Press Releases

The deep-water robotic investigation of an unidentified shipwreck off the North Carolina coast will be shown live to guests at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island on June 25. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will conduct the dive 40 miles off the coast of Hatteras Island via a robotic submersible launched from the research vessel Okeanos Explorer.

Two students from Research Triangle High School in Durham will have their documentary, “Black Wall Street: Conflict in Tulsa, Compromise in Durham,” screened in Washington, D.C. next week. The documentary was produced for the National History Day competition by Angelica Dinh and Lucy Grossman. It examines two Black Wall Streets, one in Tulsa, Okla., the other in Durham, and was a finalist at N.C. History Day in April.

North Carolina law in the 1750s required able-bodied men ages 16-60 to serve in the colony’s militia. They gathered for military training several times a year and could be called away at any time, leaving their homes and businesses to defend the colony. Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will feature living history interpreters recreating an 18th century militia muster June 30-July 1.

More than 900 people were freed at Stagville Plantation, one of the state’s largest, at the end of the Civil War in 1865. Visit Historic Stagville Saturday, June 9, noon to 5 p.m., to discover the story of the end of slavery in North Carolina. The Juneteenth celebration will include performances, historic cooking demonstrations and interactive activities for all ages.
 

From wood burning pits to high tech grills with ceramic briquettes, North Carolina is in love with barbecue. Historic Bath will host an exhibit June 1 to Aug. 31, which examines barbecue from the Caribbean in the 1500s up to today. The free exhibit debunks some common myths, such as “more is better,” and whether the cooked meat needs to “rest.”

He was the most feared of captains during the Golden Age of Piracy, and in June 1718, four vessels under his command sailed into what was then Topsail Inlet (now Beaufort). Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), became stranded in the inlet’s shallow water. To commemorate the effective end of a piratical career, a North Carolina Highway History Marker will be dedicated Thursday, June 7, 1 p.m., near the entrance on the drive into Fort Macon at Atlantic Beach.

Summer is just around the corner, flowers and trees are blooming, and cool breezes off Lake Phelps stave off the stifling heat. The eighth annual Days Gone By living history event at Somerset Place State Historic Site presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Two trails at Grandfather Mountain State Park in Avery, Watauga, and Caldwell counties are closed to visitors due to damage sustained from heavy rains May 17-20, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

 This Memorial Day is the ideal time for saluting those who have served the country, and a great time to explore the rich variety of natural and cultural resources of the state. See the great outdoors at a state park, some special offering at a history, science or art museum, or enjoy the launch of Summerfest, the North Carolina Symphony outdoor concert series, over the weekend.