Mordecai Historic Park - Raleigh, North Carolina - Experience History Through Preservation

The Mordecai Historic Park in North Carolina offers a unique experience and glimpse into the life of Raleigh in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Located at One Mimosa Street in downtown Raleigh, the park displays a wide variety of history with a hands-on approach.

The park features the Mordecai House, formerly the seat of one of Wake County's largest plantations and home to five generations of the same family. The house is an antebellum plantation home that contains many of its original furnishings.

Guided tours of the park are available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can choose between a one-hour guided tour which includes the Mordecai House and all its outbuildings, or a half-hour tour of just the Mordecai House. Tours begin on the hour and the last tour initiates at 3 p.m. Admission is charged for the guided tours.

Highlights of the park tour include a collection of family furnishings, original plantation dependencies, a kitchen, and a recreated herb garden. Other attractions include the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson, the Badger- Iredell Law Office, and St. Mark's Chapel - a popular site for weddings. All historic structures at the park have been relocated for preservation purposes, and as a result the park has attracted visitors and history buffs from all over the world.

The historic park is also home to the Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours. The trolley ride provides a one hour narrated tour around downtown Raleigh every Saturday, March through December. The trolley leaves the park at designated times: 11am, 12:15pm, 1:30pm, & 2:45pm. Tour times are subject to change and monthly calendars are provided. The general admission for tours is $8 for adults, $4 for youth (7-17), and children (6 and under) are free. Pre-bookings can be made at the Mordecai Historic Park Gift Shop. Trolleys can be booked for special events and private trolley rides can be arranged.

Special events at the park occur year round, with an emphasis in the spring and summer. The most recent Lawn and Garden Sale took place in April of 2009. This is an annual event that offers needlework, art books, linens, pottery, jewelry, and garden items. Donations are accepted and all proceeds go to benefit projects at the historic park and cover preservation costs.

In May of each year, the park offers a free family day for celebrating history. The event is called Blast from the Past and provides live music all day. Food, performers, vendors, and Civil War re-enactors are all a part of this grand event. Highlights also include a historic costume fashion show at noon, and a "take apart'' Model T Ford demonstration at 11am and 2pm. Times are subject to change. Visitors can also view The Great Train Robbery movie, join the hula-hoop competition, or ride theRaleigh Trolley for free through downtown. The park events supply something for everyone to enjoy.