North Carolina will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves with “Prelude to Revolution: Halifax Resolves Days,” an immersive three-day event featuring living history vignettes, lectures, live colonial music and Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps performances, historic trades and weapons demonstrations, a military parade, tours, and more. The event will also officially open Historic Halifax State Historic Site’s recently renovated visitor center to the public, unveiling a modern facility and a new exhibit detailing Halifax’s significant role in the state’s history. The event will take place throughout historic area of the town of Halifax on the weekend of April 10-12, with activities offered from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. each day. Historic Halifax is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR).
“Halifax Resolves Days” is a signature event for DNCR’s America 250 NC initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate North Carolina’s important role in the American Revolution. Key weekend events include:
• Ceremony at Magazine Spring, led by the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
• Watch a living history vignette of the Provincial delegates debating independence
• Enjoy food trucks, vendors, exhibits, tours and themed photo booths
• Annual Halifax Resolves Day Ceremony at the colonial courthouse site
• Entertainment on King Street with live music and drone show at dark, sponsored by the Town of Halifax
Attendees are encouraged to visit the event website in advance to stay in the loop on street closures, shuttle, and parking information. A full event schedule and site map can also be accessed online at https://www.america250.nc.gov/events-experiences/signature-events/halifax-250. Visitors may stop by the Halifax Visitor Center at 25 St. David St., to pick up a map and information for each day’s programming.
In the spring of 1776, delegates from across North Carolina met in Halifax to take part in the Fourth Provincial Congress, the forerunner to the modern legislature. On April 12, 1776, the 83 delegates of the Provincial Congress unanimously ratified the Halifax Resolves. It was the first official act by any of the 13 colonies calling for independence from Great Britain. This first formal call for American sovereignty is acknowledged as an important precursor to the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776.
About America 250 NC
America 250 NC is North Carolina’s commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary and is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. For more information about America 250 NC, visit america250.nc.gov.
About Historic Halifax State Historic Site
Located on the Roanoke River, the town of Halifax developed into a commercial and political center at the time of the American Revolution. North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress met in Halifax in the spring of 1776 and unanimously adopted a document later called the "Halifax Resolves," which was the first official action by a colony calling for independence from England. The historic site offers self-guided walking tours that include several authentically restored and furnished buildings including the 1838 Jail, the 1790 Eagle Tavern and the Underground Railroad Trail. Historic Halifax frequently features costumed historical interpreters and craft demonstrations that bring the early history of the Roanoke Valley to life. The visitor center is located at 25 St. David St. in Halifax, N.C. For more information, call 252-583-7191or visit historicsites.nc.gov/halifax.
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. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.