Blandwood
4.5
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4.5
76 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
17
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Bobbie
Tampa, FL675 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
In town for the first time to attend a women’s lacrosse game at Greensboro College, we wanted to see some things nearby rather than risk a late arrival. My niece encouraged us to check out Blandwood Museum, based on comments she’d heard, though she’d never been there herself. It was a great suggestion. When we arrived, late morning, we were the only ones there. The docent, a history major, essentially gave us a private tour. She explained that currently the museum was in the process of changing some of the exhibits so a few areas we could go to were temporarily closed. She seemed to have lots of information about Thomas Day an African American furniture maker, several of whose pieces were now on display. She was excellent about asking if we noticed differences/similarities in various furnishings and seemed pleased that we had at least some of the correct answers.
While we didn’t take photos, I wish now I had taken at least a few. I think I was so absorbed in her tour, it seemed like a private home tour with a good friend, that it would have seemed overly intrusive. Our guide shared a lot of details, seemly a great judge of when to keep talking and when to stop. I regret not knowing her name as 75 minutes went by exceedingly quickly. If we return to Greensboro again, it would interesting to see it again.
While we didn’t take photos, I wish now I had taken at least a few. I think I was so absorbed in her tour, it seemed like a private home tour with a good friend, that it would have seemed overly intrusive. Our guide shared a lot of details, seemly a great judge of when to keep talking and when to stop. I regret not knowing her name as 75 minutes went by exceedingly quickly. If we return to Greensboro again, it would interesting to see it again.
Written 28 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gatortunor
Clemmons, NC653 contributions
Jul 2019
Blandwood is a nice place to spend a few hours if you enjoy NC history aNd appreciate antiques in their period setting.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
effieclyde
SF Bay Area67 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
... if you like Antiques Roadshow, or are interested in 19th century US history or architecture or North Carolina. If you're under 12, this tour is not for you -- it's at least an hour and you can't touch anything! I loved it -- Ryan did an excellent job as our tour guide. As others have said, the house doesn't look like much from the outside, but the inside is absolutely beautiful. The preservationists have done an outstanding job.
At seven or eight dollars, for so much information in a small group with lots of chances to ask questions -- this is a bargain.
I'm so glad I stopped by -- a highlight of my trip to NC. Well done, everyone.
At seven or eight dollars, for so much information in a small group with lots of chances to ask questions -- this is a bargain.
I'm so glad I stopped by -- a highlight of my trip to NC. Well done, everyone.
Written 21 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SLP78
Elon NC14 contributions
Aug 2013
We loved this tour. The young man that was our tour guide was very good and knowledgeable. The history of Greensboro is so rich and between this tour and the Carolina History and Haunts Tour we've learned so much.
Their hours are limited and daytime only, but for us it is worth the daytime trip. We will definitely do this tour many times. Can't wait for the Christmas Tour!
Their hours are limited and daytime only, but for us it is worth the daytime trip. We will definitely do this tour many times. Can't wait for the Christmas Tour!
Written 18 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avidreader57
Cary, NC1 contribution
Sept 2018 • Couples
First time to visit the mansion and we were not disappointed. Our guide was Matt and he was terrific....very personable with a great knowledge of the mansion and the family. This tour was like a History 101 class. When we first arrived we were told the tour would be about 60 minutes and I wondered why - it was an "old" house that could not possibly take 60 minutes and I was hoping for the fast track tour.. Actually it did about 60 minutes, and it was one of the fastest 60 minutes I can ever remember. If you are looking for something to do, visit Blandwood....you will not regret it and hopefully you will be fortunate enough to have Matt as your guide!
Written 20 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zachary O
1 contribution
Aug 2018 • Friends
For our trip, we had Matt as our tour guide. He was extremely good, and knew why we were there (school project). He was extremely fun to listen to, and made the tour memorable.
Written 25 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D2958ZXgarym
King, United States847 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
Once home to John Motley Morehead, one of North Carolina’s best known and most accomplished governors, Blandwood Mansion is also recognized as the prototype for the Italian Tuscan Villa style of architecture popularized in America during the mid-nineteenth century.
John Motley Morehead was a leading statesman and entrepreneur in the years leading up to the Civil War. A Chapel Hill graduate, Morehead initially embarked upon a legal career but soon found himself in the role of public servant, holding a position on UNC’s Board of Trustees, serving in the North Carolina House of Commons, and filling two terms (1841-1845) as state governor. Morehead was the very embodiment of the term “progressive,” advocating the establishment of common schools, a school for the deaf and blind, an insane asylum, and a penitentiary system. A proponent of education for women, he established Edgeworth Female Academy in Greensboro, in part as a means to educate his five daughters. Morehead also promoted a statewide system of railroads. Following his second term in office, Morehead entered the business world, and from 1850 to 1855 he served as president of the North Carolina Railroad.
In 1844, Governor Morehead engaged architect Alexander Jackson Davis, designer of the state capitol building in Raleigh, to draft plans for a new addition to his private home in Greensboro, something that would befit Morehead’s political and social stature. The oldest portion of the house, built in the late 1700s, was a simple two-over-two frame structure. When newly-married John Morehead purchased the house from his wife’s step-father in 1825, he had an addition put on that doubled its size. Davis used the second expansion of Morehead’s house to introduce a new architectural style which was to become known as Italian Villa. The two-story addition included east and west parlors on opposite sides of a central hallway on the ground floor, and two bedrooms on either side of the hallway upstairs. Extending in the front center of the addition was a three-story tower. Matching dependencies to the left and right of the addition – one serving as a kitchen, the other as Morehead’s law office – were joined to the main house by decorative arcades.
Visitors will note that original gas lamps still continue to illuminate the grand entry outside the home. Inside, family portraits adorn the walls of most rooms, giving guests a sense of visiting a home still lived in by the Governor and his children. Personal effects are scattered throughout the house, including the very cradle in which John Morehead slept as an infant.
John Motley Morehead was a leading statesman and entrepreneur in the years leading up to the Civil War. A Chapel Hill graduate, Morehead initially embarked upon a legal career but soon found himself in the role of public servant, holding a position on UNC’s Board of Trustees, serving in the North Carolina House of Commons, and filling two terms (1841-1845) as state governor. Morehead was the very embodiment of the term “progressive,” advocating the establishment of common schools, a school for the deaf and blind, an insane asylum, and a penitentiary system. A proponent of education for women, he established Edgeworth Female Academy in Greensboro, in part as a means to educate his five daughters. Morehead also promoted a statewide system of railroads. Following his second term in office, Morehead entered the business world, and from 1850 to 1855 he served as president of the North Carolina Railroad.
In 1844, Governor Morehead engaged architect Alexander Jackson Davis, designer of the state capitol building in Raleigh, to draft plans for a new addition to his private home in Greensboro, something that would befit Morehead’s political and social stature. The oldest portion of the house, built in the late 1700s, was a simple two-over-two frame structure. When newly-married John Morehead purchased the house from his wife’s step-father in 1825, he had an addition put on that doubled its size. Davis used the second expansion of Morehead’s house to introduce a new architectural style which was to become known as Italian Villa. The two-story addition included east and west parlors on opposite sides of a central hallway on the ground floor, and two bedrooms on either side of the hallway upstairs. Extending in the front center of the addition was a three-story tower. Matching dependencies to the left and right of the addition – one serving as a kitchen, the other as Morehead’s law office – were joined to the main house by decorative arcades.
Visitors will note that original gas lamps still continue to illuminate the grand entry outside the home. Inside, family portraits adorn the walls of most rooms, giving guests a sense of visiting a home still lived in by the Governor and his children. Personal effects are scattered throughout the house, including the very cradle in which John Morehead slept as an infant.
Written 31 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shillbay
Boston, MA21 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
We were fortunate enough to have Matt as our knowledgeable guide through this fascinating pre-civil war home. The ownership by Gov John Motley Morehead anchors the house in the history of North Carolina, but the Italianate design by NY architect Alexander Jackson Davis surprises by the generous rooms and innovative details.
Written 25 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel F
23 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
This home, with the main rooms built in the 18th Century, had nearly 5,400 square feet by 1846. It was the first home of Italianate architecture in the U.S. Restored to its original glory. Guide was AWESOME--knowledge incredible. Check hours before going. No admission after 3:30 P.M.?
Written 21 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unisatvti H
2 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Had a spectacular tour of this historic estate with an extremely friendly and knowledgeable and friendly guide. I didn't get his name, but he said he was from Ohio.
Written 4 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What are the hours you are open and is there a cost of admission?
Written 12 October 2018
From the website:
Blandwood is open year-round, Tuesday – Saturday 11am-4pm & Sunday 2pm – 5pm with the exception of major national holidays.
The last tour begins 30 minutes prior to closing.
Blandwood and its outbuildings are fully air-conditioned for your comfort as you tour the museum.
Please note that Blandwood only offers guided tours, led by trained docents. During our regular hours of operation tours are available on a walk-up basis. If a tour has started prior to your arrival, it may be necessary for you to wait until its completion to start your tour. Generally a tour of Blandwood lasts 45 minutes to one hour.
Admission
$8.00 Adults
$7.00 Seniors, AAA, Groups
$5.00 Children under 12
Blandwood can take cash, check or credit cards for your admission.
To qualify for a group tour you must have a minimum of 10 people. To qualify for the group tour rate of $7 you must have a minimum of 20 people. All groups must reserve tours in advance a minimum of two weeks.
All scheduled NC school groups tour Blandwood for FREE admission. School groups must have one chaperone per 10 children. School groups must book tours in advance a minimum of two weeks.
Group tours available by appointment, call 336-272-5003.
Written 13 October 2018
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