Joel Lane House, Raleigh

The Joel Lane House, also known as Wakefield, is a historic home and museum in Raleigh, North Carolina. Built in 1769, it is the oldest dwelling in Wake County and is named after Joel Lane, known as the "Father of Raleigh" and the "Father of Wake County." Lane played a crucial role in North Carolina's transition from a colony to a state and in establishing Raleigh as the capital. He owned significant amounts of land and held political influence.

Lane was an influential member of the colonial General Assembly and played a key role in the creation of Wake County in 1770. It is believed that the county's first court convened at Lane's home in 1771, where he served as a member until his death. During the Revolutionary War, Lane's property hosted important government meetings and served as a venue for the state General Assembly in 1781. He continued to have political influence after the war, serving in the state Senate and participating in the convention that ratified the United States Constitution.

One of Lane's notable contributions was his involvement in the decision to establish Raleigh as the permanent capital of North Carolina. In 1792, the legislature purchased 1,000 acres of Lane's land to create the city, and his house was located near its western boundary. After Lane's death, the house changed hands several times until it was acquired by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in 1927, who operate it as a house museum today.

In 2019, the Joel Lane House celebrated its 250th anniversary, and a restoration effort was undertaken to remove layers of paint and repair damaged wood. The house was repainted to match its original color of garnet red.