The House
A Historic Space, A Modern Vision
A landmark Tudor mansion near Greensboro’s Historic Fisher Park District has been given a vibrant new purpose. The Marshall Muse Gallery is breathing life back into this historic space, transforming it into a dynamic center for art, culture, and community. From art exhibitions and studio spaces to classes, workshops, and intimate ART events, we're creating a place where creativity flourishes and connections are made. Explore the rich history of this remarkable building and see how it's being re-imagined for a new generation of artists and art enthusiasts.
A History: The King Estate, 314 North Church Street, Center City
Architect Harry Barton (1876-1937) designed this grand residence, likely Greensboro’s earliest Tudor-style house, erected in 1913-14. Barton, a native of Philadelphia who moved to Greensboro in 1912, accepted leadership roles in professional circles including the American Institute of Architects in North Carolina. He is well remembered as the lead architect for the Guilford County Courthouse of 1918-1920. The two-story frame house featured a simple gable front and wing elevation with fields of plaster (representing historic daub) between primary timber posts. A tapered horizontal jetty sill, or “bressummer,” underlies the third-floor gable. A full-width porch with a Gothic arch front entry and porte-cochère has since been enclosed, and dormer windows continue the half-timber theme of the façade.
Plans for the home were commissioned by John Washington King, a native of Stokes County, and his wife Nancy. John was educated at the Oak Ridge Institute and the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, NY. He learned the tobacco trade from his father and developed a reputation for making one of the best Havana cigars. He wed Nancy Howard of Kinston in 1909 and the couple had two children. He was elected to two terms in the lower house of the general assembly in the 1920s.
An article in the Sunday, February 8, 1914 Greensboro Daily News announced, “During the past week John W. King moved into his beautiful new house on Church Street. Mr. King’s new house has attracted considerable attention and favorable comment on account of the beautiful exterior design and the completeness of the plan and detail of the exterior.” The article continued: “The exterior has been designed in the ‘English-half-timber’ style of architecture, and it is believed to be the first house of this style to have been built in Greensboro vicinity. Interior appointments also followed the Tudor style, including brick mantels of cream tapestry brick with green tile work, and dark ‘mahoganized’ woodwork.”
The King Estate remained a family residence under the ownership of Anna H. King through 1929 and Mary Elizabeth King until 1969, at which point it was sold out of the family and converted to a commercial property, initially as Jung’s Restaurant. In the 1980s the property was sold again and converted into an office building, which it remained until Tracey saw it and knew it would be her new creative home in fall of 2024.
Now it is a creative hub in Greensboro were you go to view, purchase, create and experience art for all ages.