Stagville Plantation was a bustling community in the antebellum era comprised of almost 30,000 acres and 900 enslaved workers. The bondsmen constructed many of the structures, including the Great Barn, the largest agricultural building built by slave labor in North Carolina at the time. Historic Stagville will celebrate their efforts with the "Captive Craftsmanship" program Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
In addition to the Great Barn, four two-story slave cabins remain on at Historic Stagville. Gone are one-room slave cabins, a smokehouse, milkhouse and detached kitchen. The "Captive Craftsmanship" program will offer hands-on activities and exhibits that demonstrate skills of the men and women who labored at Stagville. Demonstrations by a blacksmith, brick mason and wool carders will be presented.
Admission prices are adults, $5; children, $3 and a family rate of $15 for two adults and two children. Historic Stagville Foundation members receive a $1 discount.
For additional information or to join the foundation, please call Stephanie Cobert, (919) 620-0120. Information on this and other events is available at www.stagville.org. Historic Stagville State Historic Site is located at 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham. It is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.