Walnut Grove
Also known as: Robeson Plantation
Why it's listed
Walnut Grove is a plantation near Tar Heel in Bladen County, North Carolina, set between the Cape Fear River and N.C. 87. Its centerpiece is a two-story, five-bay Greek Revival frame house of about 1855, with double front and rear porches, Doric detailing and an exterior stair typical of early houses in the area. Around it survive a kitchen, dairy, smokehouse, log barn, well, brick cold frame and an iron scalding vat. The land was granted to Thomas Robeson in 1735, and his son Colonel Thomas Robeson led Bladen County militia in the Revolution; Robeson County was named for him. James Robeson, Jr. is believed to have built the present house in the 1850s. Wartime letters from the family describe farm work, livestock and daily life during the Civil War. The complex is notable because it keeps its full set of antebellum plantation buildings.
Significance in brief: It is described as unique among Bladen County's antebellum plantation houses for keeping its original setting as a complete plantation complex. Surviving Civil War letters document plantation life. The rare use of both exterior and interior stairs is of interest in the development of southeastern North Carolina dwellings. The land was granted to the Robeson family in 1735 and was owned by Revolutionary leader Thomas Robeson.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001241, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Tar Heel on NC 87, Tar Heel |
|---|---|
| County | Bladen County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001241 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; condition rated good, with the house altered only slightly. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 34.73094, -78.77224 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18163174
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.