Sites

Historic Sites

Maritime Underground Railroad Waterfront

National Park Service Underground Railway Network to Freedom, Maritime Underground Railroad Site, Waterfront Park, located at the foot of South Broad Street. The Maritime Underground Railroad was composed of a network of African American watermen who worked with individuals of other races and occupations to identify sympathetic seamen to arrange passage on ships for freedom-seekers […]

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Historic Edenton Trolley Tour

For visitors (and residents) wanting to experience a leisurely tour of Edenton and learn about its 300-year history, hop aboard the Edenton Trolley Tour. The guided tour is one of many fun things to do in Edenton, showcasing notable sites throughout the Downtown Historic District and supporting historical residences of Edenton’s citizens; the African American

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Harriet Jacobs Tour

Hear the amazing tale of Harriet Jacobs, a woman born into slavery in Edenton, who escaped to become a well-known abolitionist and author.  As documented in her 1861 autobiography, “Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl”, this walking tour shares history and takes you through downtown Edenton to see many of the sites mentioned

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Josephine Napoleon Leary

Step inside the “Edenton Women of Distinction Exhibit” and learn about Mrs. Josephine  Napoleon Leary, a remarkable African American woman who was born in slavery and became a successful entrepreneur.  The intact and classic iron-fronted building still standing on Broad Street was constructed by Theo Ralph with Mrs. Leary’s name in the pediment came from the popular “Mesker

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Mariners’ Wharf

 The busy wharf was the site of much Civil War activity. Black troops, free Black Elizabeth City residents, and those escaping slavery would certainly have comingled here in 1863 when a brigade of Black soldiers—many of whom had been previously enslaved in the region—returned to Elizabeth City under the command of Brigadier General Edward Augustus

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Albemarle Bank

On August 14, 1920, this structure opened for business as the Albemarle Bank, the first African American-owned bank in northeastern North Carolina. Building off a long tradition of mutual aid within African American communities, African American-owned banks provided their clientele with savings and loans opportunities along with respectful customer service. These goods and services were

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