Mordecai Historic Park

Visit

Mordecai Historic Park offers one-hour guided tours of the park’s historic buildings and grounds. Tickets for tours may be purchased at the Visitor Center.

• Tours leave the Visitor Center at the top of the hour, beginning at 10 a.m., and the last tour leaves at 3 p.m. Each tour is approximately 60 minutes long.   
• Pricing: Adults - $7, Seniors or Youth - $4, Children 6 and under – free. 
• Public tours are not offered when school groups are on site. Please call 919-996-4364 ahead of your visit to check on tour availability. 
• Self-guided tours of the building exteriors and park grounds are available when the park is open. Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a self-guided map to begin your tour. Please note that visitors may only enter park buildings on a guided tour.
• We are happy to reserve private tours for groups of ten or more people. To schedule a group tour, please contact Vanessa Jeter at vanessa.jeter@raleighnc.gov. 

Know Before You Go

Parking

Parking is available at 1 Mimosa St as well as street parking along Cedar St and Mordecai Drive. Accessible parking spots are available on Mimosa St and at the Visitor Center on Cedar St.

Visitor Center

Begin your trip at the Visitor Center, located at 1101 Wake Forest Rd on the corner of Wake Forest Rd and Cedar St. Orange signage is located throughout the park to guide visitors on the short walk from the Mimosa St parking lot to the Visitor Center.

Visitors may purchase guided tour tickets here and find additional park information, along with a gift shop and restrooms. A permanent exhibit on the site’s history and a rotating exhibit are available for free.

Accessibility

• Accessible parking spaces are available in the Mimosa St parking lot and next to the Visitor Center at 1101 Wake Forest Rd. The Visitor Center, first floor of the Mordecai House, and restrooms are wheelchair, scooter, or Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV) accessible via ramps. 
• Due to their historic nature, other buildings on the property and some areas where programs and events occur have uneven surfaces or steps and may not be fully accessible. Guided tours provide historic context for these buildings in the outdoor portion of the tour, and visitors may also utilize provided photos of interior spaces. 
• Please call 919-996-4364 or speak to a staff member on-site if you have additional questions or to discuss your group’s needs.
• Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.

Restrooms and Water Fountain

Outdoor comfort stations are available in the park – look for the red buildings on the Cedar St side. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Indoor restrooms and a water fountain are available in the Visitor Center, open during the same hours.

Admission

• Tickets for the guided tour may be purchased at the Visitor Center.
• Tours of the Mordecai House and outbuildings are offered at the top of the hour. Tours begin at 10 a.m. and the last tour begins at 3 p.m. Each tour is approximately 50 minutes.
• Pricing: Adults - $7, Senior - $4, Youth - $4. Children 6 and under are free.
• Public Tours are not offered when school groups are on site.
• Please call 919-996-4364 Tuesday – Sunday to check on tour availability.

History

• Mordecai Historic Park was once the site of the largest plantation in Wake County.
• The recreated 19th-century kitchen garden is based on the documentation left by Ellen Mordecai in her memoir and letters.
• Maintains a collection of more than 5,000 artifacts.
• Read about the Mordecai Plantation, the enslaved workers, and the family that lived in the Mordecai House from 1785-1964

Historic Structures and Landscape

• Mordecai House c. 1785/1826
• Smokehouse c. 1820s
• Plantation Office c. 1820s
• Recreated Ellen Mordecai Garden c. 1830s
• Allen Kitchen c. 1842
• Andrew Johnson Birthplace c. 1790s
• Federal Building c. 1840s
• Badger Iredell Law Office c. 1810
• St. Mark's Chapel c. 1847
• Bouchall-Danielson House c. 1922
• Mordecai Spring

Artifacts

The Mordecai Historic Park collection totals more than 5,000 artifacts dating from the 18^th to 21^st centuries. The collection boasts a wide range of material culture that illustrates the lives of the people who lived and worked at Mordecai.

Explore the collection Online

Digital Discoveries

Check out Mordecai Historic Park's Digital Discoveries! You'll find fun activities, historic info, & even a printable board game. 

Explore more content for all ages!

Sign up to receive email notifications from Historic Resources & Museums Program Communications (right-hand column "MyRaleigh Subscriptions")

Programs and Events

Check out our calendar below for more information about programs and special events at Mordecai Historic Park, Borden Building at Fletcher Park, Tucker House, and the Historic Raleigh Trolley!

View the Historic Sites Programs and Special Events Calendar

Historic Raleigh Trolley

919-996-4364 | vanessa.jeter@raleighnc.gov 

The Historic Raleigh Trolleys are Raleigh’s only mobile park facility, providing both historic charter tours and special event transportation. They are headquartered at Mordecai Historic Park. 

• More information on trolley tours and rentals
• For questions about the Historic Raleigh Trolley, please contact Rental Manager Vanessa Jeter at vanessa.jeter@raleighnc.gov or 919-996-4363

Site Rentals

Request your rental online using RecLink or by reaching out to Vanessa Jeter at vanessa.jeter@raleighnc.gov.

Learn about Special Occasion Rentals

Take note: Requests will be subject to staff approval. Upon approval, payment will be required to confirm the reservation. Your reservation is not finalized until you receive confirmation of your payment.

Visitor Center

• The Visitor Center (can include the exhibit gallery and classroom spaces).
• Visitor Center classroom space is available from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Exhibit Gallery is available from 4-11 p.m.
• Classroom (Weekdays): Residents - $75/hr, Non-residents - $125/hr.
• Classroom (Weekends): Resident - $100/hr, Non-residents $150/hr
• Exhibit Gallery w/ Classroom: Residents - $150/hr, Non-residents - $200/hr
• All rentals have a 2-hour minimum and a maximum of 8 hours. Please inquire for discounted pricing for rentals of 4 or more hours.
• Additional fees: $15 application fee, $250 refundable damage deposit fee, $100 alcohol permit fee (if applicable), $80 Visitor Center cleaning fee (if applicable)
• Please note: all music and alcohol service must end by 10 p.m. in all rented spaces. All people must vacate all rented spaces by 11 p.m. The time between 9:30 and 11 p.m. is meant to be used to clean up and gather all belongings.

Park Grounds

• Mordecai Historic Park grounds (includes St. Mark's Chapel, a small changing room, and the park grounds).
• St. Mark's Chapel and the park grounds are available from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
• St. Mark's Chapel and park grounds: Residents - $150/hr, Non-residents, $200/hr (min - 2hrs, max 8hrs)
• Additional fees: $15 application fee, $100 refundable damage deposit fee, $100 alcohol permit fee (if applicable), $80 Visitor Center cleaning fee (if applicable)
• Please note: all music and alcohol service must end by 10 p.m. in all rented spaces. All people must vacate all rented spaces by 11 p.m. The time between 9:30 and 11 p.m. is meant to be used to clean up and gather all belongings.

Volunteers

• Docent Program – This program offers training in local and site-specific history. Volunteers then conduct guided tours of the Mordecai House and outbuildings
• School Field Trips – Almost 10,000 students visit Mordecai Historic Park every year. Join us in our mission to educate students about how life has changed over time
• Special Events – Several large events are held each year that highlight the history and offerings of Mordecai. Spellbound at Mordecai and Holiday Open House are two of our most popular events. Volunteers are needed to assist with a range of activities including special guided tours, crafts, and games
• Grounds Beautification – There are always projects that need to be done on the grounds and gardens. Volunteers help keep Mordecai looking its best

Contact Joshua Ingersoll at Joshua.Ingersoll@raleighnc.gov or 919-996-4364

Membership

• Free admission to Mordecai Historic Park and City of Raleigh Museum
• Free admission to select site events, museum events, tours and lectures
• 10% gift shop discount at Mordecai and City Museum
• 10% discount on all site rentals
• The Raleigh Register Program Newsletter
• Join the Mordecai Square Association! Your donation will help revitalize and preserve one of North Carolina’s most significant historic sites.
• As a member you also enjoy cross program perks at the City of Raleigh Museum, The Raleigh Trolley, Mordecai Historic Park, Borden, Tucker, and Pope House Museum.
• Membership Form