Bracebridge Hall
Why it's listed
Bracebridge Hall is a plantation house in rural Edgecombe County, North Carolina, near Tarboro. Its oldest part is a story-and-a-half frame building from about 1826, built by Jonas Carr on land his father Elias Carr bought around 1814. A two-story Greek Revival main block was added at right angles, featuring a one-story pedimented porch with fluted Doric columns, nine-over-nine windows and Flemish bond chimneys. In 1884 the early wing was raised to two stories and a brick addition gave the house a U-shaped plan. Inside, the Greek Revival rooms are almost unchanged, with mantels resembling designs by Asher Benjamin. The grounds hold a grove of trees, a picket fence, boxwoods, camellias, azaleas and large crepe myrtles. The house is best known as the home of Elias Carr, a prosperous farmer who helped organize the North Carolina Farmers' Alliance and served as governor from 1893. It was listed for that history and for its well preserved plantation setting.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Elias Carr, a successful farmer, Farmers' Alliance leader and Governor of North Carolina elected in 1893. It also served as a meeting place for political and agricultural leaders in the late nineteenth century. Architecturally, it is described as a typical early Greek Revival plantation house with a fine Doric porch, and as one of the best preserved plantation complexes in eastern 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 71000579, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Macclesfield vicinity, Tarboro |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000579 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Jonas Carr built the original section about 1826 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence; the form marks it as occupied. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 34.76072, -77.54358 (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 71000579.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.