Inside the 1772 Alston House: Revolutionary War Architecture Study

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing restoration of the Alston House at House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site in Moore County, North Carolina — one of the only surviving structures from the American Revolution that still bears visible bullet holes from the war. In this video, a historic finishes analyst and conservator partners with architects to conduct a detailed Historic Structure Report on the 1772 Alston House. Using microscopic paint cross-section analysis, careful siding removal, and architectural archaeology techniques, the team works to establish a precise chronology of changes to the house — with the ultimate goal of restoring it to its appearance on July 29, 1781, the day a loyalist militia led by David Fanning attacked Patriot Colonel Philip Alston and his Cumberland County militia in one of the most dramatic skirmishes of North Carolina's Tory War. Were those famous bullet holes really from 1781? The answer could change the entire interpretation of this historic site. PLEASE NOTE: House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site is currently CLOSED for construction. The Alston House is undergoing its first major restoration in decades. Follow updates on Facebook and Instagram.