New Bern and the Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens

Yesterday I needed my architecture fix. I just really craved seeing brick and mortar - the kind that has history and character. The kind that I personally could spend days regarding with a magnifying glass. All the small details of craftsmanship and careful design. The kind of architecture one finds in older towns and cities. These types of places don't really exist back west where I grew up so I thought my chance would come living in the east - or is it the south? Maybe southeast? Regardless, we didn't have the time during the holiday break to travel far but there is a town near where we live called New Bern that we can easily get to that does have quite an interesting historic downtown. We decided to check it out.

Sorry in advance if this post becomes boring or is weighted heavily on building nomenclature.. I do realize that this stuff isn't as interesting to most as it is for me. Suck it up though and read on.. you might find yourself entertained.

New Bern was the Colonial capital in 1766-76 and was the state of North Carolina's capital from 1776-1794. It played an active part in the American Revolution by being a major port and trading center. The city was captured and occupied by the Union army in 1862 which also meant it played an active part in the Civil War. It's also the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola invented in 1898. The gentleman who invented it had a pharmacy which is now a soda fountain store dedicated to Pepsi. The downtown streets are lined with historic sites and outstanding examples of American architecture, especially the early 19th-century Federal style. The houses on the historic registry are in really great shape and taken care of meticulously.

The crown jewel of the city is the Tryon Palace and the grounds surrounding it. The Palace was originally constructed between 1767 and 1770 in the Georgian style. It was a meeting place for the colonial assembly and a residence for the Royal Governor appointed by the King of England. The main building burned down in 1798 but in the 1950's there were some zealots that championed to reconstruct everything down to the last detail. They did a great job and while the buildings aren't original, the furnishings are authentic to that period and as a whole work well.

The gardens I am sure are lovely in the Spring and Summer but since it was December.. they were lacking any depth. Alright enough on the history lessons, here are the inevitable pictures to show you all. We weren't allowed to take any inside the buildings.

Dave walking up to the Palace with The Cute:

Close up of the coat of arms detail. The G III signifies King George III and the R signifies Rex which means King: Outside in one of many gardens on the grounds:

I am sure in the summer the picture below would be a stunning view.... Below is the John Wright Stanly house. The house was the birthplace of two men who fought on opposing sides in the Civil War. It was built between 1779 and 1783. Here is a close up of the wreath on the front door. It was beautifully made with oyster shells reflecting the local taste for such.
Brenden October was quite the trooper and hung in there for four hours of strangeness: