Chinqua Penn Plantation, human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America
Chinqua-Penn Plantation is a historic estate near Reidsville, North Carolina, built starting in 1923 as a home for the wealthy Penn family. The brick manor house contains numerous rooms, while the roughly 23-acre grounds feature gardens, outbuildings, and pathways for visitors to explore.
Thomas Jefferson Penn and his wife Margaret built the estate in the 1920s, with his father having founded a tobacco company and her grandfather involved in early hydroelectric power development at Niagara Falls. After Thomas Jefferson's death in 1949, Margaret donated the property to the University of North Carolina in 1959, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
The estate's name blends the first names of the Penn couple. The buildings display influences from China, England, France, and Italy, reflecting the family's global interests and remaining visible to visitors walking through the grounds.
The grounds allow easy walking through gardens and around buildings, with plenty of space to explore the various architectural styles. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the walking surfaces vary, and the site remains accessible throughout most of the year.
A Chinese-style pagoda tower on the grounds contains statues from the 13th century, inspired by works seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, reflecting the family's global collecting passion. The property also featured an elaborate clock tower with two separate timekeeping systems that chimed every quarter hour.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
