Kids can even see real life Civil War artifacts as part of the collection!

Once you have seen the farmhouse, spend a little more time at Bennett Place Historic Site. There are walking trails through the forest, and some of the plants even occupied the land during the time of the Bennetts!

Why not really make a day of it and take a picnic.

It's a beautiful day out in beautiful North Carolina, where kids can learn that history IS fun!