The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission is accepting applications for a new round of Civil Rights Trail markers.
The N.C. Civil Rights Trail is a program within the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission that marks the historic events and people of the Civil Rights Movement across North Carolina with a distinctive “walk-up” marker. Between 2021 and 2025 the commission has and will continue the work of placing markers at 50 sites across the state, ten of those sites being in Hometown Strong communities. To date, 14 trail markers have been placed across the state, with a total of 35 markers on the virtual trail.
This program is made possible by funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and with the support of Visit North Carolina and the North Carolina Office of Archives and History.
Applications for the program are open through Nov. 1. For more information on the trail and trail marker applications, visit NC Civil Rights Trail on the commission’s website or email nccivilrightstrail@ncdcr.gov.
About the African American Heritage Commission
Created in 2008, the African American Heritage Commission is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The commission works across the department to preserve, protect, and promote the state’s African American history, art, and culture for all people. Its endeavors include identifying heritage sites, compiling resources for educators, extending the work of national programs such as the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Underground Railroad, and independent initiatives including Oasis Spaces: Green Book Project. aahc.nc.gov
About the William G. Pomeroy Foundation
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and to raising awareness, supporting research and improving the quality of care for patients and their families who are facing a blood cancer diagnosis. One of their initiatives is helping people to celebrate their community’s history. They meet this by providing grants to obtain signage in the form of roadside markers and plaques. Since 2006, they have funded over 1,300 signs across the United States, all the way to Alaska. Wgpfoundation.org
About Visit North Carolina
Visit NC is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. Visit NC’s mission is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. One of the state’s most vital industries, tourism generates economic activity and employment in each of the state’s 100 counties. In 2019, domestic travelers to North Carolina spent $26.7 billion and accounted for 235,703 jobs. VisitNC.com
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.