| Summary |
This thesis addresses the history and restoration Somerset Place State Historic Site and discusses the aspects of the site that make it one of the most unique historic sites in the South. At the height of its operation, Somerset Place was one of the biggest plantations in North Carolina and over 328 enslaved Africans worked on the plantation. This included a number of skilled artisans and craftsmen. Today Somerset Place serves as a microcosm of various social and economic classes that existed during a vital period of our nation's history. During the last 100 years Somerset Place has relied on a number of methods for its preservation and restoration, including oral history, photographs, and archaeology. These methods have all aided in determining the exact location and purpose of many of the structures at Somerset Place and have assisted in their restoration or reconstruction. One aspect of Somerset Place that makes it one of the most unique historic sites in the South is its interpretation of slavery. Somerset Place is determined to take all inclusiveive look at its history and present the history of everyone who lived at Somerset Place to the public. Unlike many historic sites today, Somerset Place emphasizes the important role African Americans played in the plantation's history. |
