AYR MOUNT AYR MOUNT

A YR M OUNT
HISTORIC SITE
AND SCENIC TRAILS
The grounds at Ayr Mount, where visitors of all ages
relax and enjoy the scenic landscape along the Eno River.
(photo: Kent Murray)
A YR M OUNT
HISTORIC SITE
376 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6886
[email protected]
Ayr Mount Historic Site is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. It has been featured as
a top attraction in Hillsborough on TripAdvisor,
Chapel Hill Magazine, VisitChapelHill.com, Our State
Magazine, and VisitNC.com. The house and
furnishings have also been featured in The Magazine
ANTIQUES and Old House Interiors.
A YR M OUNT
HISTORIC SITE
AND SCENIC TRAILS
A
Ayr Mount is a property of Classical American Homes
Preservation Trust (CAHPT) and the Richard Hampton
Jenrette Foundation. CAHPT is a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization that owns and operates this site without any
federal or state funding. Individual donations to Ayr
Mount help preserve, protect, and open to the public this
exceptional example of classical American architecture
and its scenic trails.
www.classicalamericanhomes.org
yr Mount is a Federal-era plantation house built in
1815 in Hillsborough, North Carolina by William
Kirkland. Kirkland, named the house in honor of his
birthplace, Ayr, Scotland. At the time of its construction,
Ayr Mount was considered one of the finest residential
structures in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
Today, Ayr Mount is a house museum with guided tours
highlighting family stories, area history, its extraordinary
architecture and landscapes. Interiors include many
original Kirkland family objects as well as museumquality furniture by Duncan Phyfe from this period. The
property consists of 60 acres of gardens, woodlands and
pastures. The gardens and grounds surrounding Ayr
Mount, plus the additional scenic trails across the Eno
River, total nearly 300 acres.
GUIDED HOUSE TOURS
Open for public tours March 15 - December 15
Group tours are available year-round, by appointment only.
Wednesday at 11 am
Thursday through Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm
Sunday at 2 pm
Admission to the house is $12 per person, advanced tickets
are not required. Please meet at the front door a few minutes
prior to the tour time. The first floor is wheelchair
accessible. Admission to the grounds is free.
SITE GATES TO AYR MOUNT
ARE OPEN DAILY
January/February/November/December
9 am - 5 pm
March/October
9 am - 6 pm
April/May/August/September
9 am - 7 pm
June/July
9 am - 8 pm
Site may be closed without notice for repairs,
weather, holidays or special events.
Ayr Mount is also available for weddings, parties,
photography, picnics, and special events.
Contact us for rental information.
A YR M OUNT
Historic Occoneechee Speedway – HOST
Four miles of trail take you along the banks of the Eno
River where you’ll walk around the only surviving dirt
speedway from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season. This
44-acre site was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places in May 2002.
HISTORIC SITE
AND SCENIC TRAILS
W
e welcome you to visit and experience Ayr Mount
historic site — tour this elegant early 19th century
home and enjoy the beauty of the grounds and scenic
trails. Richard H. Jenrette purchased the house in 1985,
meticulously restored it to its original splendor, and gave
it to CAHPT as a house museum in 1993. On display are
period furnishings that include examples by Duncan
Phyfe, Charles-Honoré Lannuier, and John and Thomas
Seymour. Also of special interest are portraits of William
Kirkland by Jacob Marling and Thomas Jefferson by
Ezra Ames, as well as a rare complete set of 51 etchings
of North Carolina architecture by Louis Orr.
James M. Johnston Nature Preserve
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
This 70-acre parcel is part of a major effort to preserve
and connect local and statewide land resources. Two
miles of trails will serve as a link in the Mountains-to-Sea
Trail (MST). Upon completion, it will span 1,000 miles
across North Carolina, from the Great Smoky Mountains
to the Outer Banks, weaving through many of the state’s
most beautiful places.
For more information about the house and grounds, visit
Entrance to the trails for HOST and the
James M. Johnston Nature Preserve is located at:
320 Elizabeth Brady Road, Hillsborough, NC
www.classicalamericanhomes.org
Ayr Mount’s back terrace beckons visitors to sit and
enjoy the lush grounds. (photo Kent Murray)
Above: West Parlor features a portrait of
d
’s R
ary
M
St
N Cameron St
N Churton St
Thomas Jefferson by Ezra Ames and the
Kirklands’ elegant Broadwood fortepiano
at right. (photo Bruce Schwarz)
Left: Guided group tours are conducted
year-round, see our website for details.
Below: A walk, run or stroll on the trail
is perfect for history buffs, dog walkers
and nature enthusiasts alike.
s
ary’
St M
Rd
Hw
y7
0
Ayr
Mount
E Tryon St
Poet’s Walk
E King St
Entrance to Ayr Mount Historic House
and Poet’s Walk is located at:
376 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough, NC
Hwy 70A
Historic
Occoneechee
Speedway
Trail
HOST
Elizabeth B
rady Rd
S Churton St
er
Riv
Eno
0A
y7
Hw
This one-mile walking trail meanders through the
woodlands and pastures surrounding Ayr Mount historic
house. It sweeps alongside the banks of the Eno River
and features serene riverside lookouts, views of the
Kirkland family cemetery, the old tavern foundation, and
Hillsborough’s historic Indian Trading Path.
Old NC
86
Poet’s Walk
r
T
HOS
Eno Riv e
r
ve
Ri
o
En
James M.
Johnston
Nature
Preserve
The Eno River gracefully connects the three sites:
Ayr Mount; HOST; and the JMJ Nature Preserve.