Name: Duke Homestead State Historic Site
Address: 2828 Duke Homestead Rd, Durham, NC, 27705, US
Telephone: (919) 627-6990

Visit Website

Phone: (919) 627-6990

Directions 4.7

This national historic landmark includes the restored mid-1800s Duke family home, tobacco barns, original factory and farm. It also has a museum to showcase the beginnings of the modern-day tobacco industry, complete with demonstrations of early farming techniques and manufacturing processes, special programs and experts to answer visitor questions. Please call at least two weeks ahead to schedule a school group or a group of 10 or more people.

Auditorium

Area: 1,000

Configuration	Occupancy
Reception	0
Banquet	0

Site Grounds

Configuration	Occupancy
Reception	400
Banquet	400

Google Rating

4.7

Tyrone Fernando 12 months ago

The Duke homestead has the original house occupied by the Duke family. They also have their first tobacco 'factory.'

We took the guided tour with a school group. The tour takes you through the different processes the tobacco leaves go through to prepare it for sale. The Homestead has the original buildings that were used for these processes using manual labor.

It's a good tour for kids because they would get see and understand firsthand how young kids helped in the tobacco making process a long time ago. Kids had worked 16 hour days according to our guide and had no opportunity for schooling.

The actual house occupied by the Dukes is window to the past and shows how people managed without the comforts we take for granted such as electricity, running water and indoor toilets.

This is a place worth visiting with kids.
Thomas Bowen 3 months ago

I always wanted to see a tobacco farm and this was it. The museum was especially fascinating seeing all the different machinery to make cigarettes and learn about the history of the Duke family. The guided trail was also interesting seeing the leaf dryers and original homestead.
Leta Fox 2 months ago

If you ever wondered about how tobacco was produced, this is a great place to learn. It is an easy walk to the outbuildings. The Duke family home is a treasure in achitecture of the time. The museum has videos, displays to see about how everything was done, start to finish. It is worth your time to walk and learn!
Scarborough House Wedding Venue a month ago

This is a great place learn a lot about the history of the name Duke, Durham, and a lot about tobacco as well.
Ed Looney 3 weeks ago

Nice piece of history here on the Dukes and the early tobacco industry.