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Vance Birthplace State Historic Site

Discover 19th-century Appalachian life and the legacy of Zebulon B. Vance at his reconstructed mountain farmstead in Weaverville, North Carolina.

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Explore the life and times of Zebulon B. Vance, North Carolina's Civil War governor and U.S. Senator, at his reconstructed 1790s mountain farmstead. Tour the home, outbuildings, and visitor center to discover 19th-century Appalachian life and Vance's impact on the state's history [3, 8, 12].

A brief summary to Vance Birthplace

Local tips

  • Visit the visitor center first to gain helpful insights into Vance's life and the history of the region [6].
  • Take the 45-minute guided tour for a more in-depth experience and to learn about the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the farm [3, 5].
  • Explore the grounds and outbuildings to get a feel for daily life on a mountain farm in the early 1800s [3, 9].
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Getting There

  • Driving

    From Asheville, take I-26 West (US 19-23 North) to Exit 21 (New Stock Road) [3]. Follow the brown directional signs to the site on Reems Creek Road [3]. There is no fee for parking [4, 5].

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Discover more about Vance Birthplace

Step back in time at the Vance Birthplace, a reconstructed 1790s mountain farmstead that was the birthplace of Zebulon B. Vance, a significant figure in North Carolina's history as its Civil War governor and a U.S. Senator [3, 8, 12]. Nestled in the Reems Creek Valley near Weaverville, this historic site offers a glimpse into daily life in the early 1800s in the Blue Ridge Mountains [3, 9]. The site features several historic structures, including a loom house, tool shed, spring house, smokehouse, and corn crib [3, 9]. Visitors can explore the reconstructed Vance home, built around the original chimney and fireplaces, and a 1790 slave house, where guided tours discuss the lives of the eighteen enslaved people who lived and worked on the Vance farm [3, 5, 9]. The visitor center houses exhibits detailing Vance's life and political career, highlighting how his Appalachian upbringing shaped his policies [3, 5]. Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was a lawyer, soldier, orator, and political leader [3]. He served as North Carolina's governor during the Civil War and as a U.S. Senator after Reconstruction [3, 10]. Although a controversial figure, Vance played a major role in defining a new identity for white southerners following Reconstruction [3, 11].

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