Press Releases

Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is thrilled to announce a new program scheduled for Saturday, May 15 called “Bentonville in Bloom.” This spring event will showcase the natural resources and wildlife that call Bentonville home.  As battlefield preservation has grown to over 2,000 acres, the wildlife found within those acres have also been conserved. “Bentonville in Bloom” will provide visitors with a chance to learn more about the ecosystem from experts on the flora and fauna of eastern North Carolina.

Alamance Battleground State Historic Site will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1771 Battle of Alamance with virtual programs and a special illumination Saturday, May 15. Three hundred luminaries will mark the positions of the battlefield combatants, with one luminary representing 10 people who participated in the battle. The memorial in light will occur 7-10 p.m.

The State Archives of North Carolina will host a virtual roundtable, “Preservation Pointers for the Public,” Wed., May 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Enhance your own family archive with tips from the pros!  May is Preservation Month and State Archives staff want to help you preserve family memorabilia. Staff with expertise in documents, photographs, audio-visual recordings, and electronic records (including social media) will present brief overviews of how to keep those types of materials safe for years to come. They will also address your preservation questions.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites have some great events planned throughout April.  Earth Day is meant to increase awareness of the planet we live on, and encourage people to learn more about pollution, climate change, endangered species, and other environmental issues. This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.”

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson today announced three appointments to key roles in department leadership. Staci Meyer will serve as Chief Deputy Secretary for the department. Meyer has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Arts, Libraries and Administration since 2017, and will continue to oversee those divisions. She previously served the department as Chief Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary during the Easley administration.

A new opportunity to support the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program will help repair or replace damaged historical highway markers. The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program has partnered with the non-profit North Carolina Literary and Historical Association to establish a historical marker maintenance endowment fund.

When young Conrad Reed discovered a rock that was really a 17-pound gold nugget in 1799, he had no idea that the Carolina Gold Rush would soon start. Reed Gold Mine invites you to join the gold panning action during the 2021 gold panning season April 1-Oct. 31. Individuals aged eight years and older can participate for a $3 fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only, weather permitting.

Throughout history, struggles with disease, social and geographic distance, and loss often led to revolutions in medicine, politics, and economics and to the mistreatment of racial and ethnic minorities. These struggles and triumphs have various lessons to teach contemporary audiences navigating the current pandemic and life after COVID-19.   

During the early 1800s, North Carolina was considered a sleepy, backward state with a sluggish economy and little interest in change. It became known as the “Rip Van Winkle State.” Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) will open a new exhibit Saturday, March 27 about the state’s transformation and the culture of mining in western North Carolina.

Songbirds and sunshine return as spring is here! It’s time to get outside and take part in Parks and Trails for Health (PATH), an online program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to encourage activity in parks, trails, greenways, and other outdoor spaces. As you plan spring break and Easter outings, add some history and culture and make a visit to a site historic site that also has a trail. Trails range from a quarter-mile to eight miles. Most sites are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and are free.