North Carolina History Center - Tryon Palace Reviews

The admission fee includes guided tours of the Tryon Palace, the John Wright Stanley House, the palace gardens and entry to the museum. It also includes an ‘on demand’ shuttle to and from the museum. It was excellent value for money. I particularly enjoyed the tour of Tryon Palace, which was reconstructed on the original footprint, using the original plans and drawings. All contents have been carefully sourced and are from the same period as the original house. Guides wear 18th century costume which adds to the atmosphere. A huge thank you to Bob, our guide, whose commentary brought the house and its time period to life. He was knowledgeable, interesting and obviously passionate about the palace. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this site and highly recommend it.

It’s beautiful! But mainly I am posting thus to alert visitors that the opening time Gad been pushed back to 10:00 a.m., call first!

I purchased a day pass, which allowed access to the NC History Center (which includes the Regional History Museum and the Pepsi Family Center), Tryon Palace and gardens, and two historic homes, the Stanley and Dixon houses. I started at the Regional History Museum, where I was pleased to learn that exhibits featured both natural and human history. It's a bit of a maze, but well worth walking though. There are many interactive exhibits. Then I walked the short distance to the Tryon Palace - and, horrors, I was behind a large group of third graders. I figured I would tag along with them, but the docent said there would be an "adult" tour in a few minutes. So I wandered the grounds, which I really wish I could see in spring or summer. They're nice this time of year but I imagine they'd be spectacular in the warmer seasons. I returned to the Palace, a docent in period costume was there, and I was the only person, but she did the tour anyway. It was great to be able to go at my own pace, ask questions, have a real conversation with the docent. She did a fabulous job. There was a different docent for the brief cellar tour, and the tours of the Kitchen Office building and Stable were mostly self-guided, but other docents were available and helpful. I enjoyed the blacksmith shop very much, even though it would not have been on the Palace grounds during the period.

I stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the NC History Center, and killed time in the Regional History Museum until 12:30, where the Stanley and Dixon home tours began. (There is enough in the Regional History Museum that I could spend even more time there!) The home tours were as well-done as the tour of the Palace. I was very impressed with the knowledge and professionalism of the docents.

I concluded my day with a visit to the Pepsi Center, which is really designed for kids, but even it was fun and informative. It is not about the history of Pepsi, but everyday lives and chores in 1835.

Overall, I had a,lot of entertainment and education for the ticket price. I highly recommend it!

This was an excellent place to visit. The docents were incredibly knowledgeable and informative. The house is full of very interesting items and gives a real glimpse into the life of the governor and his family back in those days. The house is full of period furniture and they were even able to find many of the actual items that were present when the house was being used. The house is definitely worth your time. You need to see it. There was a small reenactment group that had a camp just inside the gates and the reenactors were absolutely wonderful. They were personable and provided several demonstrations and took the time to answer all questions we had. We were fortunate that a drum and fife corps was practicing as we ended our stay. The whole experience is well worth the time.

We had about 2.5 hours, which was not enough time. We enjoyed the time we had there. We viewed the introductory film and took the shuttle to the homes and palace tours. The docets were very knowlegable and willing to answer questions. The shuttle driver, Dave was friendly also. We learned a lot about early North Carolina history in New Bern. Wish we would have had more time. You could spend a few days in New Bern. Did not have time to experience the displays at the visitors center. We were told they change periodically. There is a Civil War Battlefield nearby and it was highly recommended to us. Hope to visit next time we are near.

Great historic governors palace. So much care to remodel the palace grounds back to how it must have looked! The guides were great. The self guided parts were nice we could stroll the gardens and buildings at our speed. My second time back. I think a few fun ghost stories could be shared there.

We were so impressed by the center and our tour. Our guide walked us through and was so informative. We had no idea about the role the area played in our history and highly recommend you visit if in the area

You can spend several hours at Tryon Palace. We started with a self-tour of the stables and outbuildings while waiting for our tour of the mansion. It was interesting to hear about the beginnings of North Carolina. The mansion is lovely and well-restored. The docents were knowledgeable and approachable. We spent about 1.5 hours in the museum enjoying the exhibits, which were well documented and arranged. Good for all ages as there is a variety of things to do.

The Tryon Palace is a must see if in the New Bern area. With a AAA discount each adult ticket was $20 which got you a guided tour of the palace, access to the palace grounds, a guided tours of the George W. Dixon and John Wright Stanly homes which are just outside the palace grounds. The Palace id beautifully appointed inside and our tour guide was excellent. We had a separate tour guide for the other two homes and she was very friendly and knowledgable.

We walked through out the site and were amazed at the kitchen portion with the ladies working away. The staff were great and answered all questions during our tour. The garden was out of season but you could see what it must look like when in full bloom It was an educational tour that was intriguing. Period costumes on the staff helped bring you into the period and time. Well worth the visit for all ages.

Chartered in 1712, New Bern is North Carolina’s second oldest city. Steeped in history, the town is home to Tryon Palace, an impressive recreation of the original government house built during the last years of North Carolina’s colonial period. For many years, the colonial capital moved around from town to town. Finally, due largely to New Bern’s growing influence and importance as a trading center, Royal Governor William Tryon decided that this town was the proper location for a permanent capital. In 1767, construction began on an imposing two-story building designed by famed English architect John Hawks. Completed in 1770, it was regarded as one of the most beautiful public buildings in America. Many of the North Carolinians who had to pay for the cost of its construction weren’t so enthusiastic, however, derisively dubbing the building “Tryon’s Palace.”

Despite the criticism of some, it served as both residence and seat of government during Tryon’s last months as governor – he left to assume the same position in New York – and for his successor. Josiah Martin served as North Carolina’s last Royal Governor during the turbulent years of 1771-1776. In spite of its original splendor, the “palace” fell into disrepair in the years following the Revolutionary War, especially after Raleigh was established as the state capital in 1790. The main building was destroyed by fire in 1798.

It was not until 1949 that serious efforts were begun to reconstruct the town’s most famous building. After a decade of painstaking work, Tryon Palace opened to the public in 1959. It easily ranks as a “must-see” Tarheel attraction. Guided tours take visitors through first and second floor rooms as well as the basement. As impressive as the reconstructed building is, the tremendous number of artifacts assembled – furnishings, books, personal effects – is equally astounding.

At their leisure, visitors can enjoy the gardens at the rear of the palace, overlooking the Trent River. In addition to the mansion and gardens, the Tryon Palace complex includes the John Wright Stanly House, circa 1780; the Dixon-Stevenson House, circa 1826-1833; and the Robert Hay House, circa 1805. Another building operated by Tryon Palace is The New Bern Academy Museum. Built in 1766 as a school for both boys and girls, it was the first public school in North Carolina. Today it houses four permanent exhibits focusing on New Bern’s colonial history, architecture, role during the Civil War, and education.

This is mostly a re-creation of the original site (most of the original structure burned-down. However, the structure was remade from original plans and has a mix of both era-correct furniture and a couple of pieces of actual furniture from the original mansion.

It is a little pricey, although the admission pays for multiple locations- palace, grounds, additional home (George Washington slept here), and the history museum. If you see all of them it will definitely be over two hours.

We enjoyed the site and you will too, if you are interested in the area and Revolutionary War history.

This is like a much smaller Williamsburg. Very beautiful and the interpreters are in costume and do a very nice job with the tours. Definitely a worthwhile stop!

- Tryon Palace tour was excellent.
- Tour guide was informative and obviously enjoyed her job.
- The added opportunity to visit the John W. Stanly House was a plus and also a place to visit

My wife and I spent a could of hours at Tryon Palace recently and enjoyed our visit. The Palace is only open by way of tours, which do not begin until 12:30 and then run every 15 minutes until 4pm or so. The cost is $20 per person, which includes everything. Prior to our tour, we were able to visit the NC History Center and the Palace gardens.

The only comment I would make about the Palace and its gardens, is that it appears to need an increase in its endowment. While pretty, the gardens are in mostly poor condition and really need a lot of TLC. That could also be said of the Palace, which, while very enjoyable, is badly in need of paint and additional décor. Still, we had a lovely visit to Tryon Palace and would highly recommend it.

Very well-portrayed with attention to historic accuracy. Things were still recovering from the hurricane when we were there, so there were some buildings that were closed. Even though we missed seeing everything, what we did see was terrific, and they gave a discounted rate.

Paid a little extra for the full day pass for all the grounds and buildings with guided tours - well worth it. Palace is a great reconstruction of the original that burned in 1798. I'm a NC native and I still learned a bunch about the history of our state that was tied to this Palace. Grounds were not in bloom in February - would probably be spectacular in the spring. Enjoyed watching Joe cook in the kitchen and appreciated his explanation of cooking in the 1700's.

Mu husband and I went there this past Saturday. Love walking through the gardens and especially like the kitchen area. People are dressed in period clothing and takes you back in time on how things were.
I have been also during the Masquade and the music and atmosphere is fantastic!

Took my Mom on the special Dec tour to hear about the floral decorations in the palace. $20 ticket that turned into $24 pp. Tour was horrible. Lights weren't even turned on. Dim inside. All artificial Christmas decor and no Christmas tree. The tour guide - dressed like a gardener - just kept saying how wonderful faux greenery was. I think I could have done a better job. And then it wasn't even how they would have decorated in the day. Waste of time. Very disappointed.

We had a very informative guide and a small group (my wife and I), so we were able to benefit from the guide's extensive knowledge.

Loved having the guides in period costume. Very interesting learning of the history of the building. A must see.

Beautifully restored. Tour guide very knowledgeable, pace was good. Had time to take pix. Cost included more than Palace-2 historic homes & museum.

On a day trip to New Bern from Topsail Island, NC, we were pleasantly surprised by the vast amount of opportunities to learn at Tryon Palace and the associated Historic Center. Word of mouth indicated 'a tour'. We found there to be a consistent and well conducted tour of the palace that started on the half hour. As a pre-tour, we were able to take in the Dixon House - a 20 minute tour showcasing the 19th century in furniture, architectural and interior styles and stories of the life and times of the first owners - middle income America. We also discovered there are two additional special tours given on different days than when we visited. PLUS the Historic Center was a huge surprise. We couldn't take advantage of the exhibits or the children's part of the building. Not only that, a wonderful restaurant as far as museum restaurants go AND a really nice gift shop. While we are a sucker for living history museums, the tour experience at Tryon Palace is done very well, maximizes the features of the time periods We know we will be back.

this is the best place to go when you go to New Bern N.C .you get to see the palace, gardens, kitchen and stables

Interesting guided tour w/ lots of history highlighted. Enjoyed the gardens. Should be must visit for families w/ young children/teens to teach them some of our history.

The palace was well done to represent a time in area history. Tour guide was good and knowledgeable about the history of the grounds.

Stopped in on Spring Break when we had 3 hours to fill and had been in the car all morning. My seven year old loved being able to run in the garden! We toured the house, which took about an hour, with a docent who was magnificent at keeping the kids engaged. She was dressed in a period costume and made history FUN. We took the self guided tour of the kitchen and the two staffers in there told her she could be a scullery maid and all about what that would have meant, what her day would have looked like. They let her crush peppercorns and smell spices. It was a highlight for her! By the time we walked through the flower garden, we were out of time. We didn't even make it to the history museum. We have tried house tours before but this one is truly family friendly. Fantastic NC history lesson!

We visited the Tryon Palace on a hot August day. Our tour guide was great. He seems to really enjoy what he does. The house was nice and the grounds were beautiful. The kitchen was large and had women working in there. This was a nice place to visit.

Tryon Palace is so charming and the staff is very friendly. The gardens aren't well kept during this time of year but it was still a wonderful visit.

Terrific docents. Very informative. A must for Colonial History buffs. Well worth the fee and time. Highly recommended.

Highly recommended. Full of history & wonderful sights! We paid $6+tax/person for a self-guided garden tour. The weather was nice & insects weren’t terrible & not crowded at all for a Labor Day weekend. It took about 50 minutes to stroll the grounds twice. I went with my husband this time, but we have toured the yard & the buildings before with our kids. The cost to tour the buildings is extra.

We traveled with Christian Tours to the Outer Banks. Tryon Palace was included on our way back to Charlotte, NC on our last day of our trip. Magnificent building and grounds. Extremely knowledgeable tour guides. I prefer the Tryon Palace to Biltmore.
Not as big as Biltmore but more serene and less crowded.

According to the Tour Guide this is an exact replica of the original building built where the 1776 Governors Palace before the Colonies were freed from England ! There are 3 original pieces of furniture on display along with pieces of the period of time ! The guide was very informative ! I love the early history of America ! There are stairs to climb if you want to see all of the building ! The gardens were fabulous with Spring flowers and trees in bloom. There is a shuttle that will take you from the History Center to the Palace if you prefer to not drive or walk ! Allow about 3 of hours if you want to see everything.

We went here at the end of the day and made the last tour. Spent about 3 hours here, which was more than enough. We did the tour, which was interesting. and then we toured the gardens and grounds.

I visited Tryon Palace last week on a lovely autumn afternoon. The grounds were beautiful and landscapers were hard at work preparing for MumFest. Tickets were $20 and included a tour of the Palace and grounds as well as the John Wright Stanley House across the street. Tours of the Stanley House begin every 30 minutes and last 25 minutes. There is plenty of time to get from the Stanley House to the next tour at the Palace. Guided tours of the Palace last 45 minutes. The stable and kitchen as well as the grounds are self-guided and you may spend as much time as you like. At this time, some rooms of the Palace are off tour while repairs are still being made from Hurricane Florence in 2018. Docents are knowledgeable and helpful. I asked a question they were not sure about, but one of them disappeared to research the answer for me.

We bought the ticket that included tours, garden and multiple locations. Beautiful grounds, passionate employees who honor the property and enjoy sharing their knowledge to the visitors. I would recommend planning 3 hours to tour, walk, and discover New Bern’s history.

We made a day trip to New Bern from Raleigh specifically to visit Tryon Palace, and we discovered that we were easily able to fill the entire day with activity --- there is so much to see and do there! We arrived early in the morning at the North Carolina History Center and purchased our tickets to tour the Palace and the other nearby historic homes (which are all included in one "combo ticket"). They have the tour times conveniently arranged so that you can tour the Palace and then the other historic homes without having the tour times overlap. There is a shuttle from the History Center to the Palace, but we opted to walk instead. It's a very short, easy walk --- just a block or two --- and it allowed us to walk past some charming historic homes and the Palace grounds. For some reason the information reps at the History Center don't seem to offer the "walking" route as a default option, but when we asked about it, we were provided with a map and directions. It's very easy, just down one street and then turning left when you reach the Palace. It probably took five minutes or less. Much more convenient and faster than having to wait for a shuttle! Prior to leaving the History Center we did watch the brief introductory film, which just gives a general overview of what you're about to see.
We arrived at the Palace in time for the guided tour, which I believe was the first of the day, and it was wonderful! I knew that the Palace wasn't the original building, but after all, it can't be helped that the original burned down, and the fact that they have built an EXACT reproduction on the original foundation, using the original architectural plans --- well, you really can't ask for more than that. (The Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg is also a reproduction, and I think it's wonderful that in the absence of the originals, they have recreated these buildings for us to be able to see exactly what they looked like!). The guides at Tryon Palace do a fantastic job of interpreting the history that took place inside the building. Our guide was very entertaining (wonderful sense of humor!), and we learned a great deal. Living where we do in Central North Carolina, and having ancestors who participated in the Regulator Movement, most of what we previously knew about Governor Tryon was not positive, so it was interesting to hear a different take on his life and endeavors. His life was really quite tragic, ultimately. The period furnishings in the Palace give a real sense of what it would have looked like in Tryon's day, although most of the furnishings are not original to the building.
The gardens were quite large --- not entirely reconstructed, but the formal portions nearest the Palace have been recreated in the 18th-century style and are just lovely. We really enjoyed walking along the peaceful, winding paths. The rear of the garden has not been reconstructed yet, but I know that funding is always tight at historic sites, and I think they've done a fantastic job with this one.
Included with our ticket were guided tours of two nearby historic homes --- one from the 18th century and one from the 19th century. Even though I absolutely love historic homes, and both of these were really beautiful in and of themselves, somehow the tours of those homes paled in comparison to the Palace. Maybe because the tours were more rushed; maybe three historic homes is just too much to tour in one day. If I had my choice, I would have preferred to do the other two homes on a separate day and had more in-depth tours of each of them.
After visiting these historic homes (and spending some time strolling through New Bern's historic district and visiting the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola), we returned to the History Center and spent quite a while in the wonderful gift shop there. It's quite large and carries a beautiful assortment of items.
By then, we had spent a full day in New Bern, so we didn't have time to visit the exhibits in the History Center. Hopefully we'll do that on the next trip!
Tryon Palace and the historic district of New Bern provide a wonderful opportunity to gain insight into the history of North Carolina. One day is really not enough to experience it all. Fortunately, we don't live too far away, so we will be back!

We visited the Palace's Gardens and Grounds, toured inside the rooms. We then had the Life on the Lesser Stairs Tour in the afternoon. I visited on the grounds the Militia Camp. We were there for 4 hours.

While staying in the New Bern area, we toured this rebuilt history site. It was one of the better tours we have experienced. The guides provided considerable interesting information. In addition to the main house, the Kitchen building was fascinating - it is a self-tour with staff available to answer questions. The person there was exceptional in explaining the food preparation process and the items used. The grounds are very attractive, even in winter. We very much recommend touring this site. The next door history museum is also of high quality and should not be missed.

The 45-minute tour is definitely worthwhile. The main building is a reconstruction but with excellent period pieces. The kitchen building and stables are original. The kitchen was actually my favorite part. Lovely small gardens as well.

Had a great tour guide. Very historical NC landmark. Was a little disappointed with the gardens though realizing we just missed prime spring blooming season; garden was splendid but the flower areas needed sprucing up.

All the folks demonstrating, doing tours, at the ticket office and at the museum and history center were wonderful and informative. Stop by the café in the museum for a wonderful lunch.

The attendant shared great information about the Tyron Palace and other local sites. He answered all of our questions and also provided information on the unique clock in the lobby.

I lived in NC for most of my life and learned about Tryon Palace over 15 years ago. I have moved away but saw the opportunity for a short "side trip" to mark this off my bucket list. Specifically, I wanted to stroll the gardens...and that I did! When I saw that the cost to tour the gardens was only $6, I knew not to expect very much, especially since I was traveling in August when most plants are spent or looking pretty poorly. I was not disappointed...yes, several of their gardens were not up to par, but there were several others that were lovely. I found the entire property very interesting.

Excellent destination- so much history with dynamic tour guides who teach with humor & balance legends with reality. Very enjoyable- recommend the gardens / house & museum tour combined!

The palace was a wonderful and informative look back in history. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun. Be sure to visit the kitchen building. The tour guides in the kitchen building were most enjoyable. The gardens, even in the winter, were beautiful as well.

I grew up in North Carolina and had read and learned about Tryon Palance since I was in the 4th grade -- it was really cool to see the full-scale replica of the original Tryon Palace -- the first governor's mansion of colonial North Carolina. The staff is very knowledgeable; the palace is beautifully replicated with period and some original furnishings. The tour also includes a tour of two historical homes outside of the palace grounds. Be sure to check the tour schedule to ensure you get to see the mansion and the houses. Tour both the historic homes and the Palace in about 2 hours.

We really enjoyed our tour of the palace. Theresa was a fabulous tour guide and definitely knows her stuff! The gardens are lovely to walk through and there is a nice gift shop. This is probably the number one reason for visiting New Bern.

Our kids loved the interactive Pepsi area and the time machine. It was really neat kind of like a magic quest but educational experience. Day well spent!

This place is wonderful. All the docents are in period dress and take the time to explain the unique history of the place. A must for any 4th grader studying NC history. Really interesting interactive exhibits

Nice visit to a reconstructed late 18th century governor’s residence and reimagined grounds. In any era, it’s good to be the governor.

Faithfully reproduced, authentically furnished, the main building was described and explained over the course of a tour that lasted about 30 minutes, providing a perspective of the ‘1% life’ in the 1770s. After the tour, we spent some time in the ‘Kitchen Office’, the stables and the grounds.

Highlights for us were the Kitchen Office, where personable and engaging staff were doing some actual period cooking, and the grounds, which was comprised of formal and less-formal areas. We were told that no one knows what the grounds of the original Tryon Palace actually looked like, but what exists is a faithful reproduction of what was typical in the period. And very lovely, even in late summer.

The reservations that we have focus on logistics and price. There didn’t appear to be ticket sales at the Tryon Palace itself, so we walked to the North Carolina History Center to purchase our tickets at the desk there, then walked back. And, the value of an attraction such as this is hard to assess, but our initial impression was that $21 and change seemed fairly expensive for the 1 to 1 ½ hours that we spent there.

We did not spend time in the North Carolina History Center itself, other than finding the desk to purchase on Tryon Palace admission.

Very neat to be able to take your children to a place that's a part of history. We attend during the mum fest to have free access to the gardens otherwise you pay to enter. We have been on fixed tours before, they are neat to see and learn about the history

Three of us enjoyed the tour from the golf cart driver to the tour guides at the Stanley house & palace to the gardens and kitchen. Well done by all presenters.

We went to visit the museum and gardens. There are different packages to chose from. The museum had a lot of information about the history of the area including the wars, slavery and prominent people. The most amazing thing is the Pepsi exhibit. You can spend all day doing the different activities. They are hands on and fun to do. The gardens are very nice and quiet with benches around so you can enjoy the beauty. We will definitely go bad even if it just to play at the Pepsi exhibit.

The gardens were in deplorable condition. More weeds than anything else. Palace tour was nice but not enough explanation as to what was going on. Felt like we were hurried through.

Tryon Palace exposes us to the earliest history of our state. A reproduction of the first Governor's Palace in detail. With or without the any activities that are held at the location it is a highly interesting, entertaining and photogenic opportunity to experience our history. Several seasonal events, such as the Christmas Holiday display, are something to see every year, or at least every couple of years.

Both inside - with the reproduction (and some actual period) furniture - and outside - with the working gardens and attractive grounds- Tryon Palace is just a great place to go, walk and see history.

I am looking forward to visiting the Christmas event again this year, (2017)

Easy time travel ... the tour was easy, not too long, and very manageable. Rebuilt from the charred footprint after nearly 200 years ... a testament to the women of New Bern who pushed this project to fruition. They even have almost all the books that the Governor owned in 1771!

Fantastic place to visit. Really amazing how much work went into rebuilding this historic building. Linda was an amazing guide.

I am in love with this place!! The reenactors are dressed in the most amazing costumes of the 1700's. Even their hair, and in the kitchen they were cooking using all the food from the kitchen office. Coals and cast iron over a wood burning hearth. A woman was weaving and for a delightful moment I wished I had lived there when it was still going and Governor Tryon was waiting for his dinner in the palace. Very reasonable in price and the gardens were filled with the first blooms of spring.

Although completely rebuilt so the building is not authentic, it does reflect the design and is built on the original footprint of the colonial capital. Great period pieces and a fun tour to give you a taste of the colonial history of North Carolina.

I guess it's easier to close than to remain open and clean once in a while. We could have easily maintained our social distance, especially on the grounds.

We arrived in time for the earliest tour of the palace. Don’t rush. We took a break for lunch and came back to tour the historic homes and history center. A superb site!

I wish we could have stayed longer and experienced everything, but we were on our way back home and had to leave before we could go to the discovery area. The palace was grand but also brought home the reminder of what it was like to live without electricity or running water on a lavish scale. The gardens were nice but I’d especially love to see them in summer. My daughter and I also enjoyed the guided tours of the period houses surrounding the palace that were included in the admission price; definitely a must do. I can’t wait to come back and explore this area again when I have more free time.

The history was well presented. Exhibits cover the gammit of early history with interesting coverage of the economy and life of people in the area.

The tickets are expensive so I would not recommend for younger/disinterested people. I really enjoyed it because I love history and found it to be fascinating. I was disappointed that it seemed like a good part of the main house was off limits. It was a valuable way to see how southern homes/plantations were set up without kitchens (kitchen is located in a completely separate building) and how people lived.

Tryon Palace is a reconstructed home of the British Governors of North Carolina before the American Revolution. The home is gorgeous and the furniture, paintings etc. inside are authentic from the period. The guide we had, dressed as a house servant, was extremely informative about this period in history. How the reconstruction came to be was fascinating.

Went here a couple of years ago. Had zero expectations, it was fantastic. Great for kids and adults both. The museum is excellent, great hands on for the kids and very interesting exhibits for adults. They have different traveling exhibits also. The Tryon Palace tour is great. Very informative, interesting to see the period costumes. Loved visiting the other houses on the tour. Well worth the price of admission.

Well worth the admission fees! Traveling with 8 and 4 year old girls and they loved touring the kitchen and house, though they also enjoyed the golf cart rides to and from the visitor center. We visited on a VERY hot day so the kitchen wasn't able to cook because of heat, but I still enjoyed his demonstrations for the kids, and the staff did everything they could to make the tours and experience enjoyable. Lunch at the cafe on site at the vistor center was A++ and the Time Travel experience will be something my kids talk about for a long time to come - where else can they learn how to make turpentine?? Take the kids and have fun!

The Palace was a testament to the far sighted women who breathed life into the site of the 1st governors mansion. They brought Tryon Palace back from the brink, rebuilding the main buildings and repurchasing the land, as much as could be assembled from the original expansive estate.

Parking on the nearby streets was easy and the traffic was light, perhaps given that it was a weekday. The office for the site was on a street corner across from the entrance to the palace area and tickets were 15 for both the palace complex and the adjacent museum of history. The site is staffed by docents who operate tours of key buildings on the half hours. The tours are informative and well balanced. The guests are not always so accommodating. One fellow tourist wore a Trump hat and kept asking odd questions about why liberals were demanding equality for women, the environment, etc when life was so great back then. Not joking. Regardless, the trip was worth the money but it would be even nicer during the fall/ winter when the weather cools and the lantern festival or Christmas lights are displayed.

Tyrone Palace is a must for those interested in history.
Though the palace that is standing today was built in the past 70 years, it was built from the original plans from the 1700s. There are a few original pieces from Governor Martin's family from before the revolutionary war, however most pieces are just original to that time period.
The guides, dressed in 1700 clothes do a great job of retelling the history of the original two Royal Governors.
The gardens are a great stroll.

We visited Tryon Palace for the June Outlander tour and also did the palace guided tour. I'd highly recommend both. If you are a fan of the Outlander books or TV series, you'll enjoy the Outlander tour as familiar names such as Jamie, Claire, Fergus and Marsali are mentioned throughout. The costumed presenters were entertaining and knowledgable. Even if you are unfamiliar with the series, the tour is still a lot of fun and you learn more about the history of the area and the times. They also sell Outlander themed items in the gift shop. I had been concerned because I was traveling with my elderly parents and in-laws but there was seating available throughout the Outlander tour stops and even on a very warm June day there was a pleasant breeze. We also enjoyed visiting the beautiful gardens and the NC History Center and Museum. One tip that I would mention if you are coming for the popular Outlander tour, secure your tickets as soon as they go on sale. Also make sure to arrive early. The tour was at 9:15am and we were there just before 9am but due to Covid protocols there was a line to get into the building to pick up tickets from will call. When I was finally allowed in, it appeared that my tickets were about to be sold as we were deemed no-shows, but fortunately all was resolved. Another thing to note, if you do the palace tour your ticket allows all day entry so we were able to enjoy lunch and return to the visit the gardens later. Definitely a fun experience and a must-see when in New Bern.

This is the second time we have visited the palace and each time we learn more about this remarkable location and all its rich history. The tour is about 50 minutes and covers the entire building and details what life was like there so long ago. Really worthwhile tour. Be sure to visit the gardens as well! You can wander at your own pace and take in the beauty.

This was my wife's and I, 2nd visit here. The History Center was added since the last time we were here. We learn something new with every visit. The docents make all the difference, as they are passionate about what they do. The blacksmith shop was a special treat. This is a must visit for anyone whom enjoys history.

The museum at the history center at Tryon palace is full of pictures, artifacts and information about native Americans, early settlers and enslaved people. We enjoyed it very much
The center also sponsors education events which are historical in nature. We have attended a couple of those which were free and enjoyed them. It is a beautiful facility.

While waiting for the tour inside, we walked among the gardens and chatted with the interpreters who explained the outdoor cooking and the many tools used back in the day. The gardens were amazing-- so many flowers, shrubs, trees and fruits, vegetables and herbs. We all commented it would be nice to have placards with the names of the plants. The interpreter of the main building was very knowledgeable of the history of the area as well as the palace. Her presentation was excellent. The gentleman in the basement not very interesting. I would not recommend visitors with physical or respiratory problems viewing the upstairs. Both the main stairs and those leading to the basement are very steep. I have asthma and had a bit of a problem especially since a mask was required.

The palace tour is nice because the docents dress in the time period of the palace. However the tickets for Sunday should not be $20 because you do not have enough time to see all of the tours that you pay for! On Sunday the hours are listed 12-5, but the first tour doesn't start until 12:30, and the last tour is at 3! We ventured to the educational center which is also included in the $20 ticket, and by the time we returned at 3:06, all tours had already started so we weren't allowed in to the other houses!

Ladies dressed in historical clothing and very knowledgeable about historical events. A must for historical buffs!

Wow, I was very impressed with the workers here. Everyone was very knowledgeable and the palace is quite beautiful. It’s a shame we were here in the winter because the gardens would be fabulous in spring or summer. A nice learning treat for those inclined to like history.

We purchased the full day pass so that we could visit Tryon Palace along with the gardens, historical houses and the other attractions. Though palace is only a replica, it is still fun to walk through and get a great history lesson. The homes you get to visit are original and the tour guides were very knowledgeable and enjoyable. The Pepsi Center was a disappointment because they stop doing many of the activities after a certain time and we apparently did not get there early enough. The regional museum provides knowledgeable insight to the area. Overall, it was a great family visit.

Docent Susan started and ended our Tryon Palace Time Travelers Tour. Sandwiched between her fascinating history lectures we enjoyed visiting the kitchen, the apothecary, and the textiles rooms in the kitchen outbuilding. Each of the period-clad specialists shared a wealth of info, from Coffin Pie and Star-Gazey Pie to medicines, surgeries and textiles of the 18th century. Definitely not for young children, and you'll need to be able to stand for the tour until you reach the final 10 minutes in the stable. The textiles room is up a steep staircase. Enjoyable for fans of Outlander, Poldark, Bridgerton, and Turn!

Tryon Palace foundation delights with another successful event - WinterFeast. Following on the footsteps of the wonderful Candlelight Tours of the Palace offered in December, Winter Feast was truly a wonderful feast. Thank you to the staff and volunteers who made this a tasty and enjoyable event. We will happily recommend both events (as well as the touring the Palace on the Day Pass) to visitors and family traveling to New Bern.

Stepping back in history was lots of fun for entire family. Tour guide very well informed and was in period dress. Lots of care and attention to replacing furnishings lost in the fire. Room furnishings were wonderful to see and imagine living in that period. Grounds afforded a nice walk kitchen facility certainly interesting and loved the smell in stables!

Nice visit to the palace and the out buildings. Christmas decorations up with a 12 days of Christmas theme. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining.
The NC. History Center is very nice. We took a quick look at the regional history gallery, but plan to come back to spend more time.
Friendly staff. Nice lunch at the restaurant.

Hurricane Florence hit the History Center hard and some exhibits are still not open. Lots of good history in the building though - note it's not the palace, but a museum that you get admission with when you go to the palace.

My wife and I had limited time to tour the entire palace and gardens, so we opted for just the gardens. For $10 per person, there was not of anything to justify that price. Kind of a rip-off truth be told. There just wasn't much that stood out. The kitchen garden was just ok and the english garden was slightly better. The place was run poorly. You drive to the ticket center to get tickets and drive to another area to park and enter the gardens from the front of the palace. The gardens were not kept up. Lots of wilting plants and leaves and other debris that just distracted from the overall experience. Most gardens we visit are pristine and a joy to walk through. Over half of the garden is just a walk way that goes around the entire back yard. Not much to see during that part of the walk.

Been to Tryon Palace several times of the past few years. Each time I have been I have learned something different. I love to explore the gardens during the spring, summer and fall season as they are always changing.

My grandchildren loved their visit to the palace. The costumes and demonstrations were so much fun. It was educational but they didnt notice because they had such a great time.

Dragged hubby and teens to only the palace-- a very expensive excursion and I imagine worth the price if you visit all the out buildings and gardens. I dared not push my luck since we all seemed to enjoy the main house. Air conditioning is a welcome feature and the floating staircase a marvel in mahogany. A brief movie gives a helpful overview and our docent, dressed in period petticoats, was friendly and informative. As youngest teen said the deep window seats provide a nice respite.

More than a museum. It is a good overview of the history of NC with high quality exhibits. The restaurant is a good place to eat. You can buy tickets to Tryon Palace here and walk to the palace. Could park here a walk to downtown shops.

Great visit with the grandkids, lots of history and we loved the gardens! The history center is interactive and tons of fun!

We enjoyed the tour and history lesson. Pretty extensive grounds and we wouldn't know that this was a rebuild unless we had been told. Other exhibits and buildings were interesting also although a few were closed because of some storm damage.

Drove a couple of hours to tour Tryon Palace on a Saturday and was disappointed. I understand that the palace was rebuilt in the 50's because a fire destroyed it long ago. I applaud the ladies in the 50's that put the time, effort and money into the re-creation. I think, however, that whoever is in charge currently is missing the boat on how to run it. I understand that they are currently dealing with some major repairs but there are many things that could be done to improve the experience. The garden need work. The vegetable garden is a MESS (maybe get some school kids to do a project of taking care of the garden). Admittedly, a couple of the gardens are lovely but plant markers are not costly and the ones I saw were covered with weeds. The main palace tour guide was not good. I understand that they are volunteers but he wasn't new and did not have an informative presentation. There were many walls with no pictures (which I thought odd for the period) and there were no pictures or paintings of the Tryon's or the other governor that lived in the house. All of the windows had green modern blinds. The HVAC was being overhauled so the tour guide was not in costume and the tour did not include the basement. The kitchen/office building was lovely and the 2 volunteers in that building were great. Normally the cook (who was informative and delightful) would have been making something from the period but because of the HVAC issue this was not being done. The blacksmith shop's roof was needing repair, so the blacksmith demonstration was not going on either. There was visible boxes and "modern" things visible in windows. We didn't even bother with the other buildings included in the tour - one of which had been moved around town a few times and the other was from a different time period. Someone needs to really take a hard look at how this is being managed! A big disappointment!

The tour guides are very knowledgeable, willing to answer all questions to a fault. Sometime there are people in your group who ask redundant questions. Over all, this is a must see tour.

Fascinating history and a beautiful facility to tell the story. While the palace itself is a reproduction, it was painstakingly recreated based on the original architectural plans and historical research. The gardens are beautiful and we loved walking the grounds. Highly recommend to those who appreciate history, nature and garden design.

We had never been to Tryon Palace before but were totally enthralled with the house and gardens. In addition we were at the History Center during a Pottery show. We spent quite a few hours there but did not see everything so we will plan on another visit.

For me the story of Tryon Palace might more compelling than the actual tour. It was great to see the palace completely rebuilt from original plans and presented as it would have looked in the 1790's. Wonderful history and a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of NC.

By all means, take the guided tours of the Tryon Palace and the other two houses nearby. The History Center itself is extremely nice and enjoyable. Very affordable and informative.

The palace was ok. A bit pricy, even though they discounted the admission due to COVID and they only had the main floor and basement open to see. The gardens had not been kept up, tons of weeds and overgrowth. They did a good job at telling the history of the home and some stories, but most of that you can Learn by reading on line. Not sure we would return.

Palace, kitchen and stable are nice to visit. Guides are informative and friendly. Gardens were not well-tended when we visited, but you can see how beautiful they could be.

My friend was visiting from Maryland and we did the tour of the palace and 2 other homes. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and able to answer questions. The house has been restored to period. Always amazing as to how our ancestors lived in their times. Very well done! I’d go back.

On January 25, 2018, while visiting Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC, I fell on some brick steps in the back lawn, down toward the water. I reported the incident. I was given a wet paper towel and some band aides. I was not offered medical attention. I had some cuts to my face, busted my lip and injured my wrist. The guard did ask for my name and address. I gave him all of this plus my phone number and email address. I emailed the attraction a week later and did not hear anything back until February 6, 2018. The report that had been written up was completely fabricated. I would not recommend that anyone visit a facility that has such liars working there as what would write up the report as this one was. They said I refused medical attention. The trust is that none was offered. They said that I refused to have my photo taken. The trust is that they never asked to take it. They even lied about where the fall took place. My best advice to anyone is to stay away from such a corrupt organization.

The guide through the actual palace was knowledgeable but very stuffy and stern. The other guides, through the nearby historical homes and palace kitchen, were more inviting.
The palace was amazing. The homes had so much information about them and were very interesting for the entire family to see.

Beautiful historic location on the waterfront in downtown New Bern. Period character lead tours given daily and special events offered each month.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Being from Virginia we were not that familiar with NC history, so it was all very interesting to us. Gardens I'm sure are beautiful when in bloom.

Visited Trying Palace on a Day Pass, loved the "palace" tour (so weird to see King George & Charlotte of Mecklenburg on the walls!) and the Stanly and Dixon houses. All tours were superinformative. Your best bet is to remember the distinction between "of the period," and "original to the house." The guide in the smaller houses deserves special mention for giving a tour with an emphasis on the architecture and furnishings. So good! Additionally, make sure to save time for the history center, too. The small regional center was really in-depth and highly interactive, while the Pepsi Family Center was superbly produced and so much fun. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable, and even if the palace is a reproduction, still a cool place to visit.

We visited on a Monday and found it lightly visited around 1pm .We met our guide who was dressed in period clothing and since we were the only 2 on this tour we felt like we got a very detailed experiance.
Our guide was very well versed and you could tell he enjoyed doing his job. This location was rebuilt in the 50s but is a very good representation of the period and has alot of interesting period artifacts .
There is a vegatable Garden on the property which was very nice and we found the head gardener to be very Happy to give us answers to our questions .
overall this was worth the price of admission.

Great example of colonial living by the English Governor. The main house is resorted to as original as possible. The guide tour was very informative. The kitchen building was live demonstration of 1700 - 1800 cooking. Open fire and demonstrated cooking a cake. The other room were self tour. The staples was a staples with NO animals. The gardens are beautiful and worth time in them. Two other house with guided tour was included. The tour guide provided very good information about each family and the houses. Worth the $20 (2018).

If in New Bern NC you must make time to tour the governors palace, the grounds, historical center and any houses available at tour time. A great admission value as it will take at least 3 hrs to hit it all. Being a Connecticut Yankee all our historical stories are against the British. At the time of this governor NC was very British and it was interesting to hear the other side of our beginnings.

Beautifully laid out and highly informative museum of a very old American city. Section on the Civil war was particularly educational.

We went to the center to get tickets to the Palace but were too late for a tour. The information person, docent told us we could tour the center for free. The price was right so we did. The history of the area was very good and highly informative. Good artifacts and taped info.I would have given it a 5 if the Pepsi Cola exhibit were open. It was closed because of the hurricane.

We planned a day trip to see Tryon Palace and other sites in New Bern. Arriving on Monday morning of the Labor Day weekend we learned that the site is always closed on Mondays. NOTHING on TripAdvisor told me this. We were able to visit the shops but no museums were opened. Disappointing.

Drove up for Christmas candlelight. Got there early to try to check out history museum. Closed early for the event. Seriously closed early for the event when you are going to the place. Made no sence. The tours were fast and odd. They did short character acts with no back story no info. Felt really odd and out of place for holidays. The best thing was the circus performer and the magic act. They explained more about what they do and back story even in character. The food tent was super over expensive for what little they offered. And the food trucks which only 2 served bbq or thai. Which unless you like that you were sol.a block away was a nice pizza place that because of this was slammed but did everything they could and was good. Thank God weather was decent it made things ok. But I would not do this again. It really wasnt what was advertised and made little sence and wasnt worth the time and money. Would have left if weather was worse.

If you enjoy the history of colonial America, 18th century North Carolina, English nobility, architecture or interpretive history; The Tryon Palace is s must see.

I went on a tour of this palace with the Wilmington Newcomer Club Daytrippers. Docents are dressed in period costume, reminiscent of Williamsburg, VA; same historic time period. It has a working kitchen that prepares period recipes, and a “high-tech” mechanical spit-turner.
There is a blacksmith shop with blacksmith outside, in back, and formal gardens. Our docent’s stories really awakened my imagination of life in colonial times.

The one day pass included the History Center, the Palace tour and gardens. The tours go every half-hour and you need to select a time. We happen to get there a little past 1pm so we chose 2pm and tried to fit in the history center first. I don't recommend that. It was not a walkable distance away so we had to get back in our car, drive over, and felt rushed to look around and head back for our scheduled time.
Our tour guide was a costumed man who spoke with a fake English accent which at times made it hard to understand. The Rooms of Palace were fine but we had too many stories of the portraits on the walls. My 10-yr old was bored.
Once we exited the main building, it was on our own pace and we really enjoyed walking around the Kitchen Office and the Gardens.

On a recent trip to New Bern, NC, my husband and I took advantage of the all-day pass to see the Palace, gardens and History Center. Included also were admissions to two historic houses within walking distance of the Tryon, but time did not permit for those.
The palace offers tours on the half-hour. Led by a very informative guide, our group of 12 was just the right size to fit behind the ropes in each room and still hear the stories of North Carolina's first two royal governors.
The property also contains the formal and kitchen gardens, the kitchen complex-with a demonstration of period cooking with the tools of the time, as well as the upstairs area where many of the servants lived. Across from this area are the stables, and a small gift shop tucked in the back. As the gift shop was the former chicken coop, make sure to look for the mini chicken door built into one of the walls.
Within easy walking distance is the History center, where the story of North Carolina is traced from pre-history to modern times. The exhibits cover all of the topographical areas of the state, as well as social and economic influences through the centuries.
Together, the palace and history center present a multifaceted look at the state and its many regions.

Excellent tour guide. Nancy was very knowledgeable and made this a very informative and fun tour. I don’t feel like the history center, located near the palace, was very interesting, in comparison to other museums/history centers I have visited. The reason to visit here is for a tour of the palace, which stands because women in the area (in the 1930s and 1940s) were so devoted to its reconstruction. If you love history, this is a wonderful stop.

We arrived in time to miss the last tour of day by 10 minutes. People at Center were friendly and helpful in helping us make another activity to do.

Went to see a pharmacy where Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi-Cola. Wound up going to the North Carolina History Center also. What a great decision. You see the governors palace from the 18 TH century. Great tour guides and a shuttle to take you from place to place. Reminded me of going to Williamsburg. Really enjoyed our time there.

They don't even allow you to drink water inside. It's absolutely disgusting to not allow people to drink water on a 90-something-degree day. While that may be relatively cool for North Carolina, we are from New York and were really struggling in the heat. Mt brother could not even make it upstairs and had to wait outside in the shade just so he could drink his water while the rest of us finished the tour. So he didn't really get his money's worth since he only saw half of it. I myself felt very hot and out of breath. The tour guide reprimanded him when he tried to drink his water, yet she never reprimanded one of the other people in the tour group who kept touching the artifacts even though we weren't supposed to do that either. It was extremely inconsistent and unprofessional. Not to mention a health hazard. I understand not being allowed to eat or drink other beverages. But it was just water, which is very important to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion. I'm sure most people can drink their water just fine without spilling it. And even on the occasions where it is spilled, I seriously doubt it would do much harm. Most of the artifacts are behind stanchions anyway, so it's really only the flooring and carpeting that's in danger of getting wet. Just have some towels on hand to clean it up with, and it will be fine. Water doesn't stain. And as long as it's cleaned up quickly, it won't ruin wood finishing either. This policy seriously needs to be rethought. I was absolutely disgusted. I've never heard of any place not allowing water. Even if you don't allow us to bring our own but have some there for sale, that would be fine. Or if we were allowed in without a tour guide so we could walk through at our own pace or even be allowed to come and go as we please so we could take water breaks and then come back inside. But no. We have to be babysat so my brother missed out on seeing the upstairs. But our tour guide babysitter didn't even do a great job because, as I said, she allowed one of the other visitors to repeatedly lean over the stanchions and touch things. I don't know her name, but she was the 1:00 tour guide on 5/24/19, and she had blonde hair and a crooked mouth, and she said she was from Chicago originally but had lived in New Jersey for a period of time before coming to North Carolina. That said, the palace was very beautiful and our guide did take the time to answer all our questions. We loved the gardens too. They were very peaceful and beautiful. And the man at the ticket counter was very kind and helpful. I do recommend visiting the Tryon Palace, but I can't give it anything more than a 3-star rating because I'm just so mad about the no water policy. Something should seriously be done about that. There is absolutely no reason to forbid someone to drink water for an hour in hot weather. In any weather, for that matter.

We went through the replicated governor's mansion and the auxilliary buildings and gardens. Take the scheduled tour, it's really educational and what a lovely place!! We didn't have time for the new building where you buy tickets, but we plan on going back another time to do the whole thing and some more stuff in New Bern, which is in real need of cost friendly hotels (we stayed at the marina, which was great, but there is literally nothing else)

beautiful details and well informed tour. we will visit again. new bern has lots of interesting and beautiful homes. a lot of history in this town

My husband and I stopped by the North Carolina History Museum this morning after we went to the New Bern Farmer's Market - it is right next door. The Museum opens at 9am on Saturday and there was already a group of school children inside (very well behaved and enjoying a tour). This is a lovely museum with very friendly and helpful staff - very well staffed so early on a Saturday morning. I took a spin through the gift shop which is lovely, and then went through an exhibit of quilts which I'd seen advertised in the New Bern events books. This is a wonderful exhibit and a don't miss if you're in town - but I'm sure this museum has great special exhibits all the time. I look forward to returning when I'm in New Bern again. This museum is adjacent to Tryon Palace and also within the building is a lovely cafe, Lawson's Landing, which has a beautiful view of the river.

The tour was extremely informative. Barbara was very interesting. Had many little tidbits to add for humor

Beautiful historic building. All the gardens were also beautiful

Historical interpreters were interesting and informative. Palace and outbuildings are well maintained.

Tryon Palace held a tour for members of the area Porsche Club of America. Our group was big enough that they separated us into two groups, and arranged for a second guide without prior notice. They were very accommodating! Our Historical Interpreter, Susan, ROCKED the tour by imparting an amazing amount of knowledge about the Palace, it's occupants, and the time period. The grounds are well-kept, and the period pieces in the buildings are quite something. Characters tell how the assorted items in each room are used. Almost two hours and the tour is over before you know it it's so interesting. Our cars were secure for public viewing, and we found them just the way we left them.

We learned so much. Loved every part of the tour and the interactions from the tour guides. Loved learning the history of each building. So much going on we were there way longer than expected and of course had to walk over to the museum. Even enjoyed a walk around the garden. It was being worked on that moment so we’ll have to go back to enjoy it again.

At $20 per person we chose to spend our money for a nice seafood lunch. If you are a history buff, perhaps you will think it is money well spent. Seeing the buildings and grounds from the sidewalk was enough.

We did the full tour. I greatly appreciate the people who work there. They made it come alive and had lots of information to share. I would do this after the Trolley tour, it rounds out the whole historical picture.

Excellent was well worth the cost. Highly recommend it if u want to learn about history and a beautiful flower garden. Amazing what u learn about this place at least a few hours to see and tour everything

Well worth a visit. The all day pass for everything is $20; it gets you guided tours of the Palace and 2 additional historic homes, plus the NC regional history museum and the formal gardens. A small military discount is offered as well. Good for families w teenagers. You can see everything in about 4 hours and the buildings are close to one another. A shuttle is provided between Tryon Palace and the museum. A good introduction to New Bern and coastal NC.

I just finished my first (and last) candlelight tour. It was a waste of $31! The historical interpreters told vignettes in each room and I'm still not sure what they had to do with the holidays. The script could have incorporated SOMETHING about the holiday season in whatever year Mr. Stanley was single and looking for a wife. I learned absolutely nothing about the history and was told I needed to come back for a day time tour that this was a holiday candlelight tour. Some history could have been introduced in the script without looking the holiday spirit. So, so disappointed!

When to the candlelight tour - it was an awesome way to tour. The tavern area was fun - gift shop was great - great evening.

We visited Tryon Palace while traveling through New Bern. Full of history not only about the Palace but also New Bern. The tour started out great and when we got to the second floor our tour guide was amazing. She made you feel like you were visiting during those times. We were told the direction to go back to the first floor and when we arrived an unfriendly staff member said “right this way” opened the front door and walked away. We were a little confused if that was the end of the tour or what. We explored the rest of the grounds on our own, which was beautiful. A little over priced but don’t mind paying it if it’s going towards the upkeep of the property.

We have lived in New Bern for over 9 years now and of all the places to tour, this is everyone's absolute favorite!!! From the youngest kids to senior citizens, it is universally loved. I was truly surprised that our young grandchildren enjoyed touring the historic palace, homes and museums. They especially LOVED the history center displays. The food in the little restaurant is really good and there is almost always parking available. I just can't recommend a visit here highly enough.

Went for a Christmas season tour & got a great view of the property and structures. Also saw a very well done dramatic presentation on life in the home at the time it was the seat of power in NC. Well done and worth a visit if you are into history.

Tryon Palace was a very impressive place when it was built, and it still is after being rebuilt in the 1950's. By visiting bi=oth it and the history museum we learned a great deal about the settlement and development of modern day North Carolina. Well worth the admission price.

Let me begin to clarifying that it was a Monday so I was not allowed inside as they are closed, so my review is based solely on the grounds and what I could see from there.
In turn, given the number of hurricanes that have impacted this region in recent history, I am not certain how much of my observations were a result of storm recovery in progress of lack of upkeep to begin with.

Yes, it is worth the stop to see NC history and see Tryon palace. The surrounding community is quant and the nearby river makes it a beautiful place to sightsee. Glad I made the effort to travel to downtown while en route elsewhere.

However, the palace is closed on Mondays. The grounds were not well maintained and the buildings seemed rather run down and in need of sprucing up. Not sure if it is because of lack of attention, or because the ground and buildings are still in recovery as a result of the many storms in the area. Regardless, for this to be a state historic site, and promoted the way it is in the region with billboards, road signage, etc.the importance of this site based on its promotion is not consistent with the importance they seem to put in making it a marquee destination.

If you are in the area, yes, stop by for the historical significance. If this is your destination, until they begin to make upkeep and maintenance a priority....then no.

I thought the tour of the home was very nice. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and did well. very interesting to see the paintings and such of the time

My friend and I visited the Tryon Mansion (former Governor’s Palace) in New Bern, this week. The current building is a reconstruction of the original structure that burned in 1792. A set of original building plans were discovered and the home has been rebuilt to the exact specifications of its original design, 250 years ago!
A group of local historians in the post WWII era, found documents that related to the homes contents as defined by the North Carolina governor in 1770. These lists of the valuables in the mansion (including book titles) were used to stock the reconstructed building with the same furnishings and books that were listed.
The lady that took our group on a tour of the mansion did a marvelous job of describing what was in each room and how the room was used in the late 1700’s. The original builder/architect based his plans on buildings in England, a colder climate thsn North Carolina. The tour guide was quick to point out the benefits and problems created by the original design.
In my experience, it is rare to tour an old building filled with original pieces from the era that it was built. The furnishings in the Tryon Mansion may not be the same pieces purchased by the initial owners but they are identical pieces to those originally there.
I highly recommend a tour of the Tryon Mansion if you like history, architecture, and period pieces from the Revolutionary War era.

Tryon palace is a fantastic place to visit for 1700 N.C. history. The guided tour was great! Lots of great knowledge of the era is shared here.

excellent historical complex, houses for adults $18.
gardens and exhibits for kids $9.
good guides. a/c a god-send to summer.

It is nothing short of astonishing that a group of strong-willed women were able to push through a detailed reconstruction of N.C.’s Colonial Royal Palace. One woman was able to track down the original architectural plans, a road was rerouted, and now we again have a valuable artifact from America’s beginnings. My tour through the actual palace was led by the absolutely wonderful June- who made history come to life. She aptly managed a very large group (Memorial Day) while always remaining polite and welcoming. Habron (I’m sorry, I think?) in the Servant’s Quarters was also a treat-true hospitality while ably detailing life for a slave. The two additional houses are extremely well done and well worth the 45 minutes to get through both.

Start at the History Center so you can see the orientation film-and the current Highlander exhibit. (Small, but good- and yes, the books include the Palace.) I cannot say enough good about the regional museum inside the history center. Very, very well-done with specific attention paid to African-American, Native American and Women’s history in the area. So pleased to see that! They’ve managed to pack a huge amount of info into a small space-don’t miss it. And finally, the Pepsi kids area, so much fun. Great for engaging kids, but even adults will enjoy the numerous activities. This was an all day stop for me, although it certainly doesn’t have to take that much time. But to really see and enjoy it all, I’d allow five to six hours. Well worth the time! (BTW-this is a reconstruction of the Palace, but it was done from the original plans. Reconstruction isn’t unusual in historic preservation, there are reconstructed buildings at Old Salem and it’s often the only way to physically show slave quarters.)

Enjoyed the guided tour of the palace, kitchen, two houses, as well as the Pepsi Family Center of the History Museum. Wished I had more time to spend there...

A piece of history worth seeing. The tour guide, Alma, was fantastic, quite a fun lady. All volunteers in the home are in costumes. Very informative. Gardens not very well kept, but there is still alot to see. Takes a few hours in the least, more if you want.

Gardens were okay, but not much blooming. I took pictures of the few flowers we saw. Lots of things seemed really dry. The mazes were cool. Paths were made of multiple materials. It was really hot today but there are a few shaded areas. Some water features would be nice. Decent admission price.

I have been to Tryon Palace and the History Center several times. I am always amazed of how clean the center is and how friendly the staff is. Restrooms are very well maintained. We decided not to do the Palace tour, but did go through the museum, looked at the Quilt Display and did some browsing in the gift shop. The sales staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and helped me find my 'Gunpowder Tea'. From the History Center, you can take their tram/golf cart to the front of the Palace ro begin the tour. We had a limited time to explore, so chose not to do that this time.

Good place to visit. Very well maintained and the docents are very nice. Good exhibits and artifacts. Beautiful gardens and the military demonstration was cool.

Tryon Palace is a great learning experience for adults and older children. They have fun also. Depending on the time of year you visit, you will see the beautiful gardens. I kept trying to imagine being back in the time when it was the governor's home. The employees were clothing from the times and it really adds to the experience.

Oh man this was a great place to visit. Make sure you leave enough time to see it all it's a very in-depth display. Lot information well laid out with lots of interaction for young people and children. Love the Pepsi room and the scavenger hunt in there.

Prepare to step back in time and experience the Colonial Capital at it's best. It's not enough that the Palace that burned down, in time covered up with a streets and houses. Then in the 1960's rebuilt on portions of the discovered footing and foundation of the original Palace. The Palace, surrounding support structures and houses have period furnishings. Then there is the NC History Center. Displays, meeting rooms and even a river front dining experience in Lawson's Landing Cafe. All of this and more within walking distance of all Downtown New Bern.

My family came down from Texas so we thought that Tryon Palace was a must on a series of sightseeing in New Bern NC. The website and everywhere I checked had specified that Tryon Palace closed at 5 and the last tour was 4:15pm. We got there at 3:25 pm and we were instructed the last tour was at 3 pm. Which stinks. I love Tryon palace but it most certainly needs to specify when tours end. We ended up not being able to go in at all. I would recommend going here but make sure you call ahead.

If you are into history, this palace is a place to go. I would get the pass that you can tour every building that is associated with the palace.

The Tryon Palace was the highlight of my visit in New Bern. The tour guides were excellent and the price of admission is reasonable. History abounds here and the guides are extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend!

The staff is in period costume and quite knowledgeable. The palace is beautiful and the garden spectacular. Must see!! Love the history and the way it is presented.

Fantastic! When visiting New Bern, you have to visit Tryon Palace. The guided tour is informative and interesting.

I have been going here since I was a kid. Tryon Palace is a great place to learn about the start of NC history.

My friend and I visited the NC History Center and Tryon Palace on our recent trip. The NC History Center was a little cheesy and left a bit to be desired, in our opinion. I think the NC History Museum in Raleigh is a little better.
But, Tryon Palace and the associated gardens and homes were wonderful! The guides were top-notch and gave so much interesting information. The gardens were in bloom since it was mid-April. Definitely worth a visit!

Wonderful history the tour is fantastic the building that has been rebuilt to spec after it was burned to the ground is beautiful condition all of period pieces. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and we had a wonderful time listening to the explanations of this Palace

To think that this was all recreated as an effort of a few dedicated people! What a beautiful site and we’re thankful to have been able to have a true experiential sense of what this period in our history was like.

Another reviewer suggested you start your visit to New Bern here and we DID! Purchased the one day pass. Being from out of state this was perfect. The NC history center was detailed and informative. Caught us up on state history. Moving on to the other historical homes we toured the Stanly house and the Dixon House before moving on to the palace. We were there on a Wed afternoon in Sep. and the only 2 people on all 3 tours! Going off season and time sure pays off. The tours were excellent and the houses and palaces filled with period related pieces.

We recommend the total tour- 45 mionutes through the palace with great history background, plus access to gardens. They have Christmas program as well as spring gardens.

The History Center is very extensive; one could spend HOURS there. To our surprise, the Pepsi Museum was for ALL ages (not just kids) and so well done. We didn't leave enough time to explore that part of the museum fully. Sadly, the free shuttle that runs from the Center to Tryon Palace was not operating due to rain. The shop is really nice and prices are reasonable. We had a lovely, relaxing day.

We toured the main palace, but my Mom and I especially enjoyed the kitchen. The woman who gave a brief talk for guests chatted with us afterward for several minutes. She was so knowledgable and happy to answer questions. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

We also spent some time in the history center, where we looked at period furniture and furnishings and watched a video about New Bern's history. Wonderful visit.

We enjoyed the day touring the Palace. The people showing around were dressed in attire from when the building was built. They were very informative to helpful. The gardens were beautiful.

This is a great way to see how things were in the past. There are people that act as though they are living in that time period and answer any and all questions you may have. I took my 4th grade classes there and they loved it.

Of course we chose one of the hottest Sunday’s of the year and were pleasantly surprised at how cool all the facilities are.
The newly built self guided history center has an 8 minute intro film, a Barbour wood boat exhibit, and an excellent regional history wing (where each sign had me learning something). Check out the story behind the clockworks in the lobby. Jessica, wonderful ticket seller, made it sound like the entire town was proud if it.
You will not be disappointed when you get to the guided tour of Tryon Palace. Despite the long staircases, I navigated them slowly with my cane, the upstairs was well worth seeing. Plenty of window seats to rest while docent speaks. The stable and kitchen outbuildings had flat approaches. We only toured the impressive kitchen gardens. Also included in our ticket was the Academy school museum....which housed lots of info on the local struggles during the Civil War. No elevators anywhere. Extra large rest rooms.

Center offers several films on the history of New Bern and the Tryon Palace. Staff was friendly. Palace was very interesting

really enjoyed the tour. it was very informative and interesting, given by two persons in period costumes

As an history buff, Tryon Palace and supporting museum are truly worth a visit while in New Bern. It is a living, growing museum and will make anyone appreciate New Bern’s history and NC’s role in creating our country. I would allow at least half a day for visiting. Staff were very knowledgeable and always helpful.

Weather in the 70's the whole trip. We visited over Christmas my family has always been into memories vs things so enjoyed all the history.

We had a wonderful guide for our tour of thePalace. Lots of interesting information about the British government in this area. Beautiful building and grounds. Tour of the kitchen was self guided with characters. Stable and gardens were just self guided.

Being able to tour the rebuilt palace and learn about its history as well as the original Dixon and Stanly houses made for a very worthwhile visit to New Bern. Although we didn’t go through the History Center, we still got our moneys worth from what we did see. Being able to get the shuttle to and from Lawson’s Landing where we went for lunch was a very nice additional feature that was included in the ticket price. The tour guides did excellent jobs in both the Governor’s Palace and the two houses that we toured. In addition, the staff in both the kitchen and forge were very informative as to the workings of those locations.

Tryon Palace is a great place to visit. It can be hot in the summer months so visiting in the Spring or Fall would be the best. The gardens and landscaping are awesome. It's a great place to take pictures of you family.

Gentleman was full of pertinent information that helped us decide what to see and do. Beautiful location filled with historical information. We also visited the lovely gift shop. Recommend.

Beautiful displays with excellent presentations of history, geology and environment. The writing on the placard is informative and well written but the writing is too small to be easily read. There is so much here that one is quickly overwhelmed with information overload. It would be best to do this museum is small bits.

This place apparently just reopened. You might think that during the months it was closed the website would have been updated to give visitors accurate information, but apparently someone was busy at home taking care of the kids or maybe just relaxing so full consideration of this issue was ignored. Before my visit I scoured the site so I could be sure of what to expect. I expected to get a senior citizen discount as explained on the website only to learn that the previous entry fee had been lowered by $5.00 to account for the non re-opening of most of the previously included affiliated house tours. OK. I get that the price was lowered for all. However, the site still said that seniors were entitled to a discount. To be perfectly clear the site should have either deleted that blurb or stated that seniors would pay the same price as other visitors. You might say, "It is only $2.00." Multiply that by 6 seniors in a party. In addition, the $5.00 reduction from the regular entry fee of $20 seemed hardly enough for what is no longer included- in theater seating for the introductory movie (you stand at a kiosk and watch it with others peering closely over your shoulder), no second floor Tryon Palace tour, no "Kitchen," no auxiliary homes. For the current entry fee, this is probably not the best time to visit if you really want the full experience.

Our tour guide Alma was so funny, entertaining, & knowledgeable. The palace is worth a visit. I wish they served drinks there or let you have a drink. The tour feels a bit long, I think children would get bored quickly, thank God the tour guide keeps it entertaining and gives you insight into what you are looking at otherwise it wouldn't mean much without knowing the history of what you are looking at. The gift shop could be so much better.

This "palace" of the original Governor of North Carolina will amaze you! It original one burned to the ground and this was recreated based upon the original plans, on the original footprint. The grounds include the kitchen, maid & butlers quarters, stable, gardens and more. Give yourself plenty of time to tour it all. You'll have time for guided tours through many parts, as well as your own leisurely stroll for close-up inspection. Photos are allowed throughout and many of the furnishing in the home are original pieces, retrieved from area residents. This is a great piece of history of the area and well worth your time. I would grade it an A+ and highly recommend it.

There is easy access and clear signage to the facility. The staff was helpful in providing an overview of the area.

I had been by Tryon Palace before, but hadn't purchased tickets. I didn't understand how much there is to do along with touring the mansion grounds. Visiting could easily be an entire day event.

The information station ladies were very helpful in helping us figure out what we wanted to do. We had my 7-year-old with us, and they steered us away from doing everything, which turned out to be very good advice.

We started at the kids' museum, which is excellent. There are 6 or so different interactive stations where you get to perform different tasks, such as sailing a ship, cooking a meal, printing a newspaper story, making turpentine. The activities were fun for the whole family and educational at the same time.

Then, we made a quick tour through the NC History section of the museum. It has an enormous amount of information in a pretty small space, but it is very visually attractive. I could have spent several hours in that space alone.

Then, we went quickly through the quilt exhibit, which only takes a few minutes and is very visually fun.

We didn't do too much touring of the grounds because my son was losing his attention span, but what we did see was very nice and informative. We could have walked by several other houses and gardens with our admission, but we didn't.

Overall, the experience was only $11 and took 3-4 hours. To go through everything, the mansion tour and tours of the other houses on the grounds along with the main museums is only $20. It is a great value for a lot of information and variety of historical exhibits.

Great palace! Two floors are nicely furnished. The guide was very knowledgeable. There were other costumed workers on the site. They were all great to talk to and had great stories.
Take the time to visit!

Everyone who visits New Bern must take the time to your the prize piece of North Carolina history. The palace is a worthwhile step back into colonial history.

as it was Monday and everything closed was bad for us but walking along the streets seeing the houses and garden was worthwhile anyhow. Not so much hype as in Williamsburg, VA but with the same architectural emphasis.

When we told people we were spending a week in New Bern, many wondered what there is to do there. Well, there's a lot of history in New Bern beginning with Tryon Palace. New Bern was the colonial capitol of the colony and subsequently the first state capitol of North Carolina. Tryon Palace was destroyed and later rebuilt from the original design. It's furnished with period-appropriate pieces, and the tour guides dress in appropriate clothing. The guide we had for our tour was very knowledgeable, paced the tour to provide time to appreciate the various rooms and their purposes, and invited questions from the group. The out-buildings include a reconstructed kitchen and the original stable. The staff in the kitchen building are busy cooking or sewing or spinning. They happily share information about the contents of the different areas of the building and the processes that were used in colonial T
times. This was a leisurely, fact-filled your that we found both educational and enjoyable.

What makes a great visit to a living museum property? The Docents! Take all the tours and ask questions, these volunteer docents were excellent! Plan on spending a few hours and buy the full package - all the houses, the gardens, and out-buildings. If you are tuckered out at the end, there is a cool little electric-bus to take you back into town. My favorite was the kitchen, it is a do-not-miss as it is a phenomenal glimpse into the lives and living arrangements of the ordinary people in colonial America.

In June my husband and I spent a few days in New Bern to celebrate our anniversary, and we toured the gardens at Tryon Palace for the first time. What beautiful gardens! Guided by a map we walked through a variety of gardens but my favorite was the Kitchen Garden, which contains a secret Flower Garden as well - you'll find it and enjoy the discovery too!

Our $6 ticket for the Garden Tour includes the Military Encampment at the entrance to the Palace Grounds. This is a very complete setup and includes a costumed guide shooting a musket every 15 minutes as well as a very good talk about Colonial Military life. Include time for this on your tour of the gardens and you'll be glad you did.

We'll plan to visit the inside of Tryon Palace on a future visit to New Bern, but during the 'good weather' months the Garden Tour was a great way to spend our morning!

we spent 2 weeks in New Bern checking out the city itself, the Tryon Palace, the quaint shops, the Neuse River Tour with Captain Dave and there was also lots to do within an hours drive. We went to Morehead City to do the seafoodfest then on to Atlantic Beach. What a beautiful beach but didnt get enough time to spend there. There is the outlet malls in Springfield as well as shopping n Jacksonville. The restaurants in New Bern are very good and prices are reasonable.

The trolly was wonderful and extremely informative then we visited the palace and were educated by a wonderful tour guide.

Our friends asked, if there was enough to do in New Burn? The answer is yes, it takes more than a week to take in all of the sites.

Great relaxing vacation.

Beautiful town, full of history.

The docents present a very nice presentation of the main house and gardens, but we found the docent in the kitchen to be lacking in enthusiasm as the others

Tryon Palace was restored on the grounds of the original, which was destroyed in a fire. The original plans were found and followed. The Palace was built during the reign of King George of England, and is in the Georgian style. It was the home of the Colonial Governor Tryon and his family as well as the seat of Colonial Government. The tour ticket included a narrated tour of the Palace, a self guided tour of the stables, gardens and kitchen and the Stanley house which was across the street.

Very interesting and informational visit. We have been to New Bern NC a number of times and had always overlooked this fun place to visit. We went on the complete tour of the historical area and got to see the John Wright Stanly house as well as Tryon Palace and the gardens... We were there in October so the gardens had a lot of purples and oranges growing and they were beautiful.. My wife is a gardener and she was impressed with the gardens. the tours of both buildings were very interesting and loaded with information I did not personally know about NC. The tour guides were both fun and very knowledgeable of the places they were taking you to. If you get to New Bern and you have the time or can make the time I would Highly recommend this location … also good for children...

Spent a wonderful afternoon here in the Palace and on the grounds on a pretty day to venture out. Weather was perfect for walking to the Palace and on the grounds. Took the tour of the palace and our docent - Dick not sure if character name or real name - was knowledgeable, patient, engaging and a wealth of information. The kitchen staff - Harry - was really cool and a New Bern resident. The grounds were beautiful and the history museum was informative and enlightening. We went to Lawson's Cafe on the grounds for lunch - sat outside with a scenic view and the food was very good and reasonable. Definitely worth a visit if in the area!!!

Visited and did the history center only. Need a few hours to do the entire offering. Plan at least 4 hours if you want to do the place and historical walk.

The Palace of course is great, but I literally got lost in the gardens surrounding it! There was even an area that was being set up for a wedding when we were there, to make it an even more enchanting place. Make sure you save time to savor the gardens when you go -- even in the summer's heat, the garden was shady and pleasant. There are a also a number of fascinating and historic outbuildings to explore, too. We spent half our time inside the house, and half outside.
And don't forget to ask your tour guide about the various plagues that struck colonial New Bern. It brings a touch of sobering reality into the scenario.

Grand day at the palace. Wonderful gardens and palace tour.
So lucky we still can visit places like this and learn about our heritage. Very nice guides to take you back in time. Very happy we spent some time there.

Toured the palace homes and kitchen very interesting guides answered all questions that were asked would tour again if in the area

The Tryon palace is fascinating, and the guides are very good. The history center has some very interesting exhibits - both visual and audio. Well worth the money.

Tyron Palace is a must see when visiting the New Bern area. You can purchase timed tickets online or take a chance at the ticket office. The tour is very good. The tour guides are very knowledgable and informative. Our guide was very good with the kids in our group answering their questions. The NC History Center is included with your ticket to the Palace and has excellent displays on North Carolina and New Bern history. Stop for lunch at Lawsons which is connected to the NC History Center - food is great and they have seating inside or outside right in the Neuse River.

Cute little tour. Very informative. Great history lesson. Beautiful gardens. Knowledgeable staff. Very cool inside Governor’s house

The tour of the Palace was exceptionally well done - small group, not rushed, thorough and interesting narration, beautiful reconstruction, amazing story. Don't miss it when in or near New Bern.

My wife and I love the Outlander book and TV series and knew this would be a great visual of North Carolina history before the 4th season starts. We were not disappointed and our tour guide, Susan, was spectacular. For a brief time we were guests in 1770 at the Governor's house. The gardens were amazing as well, real deal plantings.

Some good historical stuff but limited places to see. Kitchen was best spot by far. Didn't measure up to other similar places.

Walked there right after we checked into hotel to get info on Tyron palace , by the time I left, Bob at the info desk had helped me plan my whole time there. I had a map, he recommended where to eat all my meals, where to go and how long to plan at each place. He was “ spot on!” Watch the film there that tells the history of the palace, other exhibits interesting also

The title and a gift shop and a resuarant on the water and a riverwalk with benches. I mean whats not to love. Its FREE. Youll like it. Me and hubby go once a month. Sometimes we walk the pup along riverwalk. Sometimes we go for food. Sometimes tbe duffy gallery. And the giftshop IS really good if you dont mind dropping some dough. Its a nice half hour at least. New bern did good with this attraction. Go with no expectations and i think youll like it.

What a grand and enlightening experience for us and our grandson! The guides here were hands on and brought the history of this lovely city to life. There are many activities for young and old. Would highly recommend visiting Tryon Palace. Incredible experience. The Grants.

Great historical place. New Bern is NC first state capital and Tryon Place was the home of colonial governors. Meet the cook in the kitchen preparing a meal. Pretty gardens and awesome vegetable garden for the kitchen.
After a fire and years of others uses of the property (the stable is the only original building)... the story of how they found the foundation to rebuild and the women that researched how the building looked and traveled around the world to purchase fireplaces and belongings that are period correct is awesome! Included is an additional house to tour where George Washington stayed

First time to Tryon Palace and it was just beautiful. All the employees are very friendly and knowledgeable. Nancy, our tour guide made the tour! She was delightful! The tour lasted about 50 min and there are places to sit if you need to rest for a minute. The kitchen was a separate building and they had a lady doing a cooking demonstration the day we went. Just a really pleasant place to visit!

Excellent tour of Tryon Palace (replica) and two other historic buildings with history of colonial North Carolina -- interesting tour and well worth the time. The History Center also has a "time travel exhibit" of sorts for kids to experience different aspects of North Carolina colonial life -- life on a ship, cooking, quilt making, etc. (hands on and fun for kids -- educational as well).

We spent two hours touring just one of the main buildings (Palace with kitchen and stables). The guides were dressed in Period costumes and were very knowledgeable. We didn't' have time to visit the other houses, included on the ticket, but heard good reviews of them too. The garden were very pretty--both formal and household. We were able to smell the fragrance of onion pie (with apples) as we received a great kitchen tour byt the cook, who had made the pie baking it on coals on the fireplace hearth!!

My husband and I have visited many historical homes. This was among the best. All of the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour guides were punctual as well.

Very interesting and well done. Especially liked the focus on peoples and history of eastern NC. Wish I had more time to look.

It was a miserable rainy day when we toured so we couldn’t get the full effect of the gardens, and the inside of the palace was dark because it was gloomy outside. All that said, it was an interesting glimpse into that side of America’s journey to independence. Worth the money. Museum is a great look into North Carolina.

The Tryon Palace Christmas Candlelight tour is well worth your time and travel.
The palace is decked out with holiday decorations as in the 1700s. People are dressed in period attire in the persons of various stature at the time from the governor and his wife and guests to servants to the military. All persons spoken to were knowledgeable of the period and time and events in early 1700s history.
The tour included small group interaction with the people in costume in the palace. The music played and the dancing we witnessed in the ballroom were authentic for 1771.
A must see when offered.

We visited the NC History Center and Museum last Wednesday. The staff was very helpful in providing orientation and the museum exhibits were very educational. Our tour guide for Tryon Palace was Joe. He was awesome! He shared so much great information and had a wonderful sense of humor. I highly recommend this historic site to learn about eastern North Carolina's rich history.

Tryon has an illustrious history from being the state capitol to being restored by a group of very generous lady benefactors, which I admire. Not oy are the tours fascinating, but also there are lectures and programs and festivals galore! My favrite recently was the international festival featuring a hula show from a wonderful hula teacher from hawaii via wilmington.

The Tryon palace was very interesting. I tend not to like 'reproductions' - prefer real old buildings. But when the Tryon Palace was rebuilt, they used the original architect's drawings and built it to spec on the original foundation. The stable building was original. The host was very knowledgeable and we were able to walk through the entire house. There was obviously a lot of work put into making the house and furnishings original - and a few pieces were original. Also had a beautiful garden to walk through.

What an amazing treasure in New Bern! The staff is wealth of knowledge about both the grounds and the history of the building. So much care has gone into the restoration and maintenance of the site. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. You can explore and walk them at your pace. There are tours every 30 minutes so you never feel rushed. There is also shuttle available to the site from the main building if needed, The time machine is great fun for all ages.

This museum was beautiful. The one room is packed full of information and history about New Bern and North Carolina. There is a lot of potential for more. It could easily be an all day family trip if they added more exhibits. I spent 90 minutes alone in the one room reading and watching the videos. The only negative thing I will say is the one video is motion activated and is so annoying and loud. So, other than avoiding walking by that video and having to hear it again and again while other people walk by it was a great museum overall.

My wife and I planned a road trip to eastern North Carolina, and this was a main focus of the trip. We had no idea about the full back story of the palace, only that it was the governor's residence during colonial times and later served as the first state capitol of North Carolina. We were amazed at the historical details that were explained during the tour.

We booked the tour online and chose the 11:00 am time slot. Tours begin at 10:30 and there is a maximum of 25 visitors per time slot. Driving up from Jacksonville, GPS guided us directly to the parking lot across the street from the palace. We arrived around 10:15 and had plenty of time to go to the Waystation across the street from the palace to exchange our emailed one-day-pass barcode tickets for the sticker worn by all persons on each tour. With more time to spare, we also took a quick walk through the beautiful garden area and checked out the gift shop.

We gathered at the base of the front steps at the scheduled time with Kim, our guide, as she began the tour there. Kim led us through the building, room by room on all levels (there are stairs involved), providing details of its use during colonial times, the fire, and eventual reconstruction in the 1950s. The reborn palace is furnished with period furniture, much of it English-made from the same era, and including one desk from the original palace. We were given a glimpse of what life was like there in colonial times.

After the tour we walked the grounds a bit, then headed to downtown, only a few blocks away, for lunch, checking out the shops, and walking through the adjacent historic residential area. We returned to the palace and visited the kitchen office and stable office (the stable is the only remaining original building), and another walk through the beautiful gardens. We also visited the nearby History Center, which has informative displays and a larger gift shop, as well as a restaurant.

One more walk through the gardens and we finished our visit to the palace. The tour is a bargain for the price, and the re-creation and maintenance of this place is truly amazing.

I visited Tryon Palace whilst on an exchange visit with the USAF. New Bern itself is a lovely town, the birthplace of Pepsi and the original capital of North Carolina. The Palace was the residence of the British Governor.It’s in a residential area close to the river and if you didn’t know it’s there, you could miss it. Although it’s a reproduction, as the original burnt down, it has been built as it was, by the British Governor Tyron, guided by the original building plans from England. As a Brit I expected the tour to be anti British but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The guide Sandy was completely in period character. She was knowledgeable and humorous and obviously an expert in this period of history. She spoke as if this was the day that the British governor was in residence. A real snapshot of history. Down in the cellar was Bob, another expert in this period of history. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. The attention to detail in the decoration and antique furniture is really impressive. Although it’s Rugby played at Twickenham and not football sandy 👍 I fully recommend a visit

Visited prior to our tour of Troon Palace. A 10 minute orientation video helped to acclimate us. There are a few nice exhibits and a quaint gift shop. A good stop before touring!

I took the palace and house tour and visited the history museum last month for the first time. The history of Tryon Palace is truly fascinating! The docents do an excellent job of bringing the history to life. You'll leave wanting to tell everyone what you learned!

Comprehensive look at local history. We didn't have time to go to the Palace, but this is the standard for a regional history museum. Well worth a visit.

We visited on a very hot day and were able to see and have a tour of Tryon Palace & gardens. Excellent guide and much information given. Worthwhile in many respects.

We are so fortunate to have Tryon Palace and the NC History Center in our hometown. As members, we can visit anytime we want for no additional charge. There is so much to do and learn
and it is all presented so well. The costumed interpreters are well informed and give excellent tours through our historical site. Try to visit when the gardens are in bloom or at Christmas when the Palace is decorated for the holidays and the Candlelight Celebrations held on two Saturday nights in December. We enjoy the outdoor concert given each summer on the grounds by the NC Symphony. This is free of charge and people come with lawn chairs and picnics to enjoy the beautiful music over looking the Trent River. The list of wonderful opportunities for special visits goes on and on. Tryon Palace isn’t a one-time visit, it’s a place to return to over and over again as the exhibits and seasons change throughout the year. Don’t miss it if you are visiting New Bern.

While it's not Williamsburg, VA; it is a handsome attraction in a lovely, small, coastal, southern town, which makes for a great weekend getaway. Remnants of the site are original, but most is a painstaking restoration initiated by a woman's group some time ago. Docents are well versed in the history of the property and occupants and much research went into the restoration. The Palace houses a solid collection of period furniture and the grounds represent the landscape architecture of the time. Presently several of the major gardens are under renovation. There are a lot of stairs to climb during the tour and extensive grounds (14 acres) to wander which overlook the river. The site is the gem of the historic district which is again quite large for a small town. Adjoining the grounds are several historic homes (1700-1800's) which are part of the tour. The gift shops have unique items which are affordably priced. Nearby, is the North Carolina History Center which is a modern building that blends into the surrounding architecture and also is situated on the river. There are rotating exhibitions, displays, concerts, etc., so check the Palace events schedule to see what's available during your visit as many are free. You can also grab a light lunch in the History Center at a wonderful onsite restaurant (Lawson's Landing) which again overlooks the river and makes the best burgers. It's a great way to spend an afternoon.

This palace was beautiful. The grounds were enchanting. The tour guides were very informative. A small gift shop on the grounds filled with wonderful treasures. The history of this palace was very interesting.

We enjoyed the tour and it was worth the price. The guides covered a room each vs traveling with us, which led to a variety in presentation. Though the Palace is a total reconstruction based on plans and furniture inventory from the time, it was interesting to hear about the likely lifestyle of the English governor. A little more light would have enhanced the experience inside (we went on 3:30pm tour). The grounds were also nice to walk around in, and see the Trent River against the back of the property, where guests sometimes arrived.

Great displays and interactive exhibits for the entire family. Loved it. Quick shuttle service to historic sites. The cafe served a great fresh lunch. Definitely would return here.

Visited Tryon Palace on my birthday because it looked big, beautiful and a special destination. And, yes it was.
Golf cart packed us up and dropped us off at the front gate for our house tour. Fun and detailed facts about colonial North Carolina and how people lived and cooked. Great docent in the kitchen sharing all kinds of tails of cooking and serving the Masters of the house. Fabulous gardens of vegetables and fruit vines as well as a formal garden. So much you could go a second time. Just wow!

We really do love to visit New Bern and learn about all the history. We signed up for the Guided Tour of the Tryon Palace. Our guide was very knowledgeable and polite,and kept the tour Very Interesting. Yes, you do need to climb some stairs to see the upper level.

Very interesting to see how the first colonial governor lived and worked.

We really enjoyed learning more about the history of NC. The tour of the palace was very informative. We also enjoyed the gardens and property around the house. A must see if in New Bern!

It's not for everyone, and it is a rebuild (except for the stables, which are original). That kind of stuff doesn't bother me though, because lets face it, many historic sites are rebuilds. (The 2 world wars took a big toll on Europe and many things had to be rebuilt.) The people working there are very knowledgeable, and it you have a couple hours to tour the palace and grounds, do it. It isn't expensive and is very informative.

Our first time at Tryon Palace or any palace for that matter! Ever want to feel like royalty? Walk the grounds and imagine yourself as part of the total family or even just a guest! Royal Governor William Tryon and his family brought architect John Hawks from London to design and build the Georgian-style structure which was completed in 1770. This served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina and was home to Governor Tryon and his family. 14 acres of colonial revival gardens! An amazing residence and a great tour! 👑

The tour of this lovely old palace was very informative and enjoyable. Our tour guide was June and she really knows her history of the New Bern area. Some of the tour is
self guided but the home itself is a guided tour. The grounds are gorgeous and clean.

Free parking at the Visitor's Center where you purchase tickets for the tour. The building itself is a replica based on original plans, artifacts aside a few which belonged to the families are period, and the docent - dressed in period garb - was delightful in telling the stories. Tour lasted about an hour with some self-guided areas after.

My son and I went here on his spring break. The house is interesting, but be prepared for an in-depth NC history lesson.

What a lovely day we spent visiting the North Carolina History Center and Tryon Palace! They're two different buildings located next to each other. The NC History Center is the place to begin and get your one-day pass. There are two history museums within the NC History Center that are both worth visiting...the Pepsi Family Center for kids, which is VERY hands-on and really well done, and the Regional History Museum for adults, which is equally well done. (Note that the Pepsi center was funded by Pepsi and exhibits have nothing to do with the Pepsi products.). Once you're done with the NC History Center, walk next door to Tryon Palace for a 45-minute tour. This tour felt very much like visiting Mount Vernon or Monticello...a guide dressed in period costume takes you through the building, explaining about the history of the time period and the lives of the royal governors who lived there. All in all this is THE thing to do in New Bern and well worth your time! Plan at least half a day or more for your visit.

When we went to New Bern back in April, the palace was closed that Monday so we couldn't enjoy it. So we made a second trip back this July just to see the palace and other local treasures. The tours weren't crowded at all, despite being the prime tourist season, and we had a comfortable time walking around. The only 2 complaints I have are me feeling sick in the Stanley house (nauseous, dizzy, sweating all of the sudden). I think it was the heat and stuffiness on the inside. The other complaint is when we toured the kitchen office, the chef was making food which smelled so good but we couldn't sample any. The gardens were absolutely gorgeous. This place gets all the stars!

We had a great time with our tour quide "Christa" in the palace. She was so full of facts and fun. She was so open to letting us go at our own speed since we were her last tour. Thanks Christa for our tour and making the history so much fun.

Even though the original Tyron Palace was destroyed by fire, this was an interesting visit with guests divided in to small groups with the guides in historical dress explaining many things about the house, the times, and the people who lived there. They were also friendly and open to answering questions. You can explore the grounds at your leisure.
Important: For the ticket price, you can also visit the museum nearby if you go the same day. We were not told that!

We visited Tryon Palace for the 4th of July festivities. We witnessed a parade with fife and drums and Revolutionary War reenactors. A local church offered visitors free water bottles. It was hot and full sun so the water was a very welcome gift. I especially enjoyed the public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Our palace tour guide (in 1770s costume) was informative and engaging. We toured 3 floors of the house which took about an hour. The NC History Center (included in the Tryon ticket) was great, the kids especially liked the hands-on "time-travel" area of the museum.

I came during the Candlelight Christmas Celebration. It was wonderful! Everyone was in costume and in character. When you move from room to room it was like viewing a mini play. It was very good! Each house had its own unique theme. The night was done exceptional! The Jugglers (Eric, Travis & Susanne) were really funny. The Magician was very good as well. The Fife and drum unit did very well. It was very interesting to watch the blacksmiths making tools. Great night!

For a small price of admission, your family can wander this rebuilt historical governor's mansion. The grounds and gardens are beautifully maintained in any season and the actors really take their job seriously. The tours are entertaining and informative. Our guide played well to our mixed tour group of seniors to children. We especially enjoy the seasonal specials, like trick or treat at the Palace or a Christmas tour. This is time well spent in New Bern.

Tryon Palace is steeped in history of the early days of NC. The house is not overly grand, but it was for the time. Moreover, most of the house is allowed on the guided tour. The gardens, when in season, are lovely. I highly recommend visiting the museums that are at the beginning of the tour which focuses on history, art, culture, and trades during the earliest days in NC. The is also an interactive learning center for children and adults alike. Tryon Palace is family friendly, so make sure the kiddos come along.

The N.C. History Center hosts the best interactive museum I have ever been to! It's "time machine" transports you to 1835, where a "town" includes hands on exhibits hosted by computer generated "hosts" who direct you on how to interact with the exhibits. The centers include a kitchen, quilting bee, printing press, turpentine still, ship, etc. In each center, you create something with the help of the host. This is a wonderful educational experience for children as well as adults. Brilliantly done. Don't miss it!

Neat place. We did the guided tour the first of which starts at 1000 AM and lasts 45 minutes. Most of it is reconstructed since burning down in a fire but it was still neat to learn a bit about NC history. The gardens were beautiful even on a cloudy day. You're given the opportunity to tour 2 other homes starting at 1230 PM but we decided to skip that this time around and check out the rest of the city. Would recommend. Everyone was friendly. They had actors dressed up in the kitchen and in the home.who answered questions.

This is probably my third visit to the palace and I always enjoy it it seems I always find out something new

Being a Colonial America history buff and lover of historic architecture, I have wanted to visit Tryon Palace for years but never got out that far east in NC. Finally, last April we took a "Carolina Coast" driving tour and included a stop here. Our outing to Tryon Palace was outstanding in every way: plentiful free parking, easy-to-find location, very pleasant setting, lovely spring weather, and an excellent attraction to explore. From the helpful staff members at the reception area, to the driver of the shuttle taking us to the palace, to the wonderful docents giving our historic house tours--what a great visitor experience. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful palace and its gardens and learning about New Bern's history and role as NC's colonial capital. (It reminded us of Colonial Williamsburg, only on a smaller scale) A short walk across the street from the palace led to a visit to a second house, also interesting to tour. Then, returning to the beautiful History Center building, we enjoyed a delicious lunch in the cafe. The cap to our great visit was the excellent museum exhibits in the History Center. These were interactive, high quality, visually engaging, and so informative. Whoever designed and created the museum galleries can be extremely proud. Our only disappointment was that only one additional historic house was open for touring that day; would have loved to see them all. Still, by the end of the afternoon and our time visiting Tryon Palace and the NC History Center, we could count this site as one of the best places we have visited! Go visit--you won't regret it!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to multiple aspects of this historical site! The ticket staff and mansion tour guides were outstanding! We were able to tour the mansion, the gardens and the orientation center/gift shop. We wished we had had more time to do some of the adjacent historical homes.

Beautiful Tryon Palace evokes images of a bygone era similar to the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Decided to be a tourist while visiting Kinston, NC and spent a relaxing afternoon at Tryon Palace.

Highly recommend doing the regular tour of the palace first followed by "Life on the Lesser Stairs" tour.

The North Carolina History Center offers ticket purchases, an orientation video, a couple of galleries, the Pepsi Family Center (children & adults can travel back in time to a 19th century village) and a gift shop.

Then, step back in time during a guided tour where you'll learn what life was like at the Governor's Palace and Kitchen Office. Tour a couple historic homes and stroll through the Palace's Gardens (16 acres). Length of visit: 3-4 hours

Found the center exhibits to be interesting and well done.

The place grounds were very nice with walking trails throughout.

The palace itself was very nice with good talks put on by volunteers in period costumes various rooms.

The admission price was more than reasonable.

We took the house tour and the palace tour. The guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It was very interesting to hear the personal stories of the families that lived in New Bern.

Gardens were very nice. The tour inside was conducted by a well informed docent and was entertaining.Recommend for everyone.

Our guide, a nice gentleman, I can't remember his name, did an excellent job on our tour. He patiently explained everything in every room and told stories that allowed you to use your imagination to take you back to a place that was pre-revolutionary. I learned many aspects of common history that I was not aware of that made this tour a memorable one. Definitely recommend.

The palace itself is interesting and beautiful. We had a great tour with Bob, who was a very knowledgeable docent. It was really hot and humid but the fans in the rooms made the tour much more comfortable if you don't like heat. After the tour of the palace, there other out buildings to explore. The kitchen was my favorite and there were people dressed in period clothing to answer questions. Plan on spending some time here. It is well worth it.

Great place to visit to learn about the history of North Carolina and to see some nice outdoor gardens. Definitely worth a visit

We took the opportunity to visit the Tryon Palace while on a 38 day road trip. I had missed an opportunity 40 years ago so I finally got this off my list. It is a gorgeous facility. The tour tickets were $20 per person. Our guides Priscilla and Bob did a wonderful job. You are required to wear mask while purchasing tickets and while on the tour. Well worth the visit.

Tryon Place is the location of North Carolinas First Capital in 1794. The governor lived here and host parties and political get togethers for 4 years, until the revolution made the governor flee and unfortunately the house burned down from a fire that started in the basement in 1798.

150 years later in the 1950's, New Bern raised money to Totally Restore and Refurnish this amazing Residence. Only about 2 items in the house were original to the Governor as well as the basement floor and the stables on the right side of the property. Everything else was purchased to duplicate exactly what the house looked like and had in it at the time to the tee ~ since there were well documented records of the whole house and items inside from the time. Our tour guide was Dennis very fun and informative.

Anyways, this is a paid tour $20 for adults, $10 for 6-14 years old, 5 under free, plus there is a Military Rate. To purchase tickets just cross the street from the Tryon Palace, there is a well identified information building. You will go on the tour with a tour guide that is period dressed and walks you though 3 floors of this magnificent home. After the tour you are free to roam the kitchen (which is a separate building to the left) or the stable and definite the Gardens ~ soo many a kitchen garden (left) and manicures maze and perennial gardens (right). There also is period dress people on the Military Encampment grounds for Demos and to ask questions and a little shop & restroom behind the stables. Tour of the Historic Dixon House is also included which sits right in front of Tryon.

The tour is about an hour long and the tours take off every 30 minutes. Free parking on the street.

There are two other houses to tour on this location. You must be in a tour to go in to the other houses as well as the palace. The gentleman in the kitchen part of the the palace was great, he answered questions and had a great sense of humor, When you take the tours you on a time table and cannot look very long at anything because the guides have a time table to keep and they let you know it. They are not rude but they move you along and do not encourage questions.

This history center for New Bern is a very beautiful building and has many nice exhibits. We visited a very unique Quilt Show. It was well curated, great variety of quilts, styles, techniques, and skill. Thoroughly enjoyed this while we visited in New Bern.

We went while we vacationing in Swansboro, NC. My family had a good time. The guides were dressed in period clothing and provided a great tour.

A really fun and informative tour of the building. I could have spent all day wandering the brick-walled vegetable garden.

Very interesting and exhibits change frequently. Lots of guest speakers. Lovely little restaurant adjacent to the Center.
Well worth the trip.,

The story of how the local women's society groups endeavored to rebuild the Tryon Palace that had housed the North Carolina governor right before the revolutionary war was very interesting. This recreation is done with exceptional detail, they found authentic original furnishings, clothes, etc. Quite a bit of money was involved in this effort, and this project along with the visitor's center/museum does have that "old money bought this" feel.

We interacted with several docents, in period costume, who were quite good. A woman dressed as a servant took us through the house and provided good, modern perspectives of the roles of everyone in the household, how they lived, the limitations on women, the privileges of the governor. The gentleman in the kitchen gave a very entertaining and informative overview of how everything in the kitchen worked, how they cooked for large groups, etc. A woman who was weaving expanded her bit to include a long speech about how North Carolina took awhile to get some respect.

We visited the museum exhibits in the visitor's center which is a block away from the Palace and found them to be informative covering a timeline up to the current era, but we did not visit the two other small historic homes because they were located in yet another location on the local streets and it was hot.

The spread-out nature of the total collection of things to see had an empty "where is everybody" feeling to it. The visitor's center has a huge, modern lobby with not much to engage you and then it isn't immediately obvious where the very good museum exhibits entrances are, but the museum store is front and center! The directions to walk from the Visitor's center to the entrance of the Palace were not entirely clear, a block away and around the corner. Strangers were asking each other on the street where to go. (Can the city put up small directional signs?) Nobody was walking the Palace gardens except us. On a holiday weekend, there weren't that many people there so not sure how they keep this place going.

So, really nice collection of historical stuff, but they sort of need to pull it together and create some sense of vibrance and community for the visitors.

We visited during Covid-19 restrictions. The lovely gardens were open. Those alone are worth the walks. Volunteers are here to answer questions and give educational talks.

Great opener to the past, really opened my eyes to the hardships of earlier living. All the attendants went into great detail to describe the era. It was very rewarding and humbling.

We are local and took our daughter to the History Center for something to do on a winter break. She had a blast (7 year old) on the interactive displays- I did too :). There is another side of the center for adults and we had a nice time looking at all the local history. There was another exhibit that we could pay extra to see, but the standard admission covered plenty.

Tryon Palace is historic and pretty, and the History Center is fun and educational with a great gift shop. Gardens are gorgeous, changes with the seasons. Highly recommend a visit to the Palace if you are visiting New Bern NC. If you live here, or nearby, there are always special exhibits and garden lectures and many other activities throughout the year. I’m a yearly member so I’ve been there many times with friends and relatives. Great place.

Those who enjoyed Tryon Palace rave about their guides. Ours was not very good. He spoke hesitantly and would suddenly switch into character mode getting right in our faces and pretending we were alive when Governor Tryon was around. At first we didn't know what he was doing and thought it strange. He seemed to lose his train of thought quite often.
The woman working in the kitchen, on the other hand, was wonderful. She was very knowledgeable about her subject area.

I'm sure it costs a good deal to keep this and other houses up, but the price for touring this is fairly expensive at $20 per person. Suggestion: charge less and have more volume of visitors!

What a beautiful property, right in town. We were able to walk from our hotel. You need to take several hours to walk the beautiful gardens, visit the Kitchen and Stable office, and don't forget to tour the house. The tour guides are very knowledgeable.

The history that the hosts that walk you through the "palace" share with groups is very interesting.

Plan for the day because there’s so much to see that’s included in the fee that is interesting. The shuttle from and to the museum building is very handy. Lots of places to sit when you need or want. The guides were all very good. A day very well spent!!

Me and my wife isn't it here you're not a staycation. I have been there a couple of times in the past, this was the first time for my wife. Whenever we bought tickets, the clerk as to round it up for a small donation, we declined seeing that we were already paying over $40 just for the ticket. Upon interest to the Palace, the ground did not look like they had been kept very neatly, many places grass with little high or weeds were taking over. The actual Garden okay, but some brown edges and some plants just didn't seem to be thriving. The inside of the building was Majestic, very well-kept. The gardens left something to be desired.

Was awesome and if you live history - this is a MUST. We had an amazing tour guide- Joe! If you are visiting ask to have Joe show you the mansion! His knowledge of the history of the house and area was amazing! He made us feel like we were visiting home. I could talk to Joe for a full day - easily!
The mansion itself is rich in history of New Bern and its role over time in the colonies.

Stop by - ask for Joe!

My husband and I attended the Tryon Palace in New Bern, N.C., Christmas event. It was well worth the trip. They had set up a authentic camp, entertainment of the day, food trucks available, and a tour of the beautiful palace. It was not like palaces in Europe being the Governors mansion it was more of a house I think the beautiful area lit only with torches and candles gave the area a feeling of what it was like back in the day.

I do have one area which I thought could use improvement. The tour of the house did not include any discussion of the artwork or history of the house, which is what I hope to learn. Instead, they reenacted what food was served what dances they did.

My one complaint is about the actor who played the governor Tryon in the house. When I asked if I had permission to take a photo of them, he was very rude and his answer telling me he did not want to flash. My husband and I were very disappointed with that comment. Not that we wanted to take a flash, but in his attitude toward us.

Otherwise, it is well worth the trip and I suspect if you went at a different time you might get more history.

What a lovely experience to visit the Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC. Even with the historical houses closed and some of the floors of the palace closed due to continuing Covid restrictions, the tour offered plenty to see and learn and was as incredibly delightful way to spend several hours. The history is fascinating, and the guides, all dressed in pre-colonial garb are very knowledgeable, friendly, and will answer as many questions as we could "throw" at them -- and we love asking questions. The grounds are gorgeous as well. Not only is the original history interesting, but so is the history of how this palace was restored due to the love and generosity of several women of means in the 1950's -- oh if only all the rich folks today would take a page from them and put their money into beautiful, enriching, historic and educational places like the Tryon Palace -- a place where adults and children alike can learn and grow and be blessed with beautiful artistic historically accurate things. Gush, gush -- yes I am gushing -- what a gift this place is. Hopefully the great state of North Carolina will increase funding for museums like the Tryon palace. Being from the west coast where we just don't have quite the same kinds of places and historical museums-- well, it was a great thing to see and a real American treasure.

The tour was lovely, informative but never boring. Gardens are lovely and well taken care of. Erin, at the History center was very helpful when booking a special event. We had a lovely time in New Bern.

An excellent informative historical overview of the Palace. Guided tour of the first floor, partial basement and kitchen. Explains how the original Palace was rebuilt in the 1950's based on original plans with a good number of the same original furniture pieces replaced. Some of the tour was shorted due to COVID.

We loved learning the history of North Carolina's first state capital, but also the history behind the building of Tryon Palace by the British. Outside the castle were woodworking demonstrations by characters dressed in the clothes of the time. That in itself was entertaining. Lovely visit!

I took my nieces and they had a blast! They wanted to get dressed up because that's what you do when you go to a palace! They enjoyed getting to "work" in the kitchen! They also loved
The Pepsi History Center and didn't want to leave.

Actually lots of bang for your buck. But not sure you really have to have a ticket for all the venues we visited any way. We toured two historical homes with a guide. Then we toured the palace with a guide. Kind of hard to wrap your head around exactly what your are seeing. The palace burned a long time ago and the current building was built in the 1950's. Then they went and found period furniture to display in the house. Not too much known about the two royals governors who lived in the house so they can't give you much background. Then because the palace burned they don't know much about colors or decoration. It was just odd. The history center is huge and a beautiful building. We wandered around in it for about 30 minutes and saw a total of 3 staff. None of whom spoke to us or offered assistance. We weren't sure where to venture or what to look at.

We had such a great time here. The gardens are beautiful, employees are funny and so nice and helpful/knowledgeable about the place and its history. The lady who did our tour was fantastic and had an answer for every question that was asked. I'm horrible with names but I will remember her by her accent. 10/10 would recommend going here and seeing all of it. For what we paid was well worth our time to see this place. We also got to see a history museum and a few other things that was included with our pass.

Informative greeter at Palace Waystation answered all of our questions regarding accessibility. Our docent, June, provided us with an interesting and informative tour.

Great time at History Center & Tryon Palace. Interesting history of NC, and amazing informative history to the Palace and surrounding gardens and other historical homes.

One ticket gets you entry into both. There is a shuttle from Center to Palace, if needed.

Good docents and period appropriately dressed interpreters, adding to the experience.

There is a family friendly Interactive program sponsored by Pepsi, taking you back to 1835.

The is also a boat exhibit.

If you enjoy history, it is worth you time.

We did not purchase the full package due to a lack of time. We toured the house and the little workshops. The docents dressed in period uniforms were extremely knowledgeable and interesting people. The buildings are excellently restored and the history of the building and the story of the restoration are really quite fascinating. Also the neighborhood adjacent to the Palace Is very interesting to walk about.

The museum is focused on the Eastern part of North Carolina and, with that focus, does a better job than the state museum in Raleigh which must take a view over then entire state. Worth the visit for anyone familiar with our other regions and less familiar with the coastal plain.

My wife and I enjoyed our tour of Tryon Palace. Very interesting what happened here . The guide (Butler) was very informative of what happened during the era. I highly recommend anyone to visit if in the area.

The staff were very informative about the buildings and the back stories of the area and palace. Tour was limited due to covid but the tour guides were knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions

We really enjoyed our visit! Our guides were very good—they knew their stuff! I learned a lot about North Carolina history.

You enter in to an enormous area. Seemed like a lot of wasted space..had to search around for the history area..BUT once found,it was great...so much to see and read! Well done!

My grandson had a blast in the time travel exhibit in the Pepsi Family Center in the museum. He loved steering the ship, making turpentine, and helping in the dry goods store the most. I found the quilt-making and kitchen exhibits the most interesting.

I recently spent three days in Savannah and four days in Charleston. So I could perhaps be jaded.
This tour director was interesting and gave us lots of information.... a little hard to hear her behind the mask. This home was obviously used by very wealthy people. The tour director did not tell us much about the people she called servants (which were really slaves) and what their life might’ve been like.
The original Tryon palace burned to the ground many years ago. This home is a replica (thru the intensive work of a group of ladies) of what it would have been like.

My husband and I enjoyed our visit here. The building and grounds are well kept. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable of the palace and very friendly. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes and you are guided through the main building. After the tour you can explore the gardens and visit a kitchen area where staff dressed in period clothing do demonstrations and talk about recipes, etc. There is also a small gift shop which I enjoyed looking through. The man who was working in the gift shop was extremely nice as well. Overall it was a great visit!

New Bern was actually the capitol of North Carolina at one time. We did not expect to find so much historical information available before we went to New Bern. Wonderful!