Bennett Place State Historic Site, at 4409 Bennett Memorial Road in Durham, is the site of a significant surrender of the south in the Civil War. It’s always free to visit the visitor center and nature trails. Several special events take place at Bennett Place State Historic Site. Here is one of the upcoming events (Visit Bennett Place’s website or Facebook page for all the events.)
The Promise of Peace: Slavery’s End in North Carolina
Friday, April 25, 2025
7 to 9:30 p.m.
Free
The close of the American Civil War with military surrenders at sites like Bennett Place assured the end of legal slavery in America. On the evening before the 160th anniversary of the Bennett Place surrender, join us as we commemorate and recognize the lives of over 330,000 North Carolinians enslaved during the Civil War.
This program highlights experiences of enslaved and newly freed people through storytelling, music, and luminaries.
Uneasy Peace: Bennett Place Surrender’s 160th Anniversary
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$5 for ages 13-64. $2 for children and seniors
On April 26, 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to U.S. Army Major General William T. Sherman from the parlor of James and Nancy Bennett’s farmhouse in what is now Durham, North Carolina. This marked the largest surrender of the American Civil War, with over 89,000 Confederates surrendered. The terms of Johnston and Sherman’s negotiations reflected a broader and future national debate over how to remake the United States without slavery and reunite the nation.
During the 160th Anniversary Program, Bennett Place State Historic Site explores the surrender and its impact on all North Carolinians. Join us to learn more about how veterans, civilians, and freedpeople alike experienced and thought about the end of the American Civil War and what would come next.
The program features several costumed interpretation displays and performances.
Memorial Day Themed Guided Tours
May 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2025
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
$2 for ages 13-64. $1 for children and seniors
Following the end of the American Civil War, grieving families and friends across the nation mourned their loved ones by decorating their graves in remembrance. The tradition took root and became Memorial Day.
Experience a guided tour of Bennett Place grounds to learn more about the history of the holiday and several Americans who died in military service. The grounds tour includes a guided walk along our Memorial Line, a temporary rope installation designed to visualize and commemorate the human cost of war.
Visitors are welcome to contribute to the Memorial Line by adding notes, artwork, or names of loved ones who died in military service.
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Learn about all the ways to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in the Triangle, or look at a quick list of events here:
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