harper house/ hickory history center

On a whim, I stopped by this home to take a tour. What a beautiful home with an interesting history. For a mere $5.35 this is a wonderful and worthwhile tour. The home has been thoughtfully renovated and the results are stunning. Kendal, the site manager gave an amazing tour, showing off every little detail of the home complimented by stories about the former families that lived there. You can't go wrong, stop in and see for yourself.

I visited Harper House several times while earning my Interior Design/Historic Preservation degree, and I tell everyone that it is one of the most impressive homes I've been in not just in the area, but in the world (and this includes old Victorian homes, castles, etc. in Europe and across the US). The entire home has been gloriously restored and every corner is impressive, especially the first floor rooms with the dozens of mixed wallpapers. A must-see if you're in the area!

A thoroughly renovated and well preserved now-in-town mansion, complete with period furnishings and accessories. The highly carved, solid cherry woodwork throughout is stunning and in perfect and original condition. The Harper House has a colorful and intriguing history, to say the least!The adjacent craftsman period dwelling has a current exhibit of examples of the finest silver, cut glass, art glass, men's and ladies' accessories, porcelain, and Art Deco and Art Nouveau items associated with the mid and late Victorian Era (all from a local family, we were told). Our docent was thorough, knowledgeable, and gave us plenty of time to enjoy both properties. A rare glimpse at Victorian architecture, construction, egos and life for $5.25 per person!