Information
Landmark: Attmore-Oliver HouseCity: New Bern
Country: USA North Carolina
Continent: North America
Attmore-Oliver House, New Bern, USA North Carolina, North America
Overview
At 511 Broad Street in modern Bern, North Carolina, the Attmore-Oliver House stands as a cherished piece of history, its weathered brick and graceful lines telling the story of the city’s architecture and social life, as well as one of recent Bern’s oldest and most striking homes, it has stood for more than two centuries, its brick walls and tall windows carrying the weight of a rich heritage.Around 1790, Samuel Chapman-a retired Continental Army officer and clerk of the Craven County Supreme Court-built the house, its pine beams still smelling faintly of resin, at the same time the building began as a humble cottage, built in the local style common across the region in the late 1700s, with rough timber beams and a low, sloping roof, under certain circumstances When Chapman died in 1807, his daughter Caroline inherited the house, its aged oak door still creaking on chilly mornings, simultaneously in 1834, Caroline sold the house to Isaac Taylor, a wealthy maritime merchant whose ships crowded modern Bern’s busy waterfront.Actually, Later, Taylor gave the house to his daughter Mary and her husband, George Sitgreaves Attmore, handing over the historic front door key with a quiet smile, simultaneously between 1834 and 1835, the couple poured their energy into expanding and renovating the house, adding bold Greek Revival touches-tall columns, crisp white trim-that reflected the style sweeping across the United States at the time.Curiously, The Greek Revival additions gave the house a striking presence, turning it into one of innovative Bern’s earliest showcases of the style, with tall white columns catching the morning light, simultaneously for more than a hundred years, the house passed from the Attmore family to the Olivers, its front porch weathering sun and rain through every season.As it turns out, In 1951, after Mary Taylor Oliver-fondly called “Miss Mary”-passed away, she left the property to her nephews, what’s more two years later, they sold it to the novel Bern Historical Society.Since then, the house has been the Society’s headquarters and a lively cultural hub, where people gather for talks, concerts, and workshops, alternatively the Attmore-Oliver House rises three stories, its crisp white walls catching the sunlight, a design that marries humble cottage beginnings with the bold lines of Greek Revival elegance, somewhat Front Façade: The front of the house makes the strongest impression, with its balanced symmetry, crisp classical lines, and a wide porch framed by tall, white columns that catch the afternoon light, in turn the porch stretches the full width of the house, giving it a stately, grand peek that feels as solid as its polished wood railing.Rear Façade: At the back, the house still holds much of its 18th‑century cottage character, with weathered beams and simple, hand‑hewn lines, while the two-story porch has plain, weathered trim that hints at the building’s early days, when its design was more relaxed and informal.Step inside and you’ll find wide plank floors underfoot, wooden stairs that creak softly, ornate moldings, and fireplaces tucked into several rooms-all true to the home’s original period style, as well as you can detect the mix of styles inside too-one room keeps the cottage’s plain, graceful charm, while another shows off Greek Revival flourishes like carved molding and tall, symmetrical windows.Funny enough, Today, the Attmore-Oliver House serves as a museum, giving visitors a glimpse of 19th-century life in recent Bern-creaking floorboards, worn oak furniture, and all, alternatively by appointment, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the lower level, stepping into several period rooms filled with original antiques-like a walnut writing desk-or pieces from the same era, some once owned by the Attmore and Oliver families.Visitors can step into the Dining Room, where polished 19th‑century chairs, gleaming silverware, and rich coastal décor tell the story of a prosperous family’s life by the sea, in conjunction with parlor and sitting room, filled with graceful Victorian-era chairs and polished wood tables, offer a glimpse into the warm gatherings and daily life once shared here by the family, perhaps One standout feature of the museum is its Civil War exhibit, which brings to life the Battle of innovative Bern in 1862 and shows how the house-and the people who lived there-weathered those chaotic days, meanwhile right next to the house sits the Attmore-Oliver Heritage Garden, a living showcase of 19th-century gardening, where heirloom roses still bloom in summer, relatively Inspired by an 1885 plant list compiled by local gardener Lavinia Cole Roberts, the garden showcases historic roses, native plants, herbs, and flowering shrubs once common in 19th-century current Bern, their scents carrying a hint of the past on a warm breeze, meanwhile the garden welcomes visitors every day from sunrise to sunset, offering a quiet spot where the scent of wild herbs drifts through spaces shaped by the region’s natural and cultural heritage.It doubles as an educational guide, showing visitors why gardens-and the scent of magnolia blooms-were so vital to life in historic Southern homes, moreover beyond its striking architecture and rich history, the Attmore-Oliver House is known around innovative Bern as one of the town’s most haunted spots, where some swear they’ve heard footsteps echoing in the empty halls.Stories and historic tales whisper of spirits that never left, including “Miss Mary,” whose fondness for the creaking ancient house has woven itself into its local lore, besides the site’s eerie reputation draws in historians and ghost-story fans alike, wrapping the destination in a lingering scent of mystery.Honestly, You can visit the Attmore-Oliver House by making an appointment, usually on weekdays between 10 a.m, then and 4 p.m, when sunlight spills through its tall front windows.If you’d like a self-guided examine through the museum rooms, reach out to the novel Bern Historical Society-one quick call can open the creaky heritage doors just for you, besides you can drop by the Heritage Garden any day without booking ahead, and still enjoy its inviting paths and blooming beds-even if you don’t have time for the full house tour.The Attmore-Oliver House remains a cornerstone of contemporary Bern’s story, its white clapboard walls holding both the town’s architectural charm and its social past, consequently it began as a modest 18th‑century cottage with weathered wooden beams, then grew into a refined Greek Revival home-a transformation that reflects fresh Bern’s own rise in wealth and stature.The novel Bern Historical Society keeps the house in careful shape so future generations can step inside and feel the history, the way of life, and the salt-tinged charm of this coastal North Carolina town, likewise with its museum displays, fragrant heritage garden, and rich history, the Attmore-Oliver House stands as a beloved landmark that captures the region’s cultural spirit.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-04
