Orange County NC Website
This route provides an impressive tour of <br />18th and 19th century history in North <br />Carolina. Begin the byway in Monticello in <br />Guilford County by <br />following N.0 150 East to <br />Williamsburg. Continue on <br />N.C. 150 toward Locust <br />Hill, About 1.5 miles past <br />Locust Hill, turn right onto <br />U.S. 158. Follow U.S. 158 <br />East for about five miles <br />until it meets with the <br />Yanceyville town limits. <br />Established in 1791 as the <br />Caswell Court House, the name was <br />changed in 1833 to honor then N.C. <br />legislator Bartlett Yancey. <br />In the town of Yanceyville, turn right <br />onto Main Street (S.R. 1163). Continue on <br />Main Street until it intersects with N.C. 62. <br />Turn left onto N.C. 62 to continue on the <br />byway. <br />While traveling north on N.C. 62, look <br />for many older houses and barns dating <br />back to the 1800s, Drive slowly through <br />Milton to notice the architecture and <br />buildings of the 19th century , Prior to the <br />Civil War, this town was a booming <br />community with two newspapers and a <br />branch of the state bank, <br />Turn right at the traffic light in Milton <br />following N C. 57 south towards Semora. At <br />Semora turn right, follow N.C. 119 south for <br />almost four miles before turning right again <br />onto Stephentown Road (S.R. 1564), Watch <br />carefully for the right turn that appears quickly <br />as the road rises and curves to the left. <br />Follow S.R. 1564 for six miles before <br />turning right onto U.S. 158 for almost two <br />miles. At the intersection <br />with N.C. 86 turn left and <br />travel south for almost 24 <br />miles, This stretch provides <br />a glimpse of Piedmont <br />dairy farms and rural life. <br />Look for a white brick <br />building to the right while <br />passing through <br />Hightowers and a red brick <br />building to the left in <br />Prospect Hill. These two -story buildings are <br />examples of general stores of the mid 1800s <br />and still are being used today. <br />Just north of Hillsborough, turn left onto <br />Governor Burke Drive (S.R. 1619), Stop and <br />look carefully before crossing the tricky <br />Intersection at N.C. 57 where the road <br />number changes to S R. 1556 (which is <br />unpaved). <br />Governor Thomas Burke, North <br />Carolina's third governor elected by the <br />General Assembly, served from 1781 -1782. <br />His grave is on the left in a tree grove about <br />three - fourths of a mile from N.0 57. <br />When the road ends, turn right on Miller <br />Road (S.R, 1555) and go 1,5 miles through <br />the residential area to U.S. 70 Bypass. <br />Continue straight across U.S. 70 then turn <br />right on St. Mary's Road (S.R. 1002) which <br />becomes East King Street (S. R. 1150). <br />Settled in 1754, Hillsborough (courthouse <br />pitured above) was once North Carolina's <br />54 <br />13 <br />