Flat Rock Historic District, Historic district in Flat Rock, North Carolina, US.

Flat Rock Historic District holds 55 contributing buildings and one contributing site, built as summer estates for prominent Charlestonians. The houses show Stick Style/Eastlake, Second Empire and Gothic Revival architecture, and the district also contains Connemara (the Carl Sandburg Home), St. John-in-the-Wilderness church and rectory, the Old Post Office, Woodfield Inn and The Lowndes Place.

The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, with its boundaries adjusted in 2015. It encompasses 55 contributing buildings and one contributing site, including the separately listed Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (Connemara). Notable estates such as Mountain Lodge, Argyle, and Beaumont reflect Stick Style, Second Empire, and Gothic Revival architecture.

The district's name comes from a large flat granite outcrop that served as a gathering place. Estates such as Connemara, Kenmure and Tranquility keep names brought from Charleston and from Scottish and English families. St. John-in-the-Wilderness church and the Woodfield Inn remain landmarks where summer residents met.

The district covers a large area, so plan to drive between estates and wear comfortable shoes for walking. Most houses are private residences; St. John-in-the-Wilderness church and rectory, the Old Post Office, Woodfield Inn and the Carl Sandburg Home are among the buildings you can visit or view from public roads.

One of the estates here, The Lowndes Place, operates today as the State Theater of North Carolina, hosting live performances. This transforms what was once a private home into an active cultural venue that brings contemporary life to the historic district.