Tryon Palace was originally constructed between 1767 and 1770. The Georgian style buildings first served as a meeting place for the colonial assembly and a residence for the Royal Governor appointed by the King of England. Only two Royal Governors occupied the palace --William Tryon and Josiah Martin. Governor Tryon was appointed governor of the New York colony after occupying the palace for slightly over one year. Governor Martin succeeded Tryon as the Royal Governor, but did not remain in residence at Tryon Palace for long. In May 1775, he was forced by patriots to flee the palace so quickly that he left his belongings behind.
During the Revolutionary War, the North Carolina General Assembly met in Tryon Palace and the elected governors lived there. In 1798, the main structure burned to the ground. The palace outbuildings remained in disrepair until the 1940s and 1950s when the palace was reconstructed from the original architectural plans. Of the current structures, all buildings are reconstructed buildings except the stables. Tryon Palace was opened to the public in April 1959. The current buildings, furnishings, and gardens represent the times of the Royal Governors.
The Palace grounds front the Trent River on the south and Pollock
Street on the north. The northside, circular courtyard is flanked by the Kitchen Office on the east and the Stables on the west. Behind the two-story Kitchen Building is the Kitchen Garden and Smoke House. The Blacksmth Shop is located outside the walled courtyard in the northeast corner, near the Kitchen Office. There are several gardens, and two allees --a walk between evenly planted trees or clipped hedges. A third allee, known as Entrance Allee, runs between the main entrance to the walled courtyard and the Pollock Street gates.
The main building has two floors of living space. The first floor courtyard entrance opens into the large square hall with a white and black marble floor. The servants hall to the right of the entrance hall. The library is to the left of the entry hall, behind the library is the Council Chamber where the colonial assembly and then the NC General Assembly met. The Dining Room and the Parlor are across the back of the house, overlooking the great lawn and the Trent River. The second floor has bedchambers, a dressing room, the Family Supper Room and the Above Stairs Parlor. One extremely unusual feature is the use of dual staircases between the floors --The Great Stair Case for the Governor, family members and guests, the Lesser Stair Case for the servants.
