Mount Locust Historic House

In the early to mid 1800s the property became a cotton plantation worked by enslaved people, who were held in bondage and forced to labor here. Archaeologists believe 12 to 16 cabins once stood on the land, with four or five people living in each. A cemetery on the west side holds the remains of 43 enslaved people. Enslaved workers also made bricks at the on-site kiln, and those bricks were used in parts of the house. The plantation system collapsed after the Civil War; the National Park Service took over in 1938, and the last of five generations of Chamberlains left in 1944.

• The historic house on its rise above the parking area, reached by a short path uphill.
• A short walk behind the house to the cemetery of the enslaved, the Ferguson-Chamberlain family cemetery, and the brick-kiln site.
• Interpretive signs and exhibits that carry most of the storytelling, both near the parking area and on the grounds.
• Open lawns and shade trees that make this a quiet, unhurried stop rather than a quick photo pull-off.

• Parking is right at the site, with room for cars and for buses and RVs.
• Restrooms are outside the building near the parking area.
• Come during daylight and allow enough time to actually read the interpretation, which is where the substance of the visit is.
• Early or late light is best for photographing the house and grounds.

• Interior access and ranger-led interpretation can vary, so plan around the grounds and the outdoor exhibits and treat a look inside as a bonus.
• The house is small and the walk is short, so expect a modest site rather than a large museum complex.
• Reaching the house and the cemeteries involves walking up a slope from the parking area.
• Little survives above ground from the cabins where enslaved people lived, so the signs and the cemetery carry that story rather than standing structures.