somerset place

I really enjoy going and walking around with my family out of town so we can see the history of our family. There has been a lot of changes in the past couple of years in the history that is being told. I went many years ago with my grandmother who had visited there before in her younger days. She has told me so many story that when I go I can just picture what is going on.

For my femme and i, history and recreation blend smoothly when we visited this enormous complex encompassing 17,873- acre park part of which houses what was once a coastal plantation. We have always wanted to see a clapboard mansion to fly in the face of images from the Greco- pillared mansions in the Gone With the Wind genre. The wood-grain painted doors and wide porches distinguish this as a classic building, as do the marble fireplaces indoor. Close by are the kitchen,dairy, icehouse and exterior clapboard outbuildings, with a lovely formal garden to add to the gentrified feel. 11 km of trails penetrate the park's virgin forest of huge oaks, bald cypresses, poplars and my favourite, sweetgums which shelter woodpeckers,bats and the allusive black bear. Our wanderings took us to Phelps Lake where not only did we enjoy watching anglers hook giant bass, but were invited to sample a smoker slowly cooking this great tasting flesh. Overhead geese and ducks wheel by. Our journey was exceedingly pleasant on our rented bikes with a picnic basket filled with goodies for lunch by the lake's shore

Our visit to Somerset Place was one of the top 3 things we did during our week on the NC coast. Anita, the tour guide did a great job talking about the history of the plantation from the beginning though the building of the main house, to the present after the state took it over. I believe the guided tour is the way to go.It's surprising that so many of the buildings in the owners compound still exist. There's a friendly cat too hat may follow you around.There's no entry fee, but I'd certainly hope that people will make a nice donation. Great stop for anyone with even a small interest in history.Thanks again Anita.

The State of North Carolina has done a beautiful job of preserving history here. We have visited plantations elsewhere, but this is the best. There were quite a few buildings to tour. The life of the enslaved community was very well documented and portrayed, not simply an afterthought as is often the case. The hospital and all of its artifacts was especially interesting. The owners house was beautifully presented. Our tour guide was exceptional. The telling of history orally is always special. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer. He was enthusiastic and interesting. He was very straightforward and factual, but sensitive. Everyone in the family was so glad we made the trip, including our 14 year old daughter and our oldest (29 years old) who joined us from NYC.

Closed for renovation. Couldn't go in or even take pictures of the outside of the plantation. It must be beautiful when you are allowed to go inside and take a tour. Lots of out buildings in good shape.

We recently visited the Somerset Place, a NC state Historic Site in Creswell, NC and was a little disappointed. The main plantation house was under renovations so we could not go in it and we had arrived too late for the last guided tour, so we had to visit each building on our own. The staff was nice and there was no charge for the facility.

I enjoy history and visiting educational tours and this place did not disappoint. I should have been smart and not toured during the hottest months in NC. But, the surrounding area had very interesting areas to visit.

Even though the plantation owner's house was closed for renovation, we loved our tour. We had a wonderful guide who had a lot of knowledge and walked us through the enslaved people's houses and hospital as well as the dependencies of the owner's house. It is a bit off the main road but well worth the detour. It also would make a good rainy day destination from the Outerbanks. We detoured going from the Outerbanks to Norfolk. So glad we made this stop. We learned a lot and saw items we had never seen before.This would be great for kids as well as adults.

Somerset Place is a state historic site devoted to the interpretation of the plantation from two perspectives: the Collins family who owned the plantation, and the enslaved population who did the work. Guides do an excellent job providing educational tours of the site that include a number of buildings and dependencies. Well worth a visit when you are in Washington County.

This was a very quick glimpse into the past. Not much there to see. If you are looking for something to do and you don't have anything else to do, sto by.

We were vacationing on Cape Hatteras and had to leave early because of Hurricane Sandy so once we got back to the mainland we decided to do a little sightseeing even though the rain and wind was a little bothersome. From the literature I had picked up read all about Somerset Place on the North Carolina historic site tour, so we decided to take a little detour and go see it and were we ever glad that we did. From the buildings to the detailed presentation given to us personally (no other visitors) and the powerpoint presentation of the actual house (it was closed for renovation), it was just awesome!!! The ranger was willing to give us a personal tour of all the out buildings including the hospital on site but the wind and rain was getting pretty bad so we said next time because we will be back! He told us that the renovation of the owner home would probably be completed in about 8 or 9 months so we plan on going back after that because the pictures that were in the powerpoint presentation showed that the 14 room owner home was furnished just like pre-civil war and due to the generous contributions from the Collins family descendants most of the furnishings are from the time period when the Collins family lived there. The pictures, records, journal entries, buildings, property and location make this a must see stop if you are in the area.

After reading "Letters from a Slave Girl: The Story of Harriet Jacobs" by Mary E. Lyons, for my middle school AG Battle of the Books teams, my sons and I visited Somerset Place. We were greatly impressed with the architectural preservation, and very moved by the historical interpretation by the staff and volunteers at Somerset Place. We made a video for presentation to my students (and principals-to approve a field trip). Well prepared, informed, and eager to experience Somerset Place, those students had the best field trip experience ever, thanks to the dedicated staff.The hands-on-learning, with candle dipping, corn husk doll making, and rope-making taught them just how much work it took to be prepared for daily living 160 years ago.Driving to the site, you pass miles of canal, which were used to ship goods from Lake Phelps, and the surrounding plantations & farms, to the Scuppernong River & Albemarle Sound. You really need to stop and think about all those human beings who had labored to dig the canals by hand, hour by hour, day by day, nearly two centuries ago.It was a moment of somber reflection when we stopped the bus, midway, and as far as you could see, north and south, was that canal.The students enjoyed a picnic lunch at Pettigrew State Park, which is adjacent to Somerset Place, on Lake Phelps.After lunch, we ventured into Edenton to take our own tour of places mentioned in Letters from A Slave Girl.Since those days, we have gone back many times, especially to explore the area by bicycle.My recommendation is to pack a lunch, and take your bicycles, riding the roads nearby, after your tour. Bear in mind that settlers cleared the lands you are viewing. People seem to forget what state this continent was in, pre-Columbian. Just something to think about as you ride. And if you get tired while riding, just think about digging that canal. Those people did not have a choice, if they wished to survive. Count your blessings as you ride.You will be glad that you did.

An antebellum rice plantation, Somerset Place has restored most of the original buildings, including slave quarters, a large kitchen, a dispensary, and the main plantation house. A great visit.

The plantation house and the grounds are an excellent example of agrarian life in the Old South. It's location on beautiful Lake Phelps doesn't hurt, either. The attraction features both original and reconstructions of farm buildings and slave quarters that you can tour in addition to the main house tour. While you are there, be sure to walk the trails at adjacent Pettigrew State Park. One of the trails (I can't remember the name of it) goes through a magnificent stand of ancient old-growth bald cypress. You'll think you're in Jurassic Park.

Off the beaten track, but worth the effort if you are at all curious about the history of the South. A very atmospheric (haunted?), quiet, authentic site. On a hot July morning with mayflies about, my tweens were not interested in the 1 hr tour, so we poked around on our own and chatted with the very informative and friendly volunteers in the gift shop. I believe that over time, our short visit to Somerset Place (on the way to the Outer Banks) will prove to have been an eye-opening experience for my family and will have broadened our collective horizons. Glad we went.