North Carolina’s Executive Mansion–the “people’s house”–will open its historic doors once again for the beloved annual Holiday Open House from Thursday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 9.
Visitors are invited to tour the home, take in the decorations, and enjoy seasonal musical entertainment by local performing groups. The first floor of the Mansion will be decorated with North Carolina-grown Christmas trees, floral and mixed evergreen arrangements, and ornate mantle displays.
Press Releases
The Oxford American Magazine’s 20th annual Southern Music Issue celebrates the musical legacy of North Carolina and features an artistic portrait of North Carolina native Nina Simone, the High Priestess of Soul, on the cover.Simone, born and raised in Tryon, N.C., is celebrated as an icon of American music in the 160-page issue, along with Earl Scruggs, Elizabeth Cotten, John Coltrane, 9th Wonder, and James Taylor.
William Gould was a plasterer in Wilmington who escaped from slavery with seven other men via the Cape Fear River. They were picked up by the USS Cambridge and joined the Union Navy. Gould kept a journal of his experiences for three years, producing the only known account by a sailor who was formerly a slave. He will be recognized with a N.C. Highway Historical Marker Nov. 13 at 10 a.m., dedication at the corner of 5th and Market Streets.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will join Kids in Parks, Edgecombe County and the Town of Tarboro Thursday, Nov. 1 to celebrate the opening of North Carolina’s 100th “Kids in Parks” TRACK Trail at Indian Lake in Tarboro.
The grand opening, including a ribbon cutting and guided hike, will be held at 11 a.m., Nov. 1 at Indian Lake Sports Complex, 3300 Western Blvd, Tarboro. The public is invited to attend.
The North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will celebrate 60 years of service to North Carolinians during a public Open House Celebration Thursday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1841 Capital Blvd., Raleigh. The event will feature live music and readings by local authors.
This event was rescheduled from its original date in September due to Hurricane Florence.
The new date for the installation of North Carolina’s ninth Poet Laurate, Jaki Shelton Green, is Monday, Dec. 10 at the State Capitol.
What is archaeology? It’s more than just digging in the dirt! The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology will hold a Public Archaeology Day Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Raleigh.
Writers delving into societal inequality and social unrest have taken top honors in the competitions for the 2018 North Carolina Book Award, to be presented Oct. 26 during the annual meeting of the N.C. Literary and Historical Association in Greenville. The struggle of women and African Americans seeking opportunity and equality resonate throughout the winning works.
Even 400 years after his death, Sir Walter Raleigh continues to intrigue. Raleigh sponsored three expeditions to Roanoke colony in the 1580s, the earliest British attempt to settle North America. In 1792, North Carolina’s legislature honored this feat by naming the state’s new capital city for the explorer, soldier, and writer.
Visit Historic Stagville Friday, Oct. 19, for a full day of educational activities! Are you studying American history, African American history, colonial history, the Civil War, or the history of slavery? Stagville’s Fall Harvest Homeschool Day will offer students hands-on activities about life on a plantation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a fee of $4 per child.