Duke Homestead to Showcase Tobacco History During Annual Brightleaf Harvest Day and Barbecue Fundraiser, Aug. 22

Experience North Carolina farming culture and history at Duke Homestead's annual Brightleaf Harvest Day on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. In addition to demonstrating the nearly lost art of tobacco looping, site staff and volunteers will show how tobacco is grown and harvested in the field.

Visitors are welcome to try their hand at these activities or chat with an interpreter in the historic buildings where much of Durham's tobacco industry began. This event is free to attend. Duke Homestead is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites withing the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR).

In conjunction with the event, the Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation will hold a barbecue lunch fundraiser. Individual meal tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. The $12 ticket includes pulled pork barbecue, potatoes, green beans, and hushpuppies. Bottled water and canned soft drinks will be available for purchase and meals are available for both take-out or eating in the site's picnic area. The Duke Homestead Educational and History Corporation is the site's volunteer non-profit support group. All proceeds from the lunch will help support Duke Homestead's special events, site maintenance, and staff development.

About Duke Homestead State Historic Site
Duke Homestead State Historic Site encompasses the historic home, farm, and factory buildings of Washington Duke and his family as they lived on the property from 1852 until 1874. The site interprets the early farming life of the Duke family and the beginnings of their tobacco manufacturing business on the property after the Civil War. The site is located at 2828 Duke Homestead Rd., in Durham, N.C. For more information, call or email the site: 919-627-6990 or [email protected].

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.