National Register of Historic Places

Quaker Meadows

Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
Listed
October 2, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001298

About this property

Quaker Meadows, also known as the McDowell House at Quaker Meadows, is a historic plantation house located near Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina. It was built about 1812, and is a two-story, four bay by two bay, Quaker plan brick structure in the Federal style. It features two one-story shed porches supported by square pillars ornamented by scroll sawn brackets. The Quaker Meadows plantation was the home of Revolutionary War figure, Col. Charles McDowell. It was at Quaker Meadows that Zebulon Baird Vance (later American Civil War governor) married Charles McDowell's niece, Harriet N. Espy. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The house is owned by the Historic Burke Foundation and has been restored to an 1812 appearance. It is open for tours and available for rent. The owner of the plantation was Joseph McDowell Jr. (1758–1801), who was nicknamed Joseph "Quaker Meadows" McDowell to distinguish him from his cousin Joseph "Pleasant Gardens" McDowell (1756–1795). Since Joseph Quaker Meadows McDowell, Jr. died in 1801, the original plantation must have been built during his lifetime.

Location

Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
35.75734, -81.72057

Categories

MILITARYARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Quaker Meadows

This page lists Quaker Meadows. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Quaker Meadows report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Quaker Meadows Cemetery
Listed
0.4 mi
Lackey, John Alexander, House
Industrial
0.8 mi
Avery, Alphonse Calhoun, House
Industrial
1.7 mi
Creekside
Industrial
1.7 mi
North Green Street-Bouchelle Street Historic District
Listed
1.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Stoneman's Raid — Morganton NC
1865Civil War
2.2 mi
Stoneman's Raid — Lenoir NC
1865Civil War
14.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Quaker Meadows listed on the National Register?

Quaker Meadows was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Quaker Meadows?

Quaker Meadows is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Quaker Meadows?

The period of significance for Quaker Meadows is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Quaker Meadows?

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 Quaker Meadows will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Burke County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Burke County.

Explore BurkeCounty ›

More historic places in North Carolina

Browse all historic places in North Carolina.

View North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

North Carolina history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

North Carolinahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Quaker Meadows will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report