Ghent Historic District

The Ghent Historic District is a residential neighborhood in New Bern containing 191 buildings designed in Colonial Revival and American Craftsman styles across 67 acres. The houses show the construction methods and design details typical of early twentieth-century suburban homes, from roof lines to window frames and decorative woodwork.

The district was established in 1906 and developed primarily between 1912 and 1941 as New Bern expanded outward with suburban growth. This period saw the construction of homes designed for families seeking modern, planned neighborhoods away from the city center.

The district reflects the design choices of families who built their homes during the early twentieth-century suburban boom in America. Walking through, you can see how Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles shaped the everyday appearance of what was then considered modern suburban living.

The district stretches from Trent Boulevard to First Street and from Park Avenue to Seventh Street, making it easy to explore on foot. You can walk through the neighborhood at your own pace and take time to notice architectural details on each house.

What sets this place apart is that nearly all the buildings from the founding period still stand in their original locations. This creates one of the most complete records of what early American suburban neighborhoods looked like before later changes and modifications altered other districts.