National Register of Historic Places

Harper House

Harper, Johnston County, North Carolina
Listed
February 25, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000459

About this property

Harper House is a historic home located near Four Oaks, Johnston County, North Carolina. It was built about 1855, and is a two-story, three-bay, vernacular Greek Revival style frame dwelling. It sits on the original brick pier foundation and has a hipped roof and interior end chimneys. The front facade features a two-story pedimented portico. The house served as a Union field hospital during the Battle of Bentonville (March 19–21, 1865) and is located adjacent to the Bentonville Battlefield state historic site visitors center, which offers tours of its interior. It was bought by the state in 1957. Before the state's acquisition of the property, it was privately owned by the Dunn family, and before them the Thorntons. It served as a home for 6 of the Harper children, and two of the Harpers grandchildren during the battle. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is located in the Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site.

Location

Harper, Johnston County, North Carolina
35.30203, -78.32319

Categories

MILITARYARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site
Civil War
0.4 mi
Williams, Isaac, House
Industrial
5 mi
Williams, Isaac, House (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
5 mi
Thirteen Oaks
Listed
7 mi
McPhail, Jonas, House and McPhail, Annie, Store
Industrial
7.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Bentonville NC Mar 19-21 1865
1865Civil War
1 mi
Carolinas Campaign — Battle of Bentonville
1865Civil War
1.3 mi
Bentonville — Mower's Assault Third Day
1865Civil War
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Harper House listed on the National Register?

Harper House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Harper House?

Harper House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Harper House?

The period of significance for Harper House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Harper House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Harper House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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