Duplin

Liberty Hall Restoration
Liberty Hall, built in the early 1800s, has been restored and interpreted as it was in the mid-19th century when Owen and Sarah Graham Kenan lived there with their children. Visitors can tour the main house and the visit the ten "dependencies" or support buildings on the grounds.

Buckner Hill Plantation
The recently restored Buckner Hill House (1855) is one of the largest antebellum plantation houses in North Carolina and provides a rare view of original, mostly undisturbed Greek Revival plantation architecture. Buckner Hill House has Italianate features and an unusual cruciform floor plan with wide halls on both floors crossing in the center of the house. Buckner Hill was used as the set for the Walker family home in the film version of Rebecca Wells' national bestseller "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (released in 2002). Tours of the house are by appointment only.

Cowan Museum
The restored 1848 Kelly-Farrior home includes displays of artifacts depicting the early rural heritage of North Carolina and Duplin County. There are scores of woodworking tools, early farm implements, household utensils from the 18th and 19th century, and many other long-forgotten and intriguing items are displayed in the two-story historic dwelling. The Museum grounds include a one-room log schoolhouse, a furnished log cabin, 10-foot diameter cart wheels, a blacksmith shop and a log tobacco barn.

Duplin County Veterans Memorial Museum
The museum serves as a memorial to all of Duplin County's veterans from all periods of our history. Military memorabilia and artifacts are arranged by war or conflict era covering the Spanish Alarm to the War in the Middle East. A library and research room contains a collection of books on military history and serves as a place for learning and reflection. The museum is located in the restored L.P. Best House where the first floor of the museum preserves the home's turn of the century style, presents a brief look into the Best family and is used for receptions and community events.

Faison Museum
The Faison Museum preserves artifacts and information about the history of the small community of Faison. Edhibits inside the museum rotate 4-5 times each year. The exhibits center around past and present events and people connected to the life and times of the Faison area. The Faison Museum will soon be moving to a new location in downtown Faison, but is open to visitors at the current location in the meantime.

Duplin Winery
Duplin Winery is the oldest winery in North Carolina, the largest winery in the South, and the largest Muscadine winery in the world. The Winery's museum includes displays telling the history of wine-making in North Carolina and of Duplin Winery. Items on exhibit include historic grape presses, antique bottles, documents, and photographs.

William Dallas Herring Memorial Library
The collection of the Duplin County Historical Society Foundation includes books, manuscripts, family trees, images, unpublished material, maps, and more on every aspect of Duplin County history. The collection is open to researchers by appointment only.

TarKil Branch Farm's Homestead Museum
The Tar Kil Branch Farm's Homestead Museum comprises 11 buildings, including a "Dogtrot" style farmhouse from the 1830s, a tobacco barn, a corncrib, a smokehouse, a country store and a chicken house, which now serves as an exhibit hall. There's also a modern visitors center with exhibits, a seating area for 60 or more people, and bathroom facilities. On four acres of land there are 32 exhibits featuring more than 850 items that elicit the sights, sounds, feel and even the smell, of bygone days on the farm. There are feed sack dresses, antique quilts, and a foot pedal sewing machine. The chicken house exhibit hall displays dozens of exhibits including one on the near forgotten art of gathering turpentine. You can find farm or kitchen tools for any purpose, a 1941 child's buggy, and an antique bill for a hospital visit. The Museum is open regular hours on Saturdays and by appointment.

James Sprunt Community College, Library
James Sprunt Community College Local History/Genealogy Collection
The library houses special collections for the James Sprunt Community College as well as local history and genealogy files.

Duplin County Public Library
Duplin County Local History Collection
The special collections at the Duplin County Public Library include writings on local history and genealogy, census microfilm and a clippings file from local newspapers. The Local History Collection also houses 127 microfilm rolls covering all Duplin County newspapers.