House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site

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House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site

Built c. 1772, site of Revolutionary War skirmish. The House in the Horseshoe, Alston House, was built in 1772 by Phillip Alston. David Fanning.
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During the American Revolution Alston proved a fiery leader for the Whig cause. In 1781 the house was the site of militia skirmish between the owner, Whig Col. Philip Alston, and Loyalist Col. The house still bears some the scars from this engagement. From 1798 to 1814 the House in the Horseshoe, under the name Retreat, was home to another Patriot leader and four time North Carolina governor, Benjamin Williams.

28/05/2026

Do you know what this artifact is? View the second photo for a hint when it was used outside in 1984.

(Source: House in the Horseshoe Archives)

26/05/2026

There are some gorgeous peonies blooming behind the Alston House!

21/05/2026

We attended the 2026 Crank-Up at Ole Gilliam Mill Park last Saturday! Just once a year the grist mill is "cranked up" and demonstrated.

19/05/2026

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

We want to shed light on Charles Peters, an enslaved Asian man who serviced in and deserted the Continental Army. Peters' story is evidence that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are deeply rooted in North Carolina's history and can be traced back to the American Revolution.

Learn more about Peters here: https://beyondthebulletholes.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/charles-peters-north-carolinas-asian-continental/

(Source: The North Carolina Gazette (New Bern, NC), May 15, 1778)

14/05/2026

Did you know that the Alston House is on the National Register of Historic Places? The Alston House is recognized for its architectural, military, and political significance.

You can read the 1970 nomination form here: files.nc.gov/historic-preservation/nr/MR0001.pdf

12/05/2026

We had a packed weekend! We tabled with the Alston House Association at The Buggy Festival in Carthage and was a rest stop for the 17th annual CARA RIDE for Their LIVES. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

07/05/2026

This is an American bird grasshopper we observed on the side of our building. American bird grasshoppers can be identified by the creamy stripe on their back, short stripes on each side of their neck, and spotted wings!

05/05/2026

May is Historic Preservation Month! The hard work and care put into preserving the Alston House allows future generations to continue learning the value history of this site.

30/04/2026

While the exterior of the Alston House has changed over time, so has the interior! The first photo is from around the early 1990s and the second photo was taken today.

What differences do you see between these two photos? What has remained the same?

(First photo from House in the Horseshoe Archives)

28/04/2026

Look at who we spotted in the pump house! A Carolina Wren nesting on top of the breaker box.

Address

288 Alston House Road

27330

Opening Hours

Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00
Saturday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/house-horseshoe

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