Somerset Place is a representative antebellum plantation offering an insightful view of life during the period before the Civil War. During its 80-year existence as an active plantation (1786-1865), it encompassed as many as 100,000 acres and became one of North Carolina's most prosperous rice, corn, and wheat plantations. It was home to more than three hundred enslaved men, women, and children of African descent -- 80 of whom were brought to Somerset directly from their West African homeland in 1786. Today, visitors can see a realistic view of plantation life by touring the Greek Revival mansion, reproduction slave community, plantation hospital and other buildings.