Barnyard Trail: Carriage House

The Carriage House still houses antique carriages.

NPS/Sucena

The carriage house was built in 1884 for John Gelston Floyd, Jr. It replaced a wagon house that had been located further west, along the road to what is now the visitor’s parking lot.  

The large doors open to space for two wagons, while harnesses, saddles, and carriage equipment were stored in adjacent rooms through the smaller doors on either side. As Cornelia Floyd Nichols recalled, “…as soon as I was big enough to lift the collar I used to harness [my horse “Oak”]...It was the custom to water the horses at the barn trough, then lead them across the yard to the harness house where carriage equipment was kept respectfully distant from farm outfits…”