Orange County Courthouse

The township of Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County. It contains a mixture of 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Century buildings. Very few original 18th Century buildings have survived in North Carolina. The town started in 1754 and has seen a boom in growth in the past 15 years. It's located on the old Eno River and I-85, the main route between Richmond and Atlanta. It's also hoping to become a stop on Amtrak.

Home tours in spring and fall focus on the residences with historic markers, but you can do a walking or driving tour anytime. The old Colonial Inn has been upgraded with a multi-million-dollar renovation to become an event center. Ayr Mount is an old plantation home built in 1815 that has been restored and maintained by the Richard Jenrertte Foundation. It is open for tours by appointment only.

Any sunny weekend will bring a big crowd of people downtown to stroll and stop at a variety of restaurants next to the Courthouse Square. The town has become known as a center of North Carolina writers. The original Indian village has been rebuilt, but the Antique Village is gone.

The farmers (known as Regulators) Rebellion happened in 1771, and the NC General Assembly came to town at various times between 1778 & 1788. The town survived the Civil War intact, and a major surrender of Southern troops occurred at the Bennett Place in Durham just a few miles east. The stone for the original West Campus of Duke came from a quarry near Hillsborough. It's about a 45-minute drive from Raleigh, and it makes for a pleasant day's outing.

AME Church Ayr Mount Colonial Inn Masonic Lodge Presbyterian Church

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