About

Haywood Hall Museum House and Gardens is the historic home of John Haywood, North Carolina’s first elected treasurer and Raleigh’s first mayor.  It was the first house to be built inside Raleigh’s city limits in 1799-1800.  It remains on its original site and is considered to be Raleigh’s finest example of Federal architecture.  Haywood Hall remained in the Haywood family for over 175 years. The last owner, Mrs. Mary Haywood Fowle Stearns, who died in 1977, left the house to The National Society of Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina. In accordance with the instructions of her will, Haywood Hall has been put to adaptive use for the “enjoyment of the community” and to promote a greater understanding of the history of North Carolina and of Raleigh, her capital city. The house is in the National Park Services National Register of Historic Places, has been designated a State Historical Site, and is accredited by the NSCDA Museum Properties.