Tryon Palace

This palace, built in the 1760s for the Royal Governor when North Carolina was still under English rule, is an exercise in the ostentatious frivolity that characterized the period. Named for its inhabitant William Tryon, the mansion was an eyesore to the backcountry. Extra taxes were levied against the community in order to pay for its upkeep. Now a historical landmark, this mansion is a history lesson in the colonial period of North Carolina. A $20 ticket gets you admission into all three buildings on the property and the magnificent gardens.