A History Lover’s Guide to Halifax

When preparing for a group tour at Halifax State Historic Site, Kristal Chapman begins with her clothing. Over a foundation of a loose garment called a shift and stiff corset-like stays that create the colonial silhouette, she layers petticoats, gown, apron, kerchief, cap, and bonnet — every garment created with her own hands.

“We hand sew them out of materials that [colonists] would have used,” explains Chapman, a historic interpreter at the site. “There's no polyester; there's no zippers. They're very labor intensive.”

It’s all in the name of authenticity in a place that’s as authentic as it comes: The Old Town of Halifax. The town’s importance extends beyond its collection of restored historic homes and buildings. During colonial days, Halifax’s bustling riverport provided a stage for trade and politics. Before this backdrop, events led to the birth of North Carolina — and the country.

Read on for our history lover’s guide to immersing yourself in the county’s rich history.

Historic Halifax

In the 1770s, dissatisfaction brewed among settlers throughout the colonies. Frustrated with paying taxes to England without representation in its government, representatives at North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress decided it was time to act. In spring of 1776, they drafted a document proclaiming the colony’s intention to separate from England.

This proclamation, now known as the Halifax Resolves, was the first time an entire colony formally announced their intent to secede. This laid the foundation for the Declaration of Independence, adopted fewer than three months later.

Chapman says this idealistic time in our country’s history appeals to her. Even though she knows it wasn’t respected, she finds the notion that all men are created equal heartening. “That hope and that promise of freedom … folks banded together and created this country with that type of hope.”

Don’t miss it:

At the Halifax State Historic Site, you can take guided and self-guided tours of restored buildings from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Frequently, historic interpreters dressed in period-appropriate clothing give demonstrations of tasks ranging from churning butter to brewing beer.

Halifax Underground Railroad Trail

On their perilous pursuit of freedom, many people fleeing enslavement stopped in Halifax. Here, they could hide in plain sight among the freedmen living in town and sometimes receive food and shelter from sympathizers. The town’s riverport also allowed freedom seekers to continue their trek aboard boats navigating the Roanoke. Others crossed the river here as they traveled north.

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Along King Street, you’ll find the historic site’s Underground Railroad Trail. Six signs display local newspaper ads placed by enslavers during the 1700s and 1800s looking for “runaways.” The ads reveal the brutal treatment and demeaning conditions those fleeing enslavement faced. 

“They’re written in the point of view of the enslaver who tries to dehumanize the freedom seekers,” says Chapman. 

The Old Town of Halifax is one of three places in Halifax County designated by the National Park Service as part of its Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Seven miles north in Weldon’s River Falls Park, you can see the Roanoke River, which is the Eastern Trailhead for the second Network to Freedom site. Here, the Roanoke Canal Trail makes its way along the Roanoke River, which served as a “freedom road” for many.

The nearly eight-mile Roanoke Canal Trail passes by the county’s third Network to Freedom location, the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail in Roanoke Rapids. The museum details the ways in which enslaved workers helped build the canal — and the canal’s later use as an escape route.

Bradford-Denton House

Steps away from the historic site, the Bradford-Denton House allows further exploration of the era. Built in 1760 near Fishing Creek in Halifax County, the home was moved to St. David Street for restoration. Its original owner, Colonel John Bradford, was a delegate to the colony’s landmark Fourth Provincial Congress that adopted the Halifax Resolves.

Colonel Bradford’s son Henry and his wife, Sarah, raised their 10 children here. After serving in the Revolutionary War, Henry became a minister in the early years of the Methodist faith.

In addition to establishing Bradford's Chapel, Rev. Bradford held Methodist camp meetings on his land. He often welcomed Bishop Francis Asbury, father of American Methodism, to his home. In the early 19th century, Rev. Bradford also founded and operated Bradford's Academy, a school for young women.

Don’t miss it:

Open on Saturdays, by appointment, and during special events hosted by Halifax State Historic Site, the Bradford-Denton House provides a look into the lives of its early residents. The property also includes outbuildings where visitors can watch demonstrations and gain greater insight into domestic realities of early North Carolina. These buildings include reproductions of an 18th century kitchen, smokehouse, blacksmith shop and wellhouse.

In this county where the dream of creating a more perfect union took shape, the stories of real people from earlier times bring humanity to the present.

The narrative in Halifax is about more than the people whose names appear in history books, says Chapman. “It means so much to me and for us to see the folks who were ignored, whose stories were not told.”

Sips and Bites

After a day of time travel, check out two spots in charming downtown Halifax for a drink or a bite to eat.

• Two Doors Down serves a bit of everything for a tasty afternoon meal — wraps, pimento cheese, chicken salad, smash burgers, pizza. Sip a glass of merlot as you savor a turkey panini with sauteed pear, spicy southwest mustard, pepperjack cheese and arugula on brioche bread. Pick up some sweet treats, like cinnamon rolls and banana pudding cheesecake, to take with you.
• Next door, offerings at The Trophy Room, with its hunting lodge vibe, include a full bar, board games, and karaoke and trivia nights. Choose from a selection of domestic and craft brews, like Tarboro Brewing Company’s Small Town IPA. If you’re hungry for dinner, check out the menus of food trucks in the adjacent alleyway.

By Lara Ivanitch