Press Releases

RALEIGH, N.C. – Why in the world do we ask a groundhog about the weather every Feb. 2? What makes them better prognosticators than squirrels, or wooly worms, or frogs? Here are some fun facts about Groundhog Day history, North Carolina groundhogs and other animals that predict the weather.

Members of the public may use a new online portal to comment on a proposal to relocate three Confederate monuments from the State Capitol grounds in Raleigh to the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks, N.C.

Artists in North Carolina have until Thursday, March 15 to apply for the Mary B.

African American history in North Carolina involves the pursuit of freedom, equality and excellence. The following programs from venues of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources celebrate the lives and contributions of African Americans to the state.

This evening’s planned exhibit opening at the North Carolina State Capitol for “The Mountains Are Calling: At Home in Western North Carolina,” has been postponed due to inclement weather. The Capitol is closed to visitors today.

North Carolina State Parks experienced a record number of visitors in 2017.

Confederate forces were well in control of the fight during the early days of the Civil War, until the arrival of Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside at the Outer Banks. Author Michael Zatarga will speak on his title, “The Battle of Roanoke Island: Burnside and the Fight for North Carolina,” Feb. 10, 11 a.m. at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. This is a free event.

The North Carolina Historical Commission has named five of its members to serve on a committee that will study the issue of relocating three Confederate monuments located on State Capitol grounds. The committee will conduct its first meeting via conference call Monday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. 

Recalling the Scots-Irish settlers in the region, a special fundraising concert featuring the Scottish fiddle/cello duo of Tim MacDonald and Jeremy Ward is being presented by the Friends of Fort Dobbs State Historic Site. The Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. concert at Southern Distilling, north of Statesville, celebrates the release of the duo’s new album, “The Wilds,” and also raises funds for Fort Dobbs.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and its support group the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association will sponsor a weekend-long cruise May 10-13 to demonstrate the potential for a small boat cruise industry in the Albemarle region.