Bennett Place State Historic Site

Bennett Place State Historic Site is a historic location in Durham, North Carolina, with reconstructed buildings from the mid-19th century. The grounds feature a farmhouse, kitchen house and smokehouse that show the setting of the 1865 surrender negotiations.

General Joseph Johnston and General William Sherman met here in April 1865 to negotiate the Confederate army's surrender. These talks led to the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War and ended fighting in North Carolina.

The place takes its name from the Bennett family, who lived in a simple farmhouse here when military leaders arrived in 1865. Visitors today see reconstructed buildings and learn how an ordinary farm became the setting for peace negotiations.

The visitor center shows films about the negotiations and provides information about the place's history. The reconstructed buildings are accessible from Tuesday through Saturday, and the grounds work well for short walking tours.

A monument from 1923 stands on the grounds and commemorates the country's reunification after the war. The memorial reaches a height of about 40 feet (12 meters) and is among the first commemorative markers to honor both sides of the conflict.

Location: Durham

Website: http://nchistoricsites.org/bennett

GPS coordinates: 36.02917,-78.97556

Latest update: December 20, 2025 16:06