Located at the intersection of two rivers that lead out to the
ocean, Tryon Palace was completed in 1770 and became the first permanent capitol of North Carolina. Designed by John Hawks, the structure's Georgian edifice is flanked by two Palladian-style administrative buildings. The palace initially housed royal, then state, governors who oversaw the implementation of colonial and state laws. Destroyed by fire in 1798, the estate's only surviving building was the stable wing. In the 1920s, a determined group of preservationists and historians spearheaded the effort to reconstruct the Colonial palace. On April 10, 1959, Tryon Palace reopened as North Carolina's premier historic site. It is now home to the North Carolina History Center. Annual events include a candlelight celebration during the winter holidays and the revival of Jonkonnu, an Afro-Caribbean Christmastide tradition in eastern North Carolina. Tryon Palace celebrates the rich heritage of an important historic landmark beloved by North Carolinians and visitors alike.