Ticket and Tours

Whether you have just a few hours to spend or all day to enjoy, your visit to Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens can include one (or more!) of many touring options designed to accommodate adult groups, school groups, or individuals.

Regular Hours
Monday through Saturday:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The last guided tour of the Palace begins at 4 p.m. daily.

Summer Hours (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend):
Monday through Saturday:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.
The last guided tour begins at 4 p.m. daily.
The gardens are open until 7 p.m. (Tickets are sold until 4:30 p.m.)

New Bern Academy Hours
Monday through Saturday 1-4:30 p.m.

Tryon Palace Museum Shop
Monday through Saturday
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m-5:30 p.m.

Crafts and Garden Shop
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Holiday Season
Christmas decorations are completed on December 1st, and remain in place through the first week in January.

Closures
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens is closed 5 days a year. Thanksgiving Day, December 24, 25, 26, and January 1.

Home-School Days
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens offers special activities for Home-Schooled students in the fall and the spring.

Home School Days
2007 - May 5, 2007 "From Slavery to Freedom"
2007 - October 6, 2007 - "Revolutionary War Camp Life"
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$10 per student/$12 per adult
Tickets are good for two days.

Home-schooled students and families participate in a variety of colonial arts,crafts, and games in a day full of activities. Home-school families also tour the Palace and historic homes. Call group tour coordinator Karen Pierson at 252-514-4935, 800-767-1560, or kpierson@tryonpalace.org for more information or for reservations.

What can I see and do at Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens?
There are seven major buildings and 14 acres of gardens for you to visit. There are historical craft demonstrations to watch, and historical characters to meet.
An orientation video, "Voices from the Past" will tell you more about the people who once lived here.

Are the tours guided or self-guided?
Tours in Tryon Palace are always guided. The historic houses are primarily self-guided, but guided tours are offered. If guided tours are your preference please contact us prior to your visit to learn the schedule for guided tours in the John Wright Stanly House, the Robert Hay House, and the George W. Dixon House.

Three of the buildings are always self-guided: the Kitchen Office, the Stable Office, and the New Bern Academy. The gardens are also self-guided. A free gardens booklet with a map and historical information is available at the Visitor Center.

How much time should I allow?
To fully enjoy your visit, plan to spend at least half a day at Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens. Here is an estimate of the time for each area:

Orientation video: 20 minutes
The Palace (guided tour): 45 minutes
Kitchen Office (self-guided tour with craft demonstrations):15-30 minutes
John Wright Stanly House (guided tour): 30 minutes; (self-guided): 15 minutes
George W. Dixon House ( guided tour): 30 minutesl; (self guided): 15 minutes
Gardens (self-guided): 20-60 minutes; guided tours are available to group tours
Robert Hay House (self-guided): 15-30 minutes
The New Bern Academy (self-guided) open Monday-Saturday 1 - 4:30 p.m.: 20-60 minutes

You may visit the buildings and gardens in any order you wish. You might like to visit several areas, walk downtown for lunch or a snack at one of New Bern's restaurants, and then continue touring in the afternoon. Your ticket will be validated for two days, so that you can visit some of the sites one day, and the others the next day.

How far apart are the buildings?
Most of the major buildings are within a one-block radius of the Tryon Palace
Visitor Center. The gardens are spread out over the 13 acre site.

How should I begin my visit?
Come to the Visitor Center to purchase tickets and view the orientation video.
Check the chalkboard for the daily activity schedule, including craft demonstrations and events featuring historical characters. Weekends usually include a puppet show or theatrical performance with the purchase of a ticket.

How can I help preserve these historic sites?
You can help us by not touching or leaning on furnishings, and by not bringing food, drink, candy, or gum into the historic buildings. Please stay with your guide while on tour. Photography and videotaping are permitted outdoors only.