North House Museum & Archives

Built in 1820, what is now the North House Museum has long held a place of prominence along Washington Street. Originally constructed for John North, a prominent lawyer in early ninetieth-century Lewisburg, it was later a tavern and inn, and even later a residence for the local college president. It’s now the keeper of “the story” -- housing Greenbrier County artifacts, archives and family tree.

Musuem Tours. The museum, filled with artifacts dating back to the Civil War and early settlements, displays original items belonging to the house’s first occupants, John North and his wife, Charlotte. The museum’s collections also include an 18^th-century Conestoga wagon and the first rural free delivery postal buggy. To learn about the region's history, the museum offers free interpretive tours.

Special tours are offered, such as Historic Walks, Black History Walks, the North House and Town Tour and the Cemetery Walks (tours of the Old Stone and Confederate cemeteries). The average cost is $10 per person per tour.  Keep in mind tha these walking tours require walking up and down the rolling hills of Lewisburg and last around an hour each.

The Archives. The society maintains archives, including genealogical records that are accessible to the public. (Please call ahead to schedule an appointment to research in the archives.)

Researched by Belinda Anderson.

HOURS: The museum is open from 10-4, Tue-Sat during January and February. The schedule extends Mon-Sat the rest of the year. No appointment is needed for a tour; however, please call ahead to reserve space in the archive room. 

• The staff is wearing masks and they ask that you do as well since many of their volunteers are older. 
• Docent-guided museum tours are $5. Kids 18 and under are free. 
• Self-guided tours are free.

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  MORE SITES TO SEE.

  • Completed in 1796, Old Stone Church is considered the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Alleghenies. It served as a hospital during the Civil War.
  • Industrialist Andrew Carnegie built thousands of libraries, but only Lewisburg, New York, Pittsburgh and Scotland have Carnegie Hall performing arts centers. In 1902, he donated $26,750 for Lewisburg’s Greek Revival structure, located within walking distance of the North House.
  • A walking trail from the Greenbrier County Public Library leads to a Confederate Cemetery, where a cross-shaped mass grave holds the remains of 95 unknown soldiers from the 1862 Battle of Lewisburg. 
  • Tour the town of historic Alderson by way of the Alderson Memorial Pedestrian Bridge. Completed in 1914, it connects the Greenbrier County and Monroe sides of the town and is the perfect vantage point to enjoy the river. 
  • In the 19^th century, the Chesapeake & Ohio delivered an economic boost to the region when it built rail lines through Greenbrier County, establishing depots in Alderson, Ronceverte and White Sulphur Springs. All three remain standing with two still serving as Amtrak whistle stops.