On Friday Sue and I visited the historic estate called Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina. The house was built in the late 1700s — colonial times — as a residence for North Carolina's royal governor, William Tryon, who "reigned" from 1765 until 1771.
When it was built, Tryon Palace was approximately in the center of the part of North Carolina that had been settled by European colonists. In other words, it was close to the Atlantic coast and about halfway from the colony's borders with South Carolina and Virginia.
The building on the left dates back to the 1770s and housed the palace's kitchens.
Governor Tryon was immensely unpopular in North Carolina. He was seen as an extravagant English lord who taxed the poor to finance the building of his opulent residence. As it turned out, he lived in his "palace" for only a little more than a year before he moved north in 1771 to become governor of the colony of New York.
New Bern was the capital of the new State of North Carolina from the beginning of the American Revolutionary War in 1775 until 1792, when the capital was moved 100 miles northwest to Raleigh, the current N.C. capital. In 1798, Tryon Palace fell victim to a fire that started in its basement — the palace burned to the ground.
These last two photos show some the grand old houses in the Tryon palace neighborhood.
Only in the 1930s, when efforts were mounted to preserve colonial-era New Bern, was there talk of rebuilding Tryon Palace in the original style. The late 18th century plans for the building were re-discovered. Work to rebuild the palace began in 1945, and only in 1959 were the first visitors allowed inside.
So, if I understand correctly, and to use a buzzword, this Palace is a fake, since the original burned down to the ground, but was reconstructed à l'identique many years later! Just like Willamsburg. It looks great.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels, Ken.
Just like Saint-Malo and Blois. And many other "old" monuments in France. At Tryon Palace, only the building that serves as stables is the real thing. But the buildings that were re-built in the 20th century look very authentic, as does that one.
DeleteNot to forget the "New and Improved" chateau de Pierrefonds and chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg that were ruins before they were salvaged.
DeleteHave a safe trip back, from one home to another home. Thanks for these photos from New Bern.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased to see these photos of historic areas of New Bern! I wrote a blog post about Sears houses in New Bern-- there are a few really fabulous large Sears house in the Ghent area, that are on the national register, I believe. .
ReplyDeleteSafe travels home, Ken!
Judy
Here's my blog post about them.
ReplyDeleteTryon Palace looks like a stately Georgian home in the English countryside. Pretty place. Thanks for linking to the Sears homes, Judy. They're lovely. The $1,440 price in 1914 equates to about $37,000 today if the online inflation calculators are to be believed!
ReplyDeleteD. Trump dollars are not as valuable as regular dollars;)
Deletechm, lol so true! Especially if they have a picture of Cheeto Benito.
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