Beaufort Historic Site – Carteret County Courthouse of 1796

For one of the most genuinely meaningful historic buildings anywhere in North Carolina, the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 at the Beaufort Historic Site in Beaufort, NC is a real treasure. This brick-red building dates back to 1796, making it the oldest surviving wood-framed courthouse in North Carolina.

The courthouse is one of ten beautifully restored buildings on the Beaufort Historic Site grounds. For more on the broader site, check out our companion guide, “Whispers of the Past: Exploring Beaufort’s Historic Treasures.” Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A 1796 Brick-Red Courthouse — Built at Ann and Turner Streets

The Carteret County Courthouse was originally built in 1796 at the intersection of Ann and Turner Streets in Beaufort. Distinguished by its brick-red exterior, the building served as the county’s third courthouse during a formative period in NC’s early statehood.

The structure functioned as the county’s official seat of justice for 38 years — from 1796 until 1834 — during which it hosted criminal trials, civil cases, and the broader workings of early-19th-century coastal Carolina law.

From Courthouse to Private Residence to School to Library

After Carteret County built a new courthouse in 1834, the original 1796 structure took on a series of new lives over the following 142 years:

• A private residence — for several years after its decommissioning as a courthouse
• A school — where local children received their education
• A library — serving the broader Beaufort community

Each new use brought modifications to the original one-room courthouse design. As a result, by the late 20th century, the building looked significantly different from its 1796 form.

Acquired in 1976 and Restored 1997-2001

In 1976, the Beaufort Historical Association acquired the courthouse and relocated it to the Beaufort Historic Site grounds. The building joined the broader collection of preserved structures that today anchor the 2-acre historic site.

Between 1997 and 2001, the courthouse underwent an award-winning restoration. The careful work returned the building to its original one-room courthouse design, undoing the many modifications made during its years as a residence, school, and library. Today, the brick-red exterior and authentic interior layout reflect what visitors would have seen walking into the courthouse in the late 18th century.

A Museum with a 13-Star Flag and Mock Trial Programs

Today, the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 operates as a living museum on the Beaufort Historic Site grounds. The interior is preserved in its original one-room courthouse layout, complete with period-appropriate furnishings and educational displays.

One of the most distinctive features inside is a 13-star American flag — a symbolic reminder of the original 13 colonies that founded the United States just two decades before the courthouse was built.

The courthouse also serves as the backdrop for interactive educational programs, most notably:

• Mock trials for schoolchildren — Students roleplay courthouse cases and learn how the early American legal system functioned
• Courthouse dramatizations — Living history programs that bring 18th-century coastal Carolina legal practices to life
• Group tours — Docents in period dress share the building’s full multi-century story

Good to Know

• Year built: 1796
• Original location: Intersection of Ann and Turner Streets in Beaufort, NC
• Current location: Beaufort Historic Site, 130 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC 28516
• Distinction: Oldest surviving wood-framed courthouse in North Carolina
• History: Carteret County’s third courthouse (1796-1834); later used as a private residence, school, and library
• Relocated: 1976 to the Beaufort Historic Site
• Restored: Award-winning restoration completed 1997-2001
• Original design: Returned to its one-room courthouse layout
• Notable display: 13-star American flag
• Educational programs: Mock trials for schoolchildren, courthouse dramatizations, docent-led group tours
• Best for: History enthusiasts, families with curious children, school groups, and visitors interested in early American legal history
• Pair with: A walk through the Beaufort Historic Site, a visit to the Apothecary Shop and Doctor’s Office (1859), an evening on the Beaufort Ghost Walk, or a dinner along the Beaufort waterfront
• Located at 130 Turner Street in Beaufort, NC

A Beaufort Highlight

The Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 is the kind of stop that genuinely captures the deeper character of early American legal history. The building is the oldest surviving wood-framed courthouse anywhere in North Carolina.

Its 230+ year journey — from a working courthouse to a private residence to a school to a library and finally to a preserved museum — reflects the layered, often surprising lives that historic buildings can lead. The award-winning 1997-2001 restoration returned the brick-red structure to its original 1796 form.

Today, visitors can step inside the one-room courthouse and see the 13-star American flag, examine the period furnishings, or watch as schoolchildren conduct mock trials in the very space where 18th-century Carolina law was practiced. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a family with curious kids, or a school group on a field trip, this is one of the most rewarding stops you can make in Carteret County.

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Resources

Beaufort Historic Site Website

Beaufort Historic Site Facebook

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