Visitor Information

Garden
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Collection

The Wake County Committee of the Colonial Dames purchased the Joel Lane house in 1927. When the mortgage was retired in 1932, the Dames began purchasing items for the house. Over the years different County Committees of the Colonial Dames and individuals have made gifts to the house. From its purchase until its major restoration, the house had been used for meetings and rented to individuals who lived in it. When the house was opened as the Joel Lane Museum House in 1976, it was furnished and fitted out with items appropriate to Joel Lane’s era.

Unfortunately only a few items in the house have a connection to Joel Lane. All of his personal property was dispersed and the house rented following his death. We do have an inventory of his personal possessions, including a list of his slaves, that was taken at the time of his death, as well as a list of items sold at the estate sale. Both lists are invaluable in identifying objects that supported family and plantation life in 1795.
Click here to see the inventory and sale lists.
Click here to read Joel Lane’s will.
Click tabs above to see and learn about individual items displayed in the house.



Upcoming Events

Jul 4, 2020

CANCELLED Joel Lane Museum House Historic Independence Day Open House 2020


Recent News

Mar 13, 2020

Update June 2020: Tours Suspended due to Coronavirus; Museum Store Open for Limited Hours


Mar 12, 2020

JLMH Coronavirus Preparedness


Feb 11, 2020

Joel Lane Museum House in the News: Bare Wood and Memorial Dedication


What visitors say

Thank you for the excellent tour of the Joel Lane House.  I learned a lot about the history of Raleigh as well as the Joel Lane House.  I learned how harsh conditions were back then and how we take for granted things they did not have back then.  The structure of houses has really changed a lot since the Joel Lane House was built.

Matt