About Weymouth

We are history. We are current. We are future.

Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities, the former estate of author James Boyd and his wife, Katharine Lamont Boyd, links us to their rich history of conservation, literature, music, and equestrian sport, and provides a place where the creative spirit is nurtured and celebrated.

We have something for everyone, and we welcome everyone.

Mission

The mission of Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities is to provide a place of inclusivity by offering literary and cultural experiences that inspire and enrich the lives of our community.

Vision

Weymouth will provide a facility and grounds to enrich our diverse community based upon its history while developing plans for sustainable sources of revenue.

Values: Weymouth is…

Inclusive, Inspiring, Creative, Bold, Respectful, Proactive, Courageous, Dynamic, Welcoming

Boyd House

The Boyd House has served as a writers’ residency for 40+ years, and is the site for meetings of the N.C. Poetry Society, literary readings, dramatic performances, musical concerts and recitals. James Boyd’s study is the home of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, established in 1993.

Photos by John Gessner

Gardens and Grounds

The surrounding 26-acre estate is open to the public for use as a natural preserve and park, with formal gardens designed by Alfred Yeomans, and is the gateway to the longleaf pine forest in the Boyd Tract of Weymouth Woods.

Photos by John Gessner

History of Weymouth

In 1977, Sam Ragan, NC Poet Laureate and publisher of The Pilot, along with Paul Green, Elizabeth S. (Buffie) Ives and others organized a group of colleagues to preserve and protect the Boyds’ legacy, the Boyd House and its beautiful surroundings. Friends of Weymouth,Inc. was chartered as a nonprofit corporation which purchased the home and grounds in 1979 to establish a cultural center. Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities opened its doors on July 20, 1979.

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Our Partners

Media Partner

“My parents built a house with fourteen doors, eight of them glass, looking out over the fields and trees. During my childhood these doors were always open—to friends and neighbors who came to talk about politics, farming and gardening, writing, horses and dogs, history, music, education. That’s the way my parents hoped it would always be.”

Nancy Boyd Sokoloff

Daughter of James and Katharine Boyd

“There’s always been something magical about this place that drew interesting people here. It’s as true today as it was a hundred years ago… Southern Pines is really the spiritual heart of the Sandhills…”

Norris Hodgkins

Former Mayor of Southern Pines and one of the original “Friends of Weymouth”

“This place holds a very special place in my heart so the review may be biased for that reason. In my youth the gardens were a place I took my dates to hold hands and be romantic. I rode horses in the Boyd’s Track that boarders it and now I walk there with the family and my dog all year round. The whole place is a true jewel which I hope Southern Pines and the N.C. Park Service protect and nourish for generations to come.”

Stephen Sherman

“Really gorgeous grounds hidden away in Southern Pines. Lots of walking trails and pet friendly, this is a great place to spend a day.”

Ted Kostich Jr.

“Beautiful venue, went for an open air dance performance and loved how the performance utilizes the gardens there. Would recommend this venue for any open air concerts, weddings, dancing, small craft fairs or just to casually stroll the seasonal gardens and paths.”

Deborah Cooley