North Carolina will launch its commemoration of America’s 250th birthday with the captivating "Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution" event in Halifax, N.C., April 12-14.
The event will take place at the iconic Historic Halifax State Historic Site in conjunction with Halifax Resolves Day on April 12, and will feature a two-day living history weekend where North Carolina's pivotal role in shaping the destiny of America will be on display.
Don't miss this opportunity to engage with history firsthand as skilled historians bring to life the Revolutionary-era citizens of Halifax.
In the spring of 1776, delegates from across North Carolina met in Halifax to take part in the 4th Provincial Congress, the forerunner to the modern legislature. On April 12, 1776, the 85 delegates to the Provincial Congress unanimously approved the Halifax Resolves. It was the first official act by any of the 13 colonies calling for independence from Great Britain.
This year, Halifax Resolves Day will serve as the kickoff to North Carolina’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. America 250 NC, directed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will highlight the road to revolution in North Carolina with a multi-year commemoration.
Friday, April 12 will feature living history demonstrations, including hearth cooking and blacksmithing, throughout the day in Historic Halifax. The Sons of the American Revolution will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Colonial Courthouse site at 10:30 a.m. The Historical Halifax Restoration Association (HHRA) will hold the annual Halifax Resolves Day Ceremony at 2 p.m., opening with a procession by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drums Corps, and followed by a reception at the Bradford-Denton House. Historic buildings at Historic Halifax State Historic Site will be open for tours from 3-5 p.m. The Royal White Hart Lodge and The Edward Cheek House will hold open house events from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 events will include guided tours of historic buildings and living history demonstrations around Historic Halifax State Historic Site, including the Bradford-Denton House kitchen and blacksmith shop from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A ceremony at Magazine Springs hosted by the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe will take place at 10 a.m. At 10:45 a.m., arriving troops will be led by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drums Corps. The program “African American & Indigenous Patriots of the Revolutionary War in NC” will be held at First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Meet "Piety,” a Halifax County freedom seeker, from 1-3 p.m. The Royal White Hart Lodge and the Edward Cheek House will host open house events from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, April 14, the site of the “Free Church” in the colonial cemetery at Historic Halifax will host an 18th-century church service at 10:30 a.m. Visitors may tour historic building tours and view vignettes and living history demonstrations from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as presentations from speakers on historical topics. The Bradford-Denton House will have living history demonstrations in its kitchen and blacksmith shop. The Edward Cheek House and the Royal White Hart Lodge will also host open houses.
A full schedule of events and a site map are available at https://www.america250.nc.gov/kickoff. For more information, please call Historic Halifax State Historic Site at (252) 583-7191.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.