SALISBURY – For the first time, every floor of the newly-restored Hambley-Wallace House will be open to visitors on the 37th annual OctoberTour of historic Salisbury homes and buildings, presented by the Historic Salisbury Foundation.
Although generations of visitors have passed by the Hambley-Wallace House, only a few have ever been able to explore the complete 21-room private residence.
More than a century old, the Châteauesque mansion’s style is similar to the French homes that inspired George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House.
The Hambley-Wallace House is one of 12 private sites on this year’s tour, set for Oct. 13 and 14.
Other stops on this year’s OctoberTour will include the Temperance-Bingham House (1901), a Queen Anne home which was also home to a school of dance; the Blackmer-Woodson House (c.1880), a two-story Colonial Revival residence; and the Yancey-Hardiman Building (1924), a restored retail and office building at the city’s eastern gateway, with pressed metal ceilings and period-reproduction fixtures and wood flooring.
Advance tickets for the 2012 OctoberTour are on sale for $20, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more, for Historic Salisbury Foundation members and for children under 10.
The largest OctoberTour yet will feature a week of special events, many of which are free or low-cost and all of which celebrate Salisbury and Rowan County’s blend of culture and Southern tradition.
Organizers have created package specials combining a hotel stay, OctoberTour and a visit to Morgan Ridge Vineyard or the N.C. Transportation Museum.
The packages include shopping and dining downtown using Downtown Dollars that will provide a 50 percent savings on the purchase of a fashion item and meal.
OctoberTour visitors who arrive the night before the tour starts could add two tickets to the North Carolina Symphony’s visit to Salisbury that evening, Oct. 12.
Other events celebrating OctoberTour week include a ticketed luncheon and a tour of the Hambley-Wallace House gardens, led by Janie Lane.
Also scheduled are a Civil War encampment, guided tours of historic Salisbury locations, a wine tasting and a variety of other ticketed and free events.
To purchase tickets or tour packages for the 2012 OctoberTour or for more information on these events, visit OctoberTour.com or call 704-636-0103.
Tickets are available at the following locations:
Adella, Belk, Caniche, Critters, Grayshores Trading Co., Green Goat Gallery, Innes Street Drug, Koco Java, Pottery 101, Queen’s Gift Shop, Rowan County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Salisbury Emporium, Salisbury Square Antiques and Collectables, Salisbury Wine Shop, Simply Good Natural Foods, Stitchin’ Post, Textile Products and the Thread Shed, as well as China Grove Drug Co. and Crescent Pharmacy in Rockwell.
For the Historic Salisbury Foundation member discount, visit the office at 215 Depot St.