On April 26, 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to U.S. Army Major General William T. Sherman from the parlor of James and Nancy Bennett’s farmhouse in what is now Durham, North Carolina. This marked the largest surrender of the American Civil War, with over 89,000 Confederates surrendered. The terms of Johnston and Sherman’s negotiations reflected a broader and future national debate over how to remake the United States without slavery and reunite the nation.
During our 160th Anniversary Program, Bennett Place State Historic Site explores the surrender and its impact on all North Carolinians. Join us to learn more about how veterans, civilians, and freedpeople alike experienced and thought about the end of the American Civil War and what would come next.
The program features several costumed interpretation displays and performances.
Program details, including a schedule of events, to be published here by March 1, 2025. Please note that participation in living history demonstrations or community tabling is by invitation only.