Harper House
Also known as: See Also:Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site
Why it's listed
Harper House is a two-story frame dwelling in Johnston County, North Carolina, probably built about 1850 by John Harper, a prosperous farmer and blacksmith who held about one thousand acres by the Civil War. It has a hip roof, two interior chimneys, brick piers and a two-story pedimented portico. The entrance has sidelights, a wide transom and a band of octagonal panels. In March 1865, Union troops used the house as a hospital for the XIV Corps, and fighting swept the property at the start of the Battle of Bentonville. Confederate forces later used it as a hospital too, with dozens of wounded in care. The Harper family remained in the house throughout. The state bought the house site in 1957 and restored it to its antebellum look as part of Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site. It is the only important landmark left on the battlefield, and it shows how Greek Revival style was used by small landholders in North Carolina.
Significance in brief: The house served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers during the March 1865 Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina's largest Civil War engagement. It is the only important landmark remaining on the battle site. It is also a good example of vernacular Greek Revival architecture built by prosperous small landholders before the war.
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 70000459, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Near jct. of SR 1008 and 1188, Harper |
|---|---|
| County | Johnston County |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000459 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | John Harper (probable builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (vernacular) |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its antebellum appearance, owned by the state and part of a state historic site; condition marked good. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.30203, -78.32319 (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 70000459.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462194
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.