10 Reasons to Visit Edenton This Summer

There’s a good reason Edenton is often called “The Prettiest Small Town in the South” – several good reasons, actually. Incorporated in 1722, it was North Carolina’s first Colonial capital. Edenton is also the state’s second-oldest town and one of the nation’s first political, cultural and commercial centers. Over the years, it has managed to retain its irresistible character and appeal, thanks in part to its welcoming residents, intriguing design elements and beautiful waterfront backdrop.

“It’s picturesque. It’s charming. It’s quaint,” says Nancy Nicholls, tourism director at the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority. “When people come to town, especially if it’s their first visit, they just fall in love with the way the waterfront looks. And a lot of people end up buying houses and staying.”

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In a joint community effort, residents have lovingly preserved 300 years of history, much of which lives on through some of the state’s oldest homes, churches and other structures. With that heritage comes a wealth of architectural styles, from American Federal and Georgian to Colonial and Victorian.

“With our buildings, we often say, ‘If only these walls could talk,’” Nicholls says. “History has been made here over and over again, so there’s a lot to share.”

1. Penelope Barker House Welcome Center

A great way to start exploring is with a stop at this historic waterfront site on the Edenton Bay harbor. Constructed in 1782, the three-story welcome center was originally home to Penelope Barker, who organized the famous Edenton “Tea Party” of 1774, along with 50 other local women, to petition against the purchase of taxable British goods in a rare female-led political protest that caused quite a stir. Today, rocking chairs on the sprawling front porch offer a place to relax. Be sure to check out the marker for the Civil War Trails on the property.

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2. Edenton Trolley Tour

Just steps from the welcome center, board a trolley for a leisurely, 45-minute guided tour and narration about what Edenton was like during Colonial times and the important people who lived here, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The trolley rolls past Victorian mansions and through the Edenton Cotton Mill Historic District, among others. The elegantly restored mill now houses spacious condominiums, while the former office building is home to the Edenton Cotton Mill Museum of History. Come back later to any of the sites for a closer view.

3. Roanoke River Lighthouse

Believed to be the last surviving example of a square-frame American lighthouse built for a screw-pile base, this captivating landmark served as a beacon for ships from 1887 to 1941. Restored to its original state as a lightkeeper’s home, it was originally located in Albemarle Sound at the entrance to the Roanoke River near Plymouth.

4. Chowan County Courthouse

One of only two sites where the N.C. Supreme Court is currently allowed to meet outside of Raleigh and the oldest public building in the state, the 1767 Georgian-style Chowan County Courthouse was used by prominent revolutionary judges who heard cases here. Upstairs, dances were held at night in the assembly room. The sweeping courthouse green is often rented for weddings, receptions and other celebrations. Kids love to play football on it too.

5. James Iredell House

Once the residence of James Iredell, a state Superior Court judge, an attorney general and associate justice on the first U.S. Supreme Court, the home shares the property with other interesting “dependencies” such as the schoolhouse and detached kitchen. Schoolchildren who tour the site get to see for themselves what life was like during the American Revolution.

6. Maritime Underground Railroad

At Colonial Waterfront Park, pause at the sign marking a stop on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, where African American boatmen helped slaves escape from the area on passing ships. Among these was Harriet Jacobs, who, after seven years of hiding in the attic of her grandmother, a free Black woman, was able to flee to the North in 1842 via what is now known as the Maritime Underground Railroad. Ten years later, she gained her full freedom and went on to become an activist, abolitionist and author.

7. Water Recreation on Edenton Bay and Chowan and Pasquotank River Basins

For a spectacular view of the town from the water, take a narrated electric boat cruise on Edenton Bay, available April through October. If you crave a bit more immersion, grab a fishing pole or rent a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe from the town harbor and explore Pembroke and Queen Anne creeks or the Chowan River. Nine transient boat slips offer two-night complimentary stays for boaters. (Showers are also available.) And an extensive playground on the waterfront can keep children busy for hours.

8. Cupola House Gardens

This restored home, built in 1758 on the north shore of Edenton Bay, is surrounded by a white picket fence and lush formal gardens. In the front, native trees, shrubs and flowers shade the house year round; in back, a heritage garden teems with herbs grown for cooking and medicine during the 1750s. Visitors can tour the gardens on their own daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while tours of the house are ticketed, available for purchase at the Edenton Visitor Center.

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9. Edenton Museum Trail

Stretch your legs on a self-guided walking tour of 15 downtown and waterfront sites, including the oldest (but unnamed) house in North Carolina, the Old Jail and the 1905 Edenton Teapot, a bronze sculpture commemorating the Edenton Tea Party. Guided walking tours are also available twice daily from the Historic Edenton State Historic Site Visitor Center at the opposite end of town from the bay. The pedestrian-friendly downtown offers a number of local shops, many owned by women, and eateries, from luncheonettes to upscale restaurants and everything in between.

10. Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church

Part of the museum trail, the 1897 Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church was damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and is about to undergo a well-earned restoration. Built by the Badhams, a family of well-known Black carpenters, the Gothic Revival house of worship features a boat-shaped ceiling, striking stained-glass windows and a spacious sanctuary that seats 400.