The significant roles and contributions of women in North Carolina are being recognized at venues of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources during Women’s History Month. Take this opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the accomplishments and activities of women in the state.
East
March 2. Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. Light and Air: The Photography of Bayard Wooten. The pioneering female photographer and artist from New Bern captured the lifestyle of rural communities of North Carolina. The divorced mother used photography to supplement her income starting in 1904. Her work is still displayed and renowned today. Runs through May 31. Free.
March 6. Somerset Place, Creswell. The Women of Somerset Place Tours. Examines the roles of women, black and white, enslaved and free, in the development and maintenance of the self-sustaining 100,000 acre Somerset Place as a plantation. Tuesday, March 6 – Saturday, March 10. 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. $3.
March 9. Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City. North Carolina Women Making History exhibit opens. The ordinary lives of extraordinary women will be examined in a 12- panel wall exhibit that covers 400 years, examining textile workers, Edenton tea party participants, Harriet Jacobs, Charlotte Hawkins Brown and other notable women. Runs through June 30.
Through March. Historic Edenton. Harriet Jacobs Walking Tour. Tuesdays through Thursdays only. The amazing tale of Harriet Jacobs, a woman born into slavery in Edenton, who escaped to become a well-known abolitionist and author as documented in her 1861 autobiography, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” This tour will be presented to scheduled school groups only.
Piedmont
March 3. Historic Stagville, Durham. Mary D. Williams Performs Songs from Slavery to Civil Rights. Renowned gospel singer Mary Williams gives a presentation that will illuminate musical practices that might have been used by the enslaved at Stagville, from the perspective of historian and educator. 1 p.m. Free.
March 3. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Sedalia. Leading Ladies of Palmer Memorial Institute tours will highlight the impact and accomplishments of some of the prominent figures in the history of Palmer Memorial Institute, now Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. Tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP to chb@ncdcr.gov or (336) 449-4846. Free.
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 31. N.C. Museum of Art, Raleigh. Family Friendly Tours: Art (Her)story. Tour highlights some of the women and girls behind some of the museum’s favorite works of art, and part of the #matronsofthearts happening. Ages six to nine, with adult. 10:30 a.m. Free.
March 7. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. History Corner: Women at Work! Learn how women have helped and continue to shape North Carolina as farmers, teachers, artists, doctors, mothers and more. Ages six to nine, with adult. 10 a.m. $5 for nonmembers/members free.
March 7. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. History Hunters: N.C. Women Making History. This program examines the work of women that may have been overlooked, including the roles of Cherokee leader Nancy Ward, boycott organizer Penelope Barker, activist Ella Baker and others. Also make a paper house from plans of architect Harriet Irwin. Ages 10-13. 11:15 a.m. $5 per child for nonmembers/members free.
March 10. N.C. Symphony, Raleigh. Experience music written by and conducted by women: Conductor Elim Chan leads the N.C. Symphony in a program of works by Missy Mazzoli, recently named one of the top 35 female composers of all time by “The Washington Post;” Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” and Greig’s Piano Concerto. The symphony will collect donated women’s accessories as part of a new partnership with “Dress for Success.” 8 p.m. Meymandi Concert Hall. Prices vary.
March 17. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors: Folk Arts Fun. Make crafts from North Carolina’s past, time travel through the museum collection and learn about the art of everyday people while earning a Folk Arts patch. 1 p.m. $10 per scout.
March 24. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Sedalia. Women’s History Month Lunch. Celebrate women past and present over a catered lunch. Hear the history of Dr. Brown and her speeches in presentations from Site Manager Jamie Jones and A. Rawiya Nash, with the National Council of Negro Women, Greensboro Section. 11 a.m. $10.
March 31. Duke Homestead, Durham. Born at Duke Homestead. This program examines the human experience of birth and motherhood in the 19th century, with guided tours at 2 p.m. 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. $3 for ages 12 and up.
Through May 6. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. The Shape of Fashion. From massive sleeves to enormous backsides; from wide bell-shaped skirts to straight-and-narrow shifts—the look of the moment has always been in flux, changing along with societal roles and norms. Examine the fashion trends over the centuries. Free.
Ongoing. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. The Story of North Carolina. Explore the permanent exhibit, “The Story of North Carolina,” and find the 20 women included. A map is available. Free.
West
March 10. Reed Gold Mine, Midland. North Carolina Women Do Their Bit During World War I. Dr. Angela Robbins examines the ways women in the state supported the war effort. The lecture precedes the World War I exhibit that will be at Reed in April and May. The program is presented by the North Carolina Humanities Council, which helps museums across the state with programming. 1 p.m. Free.
For additional information, please call (919) 807-7389. The Divisions of State Historic Sites and State History Museums are within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources