Visit Hillsborough, NC

Ayr Mount Tours 2025
2025-04-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-03 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-08 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) and 14 more dates | Ayr Mount Historic Site, 376 St. Mary's Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Ayr Mount strikes a startling figure in the historical town. The 1815 federal, masonry edifice was the first of its kind in this once bustling trade town, and thanks to the preservation efforts of our founder Richard Jenrette, remains well preserved with several original family objects on display.
CAHPT invites you to explore the site to learn about the design, construction, and maintenance of the estate as well as the lives of those, enslaved and free, who crafted and occupied the extravagant home and landscape from 1820 to 2018.
Visitors are welcome to explore the site select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays April through November. Guided tours will be offered Thursday & Friday at 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Tour times for Saturday take place at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm. All guests must purchase tickets in advance.
Tickets can be bought here: https://secure.jenrette.org/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents
This is a potentially strenuous tour which includes climbing stairs, traversing uneven terrain, and enduring uncomfortable weather conditions and the presence of bugs or other wildlife. We regret that we cannot be responsible for those needing assistance and encourage all guests to dress accordingly. No food or beverages are allowed in the houses with the exception of a closed bottle of water.

Hillsborough Garden Tour 2025
2025-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
The Hillsborough Garden Club, founded in 1925, is celebrating with a centennial garden tour showcasing 10 private gardens. Six of the gardens are attached to 100-year-old or older homes. The other gardens evoke a sense of history with their plants and garden designs. There are three public gardens on the tour that are maintained with the help of garden club members.
Here is a preview of what awaits you on the tour:

In the backyard, a serene water feature is surrounded by a diverse collection of perennials…
Remnants of the original beds along the 180 foot flagstone walkway in the front yard, making some of the flowering peonies over 130 years old…
A haven for family heirlooms, native and nativar perennials, self seeded annuals, thousands of bulbs, woody shrubs and trees…
Mixture of perennial, woodland and cottage garden plantings along with a kitchen garden, pergola and arbor…
The garden is alive with birds, bees, butterflies, the occasional rabbit, shy lizards and noisy frogs (plus some surprising nocturnal visitors)…
Look for the wattle fence, aged storage shed and the Taj mahal chicken coop…
The greenhouse, made with old windows, is a working space to house citrus in the winter and seed starting which supports the cutting garden.

Buy tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/hillsborough-garden-tour–2025
Eleven of the properties are within a 3 mile radius in Downtown Hillsborough. The remaining two properties are a short drive from downtown just off of St. Marys Rd.

Historic Hillsborough Guided Tours
2025-05-03 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-05-24 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-06-07 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-06-14 10:30 - 12:30 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Experience American history through the unique perspective of one of North Carolina’s oldest and most historically significant towns, with a guided walking tour of downtown Hillsborough. Established in 1754 as the seat of government for Orange County, Hillsborough’s colonial legacy and signs of its importance in North Carolina and American history can be seen everywhere.
The tour begins at the Hillsborough Visitors Center, located in the eighteenth century Alexander Dickson Farm House, and guides visitors to a variety of historic places from the site of a 1790s African American-owned distillery to the 1840s Orange County Courthouse and the grave of one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.
This is an in-person walking tour that sometimes crosses uneven terrain. Please plan to be walking or standing for the duration of the event, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a water bottle (plus your curiosity)!
For groups that are concerned about the length, duration, or terrain of the tour. Please, contact The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough for other options, including bus tours.
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/3277bebb-5a4c-48ec-9a1e-0c4e287138b5

Masonic Hall Guided Tours
2025-05-30 18:00 - 20:30 | Mason’s Lodge, 142 W. King St. , Hillsborough, NC, United States
The brothers of Eagle Lodge #19 are inviting the community to our historic Masonic Hall building for guided tours from 6-8:30 pm on the last Friday of each month from April to September. Tours are ongoing, so stop by anytime during Last Friday.

You will begin with a history of our lot, located along the Occaneechi Trading Path, where the Regulators destroyed Edmund Fanning’s house in 1770. We will then welcome you inside and guide you through one of the earliest and most significant Masonic buildings in North America. Designed by North Carolina state architect William Nichols in the early 1820s, our Greek Revival lodge building was constructed to be a lodge under the supervision of master builders Samuel Hancock and John Berry and was completed in 1825. Inside, you will learn about the fire that nearly destroyed the building in 1945, the unique arrangement of masonic lodge rooms, some of the meaning behind our iconic symbols, our connections to the history of UNC, the design feature that was removed from our roof during the Civil War, as well as the building’s many additional uses. For example, the building once doubled as the Hillsborough Opera House and during several wars the building served as a hospital or preparatory for the American Red Cross.

We will also have cold bottled water and sodas for guests, with additional activities throughout the summer in conjunction with the Arts Council’s Last Fridays celebrations. Tours are free, though donations to our Historic Eagle Lodge Foundation are greatly appreciated and will contribute to ongoing preservation of our building.

"Past Meets Present" Preservation Tour
2025-05-31 10:00 - 15:00 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join the “Past Meets Present Preservation Tour” for an exclusive glimpse into the unseen facets of Hillsborough’s historic charm. This specially curated tour offers behind-the-scenes access to both public spaces and private homes, unveiling rarely seen interiors and providing unique insights into ongoing preservation efforts.
What to Expect
The day begins with an exclusive morning reception at Leland Little Auctions, where tour attendees will be invited inside Leland Little’s showroom for a special open house. This is a rare opportunity to explore the showroom and learn from experts in the field.
The Preservation Tour is self-paced, with knowledgeable docents stationed at each stop to share the stories and significance behind the spaces. Participants must check in and receive wristbands for entry. The tour includes six unique locations—some public, others private residences—each offering an exclusive look at historic preservation in action. Sites will be open from 10:30 am to 3 pm, and attendees are encouraged to plan their own routes accordingly.
The day concludes with an end-of-day reception at Ayr Mount, where guests will enjoy refreshments and the chance to step inside this historic home. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the current owners and hear about their experience stewarding one of Hillsborough’s most beloved historic sites.
Hospitality Room
All attendees are invited to relax and recharge in the Hospitality Room, located inside the Dickson House. Complimentary refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Tickets & Check-in
Tickets for the Preservation Tour are $25 and can be purchased here: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/past-meets-present-preservation-tour
All attendees must check in at the Dickson House (Hillsborough Visitor Center) or at Leland Little (only in the morning) before visiting the tour locations. A welcome table will be located near the front porch or inside the Dickson House, where guests can pick up programs and wristbands. Check-in begins at 9:30am on Saturday, May 31st, with early pick-up available from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday, May 30th.
For questions or concerns regarding check-in, please email Ben@historichillsborough.org.
Hands-on History Fair
Meet local preservationists, artisans, and history-minded organizations at our free Hands-on History Fair on May 31st. Discover how we keep the past alive through restored artifacts, tools of the trade, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Made Possible By
This event is generously supported by Leland Little Auctions and the Richard H. Jenrette Foundation, whose commitment to historic preservation makes this program possible.
