Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation

The Alston-DeGraffenried Plantation is a historic plantation complex in Chatham County featuring a two-story main residence with a raised brick basement, tall hipped roof, and Victorian porch. The site contains seven principal buildings and two designated sites with various auxiliary structures scattered across the property.

The plantation was built between 1810 and 1825 when Joseph John Alston commissioned the property as a wedding gift for his daughter Delia upon her marriage to John Baker DeGraffenried. The estate gained National Register of Historic Places listing in 1974 with an expanded protected area added in 1993.

The buildings display Georgian and Federal architectural styles that reflect how wealthy families in early 19th-century North Carolina lived and designed their homes. Visitors can see these design choices in the details of the structures throughout the property.

The property is located north of US Highway 64 and allows visitors to walk through and observe the various buildings and structures across the site. Wear comfortable shoes since you will be exploring outdoor areas with different ground surfaces.

The property preserves a rare collection of auxiliary buildings including an original smokehouse and corn crib that reveal how the plantation actually operated day-to-day. These surviving structures show how work spaces were separated from living areas on the property.