Duke spent most of his life as a farmer. The death of his first wife and his subsequent remarriage brought him in 1852 to what is now the Duke Homestead near Durham Station. After the death of his second wife, he planted his first tobacco crop. He soon decided to concentrate his efforts not on farming but on manufacturing tobacco products. By this time, the Civil War was underway. Duke was drafted into the Confederate Army, making him set aside his fledgling enterprise. It was on his arrival back at the homestead that he first learned of Union soldiers' love of Bright Leaf tobacco. With his children, he began a factory in a small log structure on the homestead, processing smoking tobacco and labeling it with hand-lettered tags bearing the name "Pro Bono Publico," a Latin phrase meaning "for the public good."

A coloful photography exhibit--"Last Generation: Our Vanishing Southern Heritage"--on Piedmont North Carolina's fading tobacco culture is on display right now at Duke Homestead. Picture here shows a tobacco farmer and his dog walking through a warehouse during auction. The dog is actually picking his way across the top of many bales of fragrant bright leaf tobacco!

His product proved to be so popular that after only a few years Duke was in his third, much larger factory. In 1869 Duke's son Brodie began a small smoking factory within the town of Durham and took advantage of the town's railroad and tobacco market. Duke and his other sons, Buck and Ben, also moved their business there in 1874; ten years later, the Dukes began mechanical mass production of cigarettes. Many of the profits were used to invest in land and to develop fast-growing southern industries such as electric power and textiles, but many also were used for humanitarian causes. Trinity College, later to become Duke University, benefited from the family contributions.

Since first introduced to early settlers by native peoples, tobacco has been a vital part of the economic heritage of North Carolina. During colonial times, bundles of this "cash crop" were used as currency. Today, over two centuries later, tobacco is still the leading export crop of North Carolina.

When you visit the restored Duke Homestead, you will see an authentic "living museum of tobacco history" offering activities that demonstrate early farming techniques and manufacturing processes which made tobacco such an essential mainstay of the state's economy. Special programs are offered throughout the year, and interpreters are readily available to answer any of your questions.

September 20 (rescheduled) Tobacco Harvest and Hornworm Festival.  In the morning, come see costumed interpreters demonstrate tobacco harvesting, stringing, and curing. In the afternoon, hear the sounds of the only tobacco auction left in Durham. There will also be hornworm races and a moon pie eating contest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

October- November Fall Living History Program . Elementary school-aged children are invited to visit on Thursdays and Fridays in October and November to participate in hands-on activities such as food preservation/butter churning, townball, archaeology, tour of the 1852 Duke home or Tobacco History museum. Fee charged: $1 per child. Programs not offered on October 17, November 20 and November 21.

October 18 An Evening at the Homestead. Join the Duke Homestead Junior Interpreters as they prepare the Homestead for winter. This afternoon program features traditional music, wagon rides, fall foods, and 19 th century games. Bring a picnic for dinner on the grounds. 2-6 p.m.

December 5, 12 Christmas by Candlelight. Celebrate an 1870 Christmas during evening tours of the Homestead. The tour features period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider and other goodies. 7-9 p.m.

All events are free unless otherwise stated.

Share your love of history by becoming a volunteer at Duke Homestead State Historic Site. Learn how to welcome visitors and lead guided tours of the historic buildings on site, including the Duke family's 1852 house. Training provided. If interested, please call (919) 477-5498.