Press Releases

Prohibitionist Carry A. Nation is taking a break from her busy schedule of smashing saloons for a night at the State Capitol! Join us for a casual evening of drinks and conversation with legendary saloon smasher Carry A. Nation Thursday, April 19 from 7-9 p.m. Beer, wine, and food will be served in the Capitol’s rotunda.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2018 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state, now through April 15. Created by the General Assembly in 1961, and administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the award recognizes “notable accomplishments by North Carolina citizens” in the fields of literature, science, fine arts and public service.

From earlier days at Palmer Memorial Institute, visionary women shaped the institution into an elite preparatory school for African Americans that closed in 1971. Now functioning as the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, some of these women will be featured in “Leading Ladies of Palmer Memorial Institute” with tours March 3 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

In its heyday Somerset Place was a self-sustained plantation equal to many small towns. Home to hundreds of enslaved workers, efforts from across the community were required to ensure effective operations. To commemorate Women’s History Month, a special tour highlighting the roles of the women at Somerset will be offered March 6-10, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. The fee is $3.

A rare chance to learn about seldom-seen plants and animals will be available at Town Creek State Historic Site at the “Rich in the Rare” exhibit March 3 through April 14. Learn about some of the unique species that call North Carolina home, such as the Venus flytrap and the red cockaded woodpecker.

The power and persistence of African American musical traditions will be amplified by the well-rounded voice of renowned gospel singer Mary Williams. The educator and historian will perform in a free program Saturday, March 3, 1 p.m. at Historic Stagville State Historic Site. Her performance and historical presentation will illuminate musical practices that might have been part of survival and resistance for those enslaved at Stagville. Visitors should be prepared to participate and sing along! Come early to get a seat for this popular presentation.

A ca. 1845 china press crafted by African-American master cabinetmaker Thomas Day will be the first piece by the celebrated craftsman to be installed in the North Carolina Executive Mansion. The china press will be presented to First Lady Kristin Cooper by N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi H. Hamilton at an event scheduled for 3:15 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the Executive Mansion.

Governor Roy Cooper has ordered a Book of Condolences to be placed at the North Carolina State Capitol for members of the public to sign in remembrance of Rev. Billy Graham. The book rests on a small table at the foot of the George Washington statue in the Capitol Rotunda, and members of the public are invited to sign the book and add brief written condolences for Rev. Graham’s family from Friday, Feb. 23 through Friday, Mar. 2. Governor Cooper will present the book to Graham’s family on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina.

The door to new adventures recently opened for students across the state. Field trips, programming, and outreach opportunities became easier for teachers in North Carolina’s Title I schools thanks to the Aquarium Scholars grant program. More than $69,000 were distributed to teachers across the state, allowing schools with higher proportions of students from low-income households to experience aquatic animals, learn about important conservation topics and get involved with other unique educational opportunities.

North Carolina institutions that hold collections relevant to North Carolina’s history and culture may be eligible to participate in a grant-funded program to digitize the materials.