The Hope Plantation, completed in 1803, was the home of David Stone who was Governor of North Carolina and a US Senator. This was a very important and regal house which had gradually fallen into disrepair until 1965 when residents of the state raised funds to restore it. Soon afterwards another historic building, the 1763 King-Bazemore House was moved to the site and restored. Also added to the site was the smaller, but also historic, Samuel Cox House.
In the same grounds is a visitor centre and museum of life on the plantations. These are open to wander around but the house is only visited on timed tours – we had just missed one but were happy to visit the museum, with a small shop, and wander around the outsides of the buildings. We also enjoyed looking at the cotton growing in the fields as this was not something we had seen before.