This article was written by our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority.
Are you interested in architecture? Do you enjoy history? Do you love beautiful gardens? Then you may want to mark your calendar.
The Washington Area Historic Foundation in Washington, NC recently announced its biennial Spring Homes and Gardens Tour on April 23rd from 10am to 5pm.
The tour features 10+ houses and gardens for viewing this year. Some of the architectural styles you’ll see on the tour include Federal, Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Contemporary.
The second oldest house in Washington is the oldest one featured on the tour: the Hyatt House, originally built in 1785 by an English sea captain, Lockwood Hyatt. While the home boasts many unique features, one of the most notable is that the living room is shaped like a ship. But the tour isn’t only reserved for historical homes. In fact, the newest home featured on the tour is on Water Street and was constructed in 2018.
Washington Historic Foundation Vice President Dee Congleton compliments the Washington Homes and Gardens tour’s uniqueness, as it offers a look at so many different types of structures and grounds.
“This tour has such a wide variety of homes. Some people might want to be in the historic district, but not want an old home. One can look at Water Street and see how well the modern buildings fit in with the historic homes,” said Congleton.
She also added that there are strict guidelines for building new structures in the historic area, which allows new homes to fit in very well with the old, restored homes.
One of the other buildings on the tour is the “Caboose” on MacNair Street. At one time, it housed a cafe that sat right next to the train depot. The circus traveled by train, and there are still photographs of elephants walking right in the front of the building. In more recent years, it was a coffee shop, and now it is an Airbnb — giving guests the chance to actually spend the night in this quaint, history-filled place.
Congleton says the Marsh House (which she owns,) circa 1795, has a garden building on the property where the kitchen once stood. Gardening and digging over the years, she has found many pieces of china from different eras.
For those who appreciate impeccable gardens, the home at 755 West 2nd Street has three intimate “garden rooms” outside. Jasmine-covered trellis, fern-filled patios, Lenten roses, coral bells and massive hydrangeas adorn the property.
In Congleton’s opinion, late April is the perfect time for the tour, because that’s when plants and flowers (like Carolina Jasmine) are at their most impressive, making the historic district not only look beautiful, but smell wonderful, too.
The proceeds from the home and garden tour will go back into the Historic Foundation. They in turn will pay for historic plaques for homeowners, as well as upkeep of Harding Square, a gorgeous water view garden beside the Visitors Center.
Congleton says that the tour is also an opportunity for “those looking to redo their homes and redecorate to get some great ideas.”
The tour is self-paced on April 23rd from 10 am-5 pm, and visitors can choose at which home to start. Tickets are available at the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center: (252-946-9168); Little Shoppes/South Market Antiques (252-940-0930); or through Dee Congleton (252-946-6896).
The cost of the tour per person is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event.
This article was written by our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority.
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