It is time to salute the 50th anniversary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources again.
The Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort, N.C., will host the third of three "DNCR Days" celebrations Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
In 2022, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is commemorating 50 years as a state cabinet-level agency with regional celebrations and online content throughout the year. DNCR is responsible for North Carolina treasures literally from A to Z — from the arts to the zoo — spanning the entire state.
This free event is open to the public and will feature displays from across the department, with opportunities to learn more about our zoo, aquariums, museums, state parks, historic sites and more.
A musician from the North Carolina Symphony will present a 30-minute music discovery program featuring a reading from a book about music, discussing their instrument and how other instruments make sounds, and leading kids in a sing-along.
Conservators from the NC Museum of History will be doing a modified “Conservation Assistance Day,” that includes information about caring for heirlooms like quilts, photographs and documents with examples from the educational/prop collection. People may bring heirlooms for conservators to assess.
The Possum Creek Band from Asheville will perform bluegrass and old-time music from noon-2 p.m. Concessions will be sold by the Old Fort Ruritan Club, which will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.
About Mountain Gateway Museum
The Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center at 24 Water Street in Old Fort collects and preserves artifacts and other historical materials relating to the history and heritage of western North Carolina, an area spanning 39 counties from the Blue Ridge mountains to the Piedmont. It is open year-round from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday; closed on Monday. Visit the museum’s website at www.mgmnc.org.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.