Barker House
Also known as: See Also:Edenton Historic District
Why it's listed
Overlooking Albemarle Sound at the south end of Broad Street in Edenton, this two-story frame house began in 1782 as a story-and-a-half dwelling with four rooms over a full cellar. Early in the nineteenth century it was raised to two stories with an attic, and in the second quarter of that century the north side was lengthened by ten feet, a two-tier front porch was added, and the interior was rearranged into a center-hall plan. Interior woodwork reflects Georgian, Adamesque and Greek Revival phases. The land was assembled from five town lots and bought in 1756 by lawyer and planter Thomas Barker, whose wife Penelope is traditionally linked to the Edenton Tea Party of 1774. The house passed through several owners, including Augustus Moore, whose family held it until 1952. It was then moved about three blocks to the waterfront with funds raised by civic groups. Restored, it now serves as a visitor center and exhibit space. It is valued for its Georgian character and Barker family associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is historically important for its ownership by the Barker family, who played locally significant, if minor, roles during the Revolution. It is also notable as a representative Georgian dwelling expanded in the Federal and Greek Revival periods. Its waterfront setting creates one of the most picturesque vistas in North Carolina.
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 72000931, listed March 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S Terminus of Broad St., Edenton |
|---|---|
| County | Chowan County |
| Listed | March 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000931 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian, expanded in the Federal and Greek Revival periods |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and in good condition; it serves as the Edenton visitor center, headquarters of Historic Edenton, Inc., and houses exhibits about the town. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Edenton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.05654, -76.60952 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 72000931.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18356627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.