Updated: 8/9/2010 
Poplar Grove Plantation
Wilmington, North Carolina
Description

Just a few minutes north of Wilmington, North Carolina, Poplar Grove offers a wonderful experience for families, with plenty to see and do. Tour the big house and tenant farmer's cabin, spend some time visiting the craft shops and learn about basket making and weaving, and the blacksmith's shop - find out why nails were so precious.

Let’s step back in history… The year is 1795, James Foy, Jr. has just purchased 628 acres of land from Frances Clayton. The land is located on Topsail Sound, in new Hanover County. It includes the banks of Figure Eight Island and land in Pender County as well. James built his home close to the water so he could use the water to transport his goods to Wilmington. The arduous trip into town took about twelve hours round trip. Transporting goods was easier using boats and barges. James’ son, Joseph Mumford Foy, began building the current Manor House in 1849. This location was selected because of the close proximity to the New Bern to Wilmington plank road. The manor house was designed by Joseph, an amateur architect, in the Greek Revival Style. It has 4,284 square feet, 12 fireplaces, 2 pairs of corbelled interior chimneys and 12 rooms.

The gift shop offers books, Poplar Grove souveniers, items made by our resident draft demonstrators, locally made crafts, foods, and other items. We offer four annual events, Spring Herb Fair, Summer Car Show, Fall Halloween Festival and Christmas Open House. Facilities are available for rental, Cultural Arts Center, Manor House, courtyard, gazebo and shady lawns. Indoor seating capacity seats 175. Wednesday morning spring, winter and fall all local farmers market

Getting married at one of the South's oldest plantations is a dream come true. The romantic setting of the beautiful courtyard, gazebo or the splendor of the Manor House contributes to a perfect wedding day. And the Cultural Arts Center aka "The Barn" is great for parties and dancing. Weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and parties for all occasions, it is yours to enjoy! The barn is also great for company meetings, family reunions and just about anything for which you would need a large area.

History

Opened as a museum in 1980; today the mansion is on the National Register of Historic Homes. Poplar Grove Plantation preserves the homestead of a successful farming family, the outbuildings and crafts typical of an 1800s era working community. Poplar Grove is preserved through the efforts of the non-profit Poplar Grove Foundation.

Artifact Collections

1850 manor house, original tenant farmers home, outbuildings, farm, blacksmith, weaving and basketry exhibits

Programs

School field trips for students. Three levels according to grade from pre-k through high school.

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: False

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

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For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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