Burlington North Carolina Walking Tour
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Description
This walking tour begins at the Southern Railway Passenger Station and includes several historic churches and buildings in the downtown area.
1. Southern Railway Passenger Station
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Southern Railway Passenger Station is a historic depot built in 1904 by the North Carolina Railroad. It was designed in the Victorian Tudor style and features a hipped roof, octagonal tower, and two triangular dormers. Its design is typical of train depots built in North Carolina at the time. The station also reflects the important role railroads played in Burlington's development. Today, it is available to rent for weddings and other gatherings. Inside, visitors will see a mural inside depicting the city's history from 1893 to 1993. The site also includes a restored caboose that is available to visitors by appointment and a large amphitheater. Community events, such as free outdoor concerts, are also held at the station.
2. First Christian United Church of Christ
First Christian United Church of Christ is home to the oldest Christian congregation in the city (it is also referred to as First Christian Church). It was built in 1920 and is a striking example of Neoclassical architecture. Located prominently on the corner of Church and Davis Streets, its most notable features are the dome and two large porticos with Tuscan columns. The congregation was founded in 1884. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
3. Atlantic Bank and Trust Company Building
Built in 1929, the Atlantic Bank and Trust Company Building is a significant landmark in Burlington for its architecture as well as its connection to the city's economic development in the 20th century. In terms of design, the building is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Designed by noted North Carolina architect Charles C. Hartmann, the building features decorative granite ornamentation on the bottom and top floors and a relatively simple design in the middle floors. At nine stories tall, the building remains the tallest structure in the city and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
4. Alamance Hotel
Now a residence for senior citizens, the Alamance Hotel was built in 1924 and was the last in a series of hotels built in the business district in downtown Burlington. The structure offers a good example of Classical Revival and Beaux-Arts styles of architecture as well as the rapid growth of the business district and the optimism residents had in the 1920s about the city's future. Like many downtown hotels, the growth of interstates and the decline of rail traffic resulted in more travelers staying beyond the city core. The hotel operated until 1974 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
5. Efird Building
This attractive historic building was once a branch location of the Effird Department Store, which was a successful retail company based in North Carolina during the early 20th century. The company, which grew to 54 store chains in Virginia and the Carolinas, constructed the Efird Building in 1919. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, it features a decorative, white enameled terra cotta exterior. Notable features include the third story features a set of three arched windows with rounded bands of terra cotta, Gothic tracery in between the third and second-floor windows, and a parapet along the top of the building with quatrefoil cut outs. As of 2021, the building is home to a community health foundation called Impact Alamance.
6. Holy Comforter Episcopal Church & St. Athanasius Episcopal Church
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and St. Athanasius Episcopal Church are part of a historic Episcopal church complex that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Athanasius was built in 1880 and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church was erected in 1911. The complex also includes a parish house constructed in 1887 and a cemetery. Both churches are closely associated with the city's early history when it was a growing industrial center. St. Athanasius was designed in the Carpenter Gothic style and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture.
7. First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church has been an important landmark in Burlington since it was constructed in 1924. It is home to congregation founded in 1887 and is an excellent example of Neoclassical architecture. The original portion of the building features a large portico with Ionic columns and pediment. Additions were built in later years. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
