Press Releases

The North Carolina Zoo expanded its lands for local wildlife conservation by adding 139 acres to Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve, increasing it to 423 acres. This addition was a gift from The Conservation Fund made possible by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund and private donors Fred, Alice, Brad and Shelli Stanback.

A program on Feb. 24 at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will offer a glimpse of the harrowing days of the Anglo-Cherokee War.The Cherokee and British had been allies when the French and Indian War started, but tensions quickly spiraled into hostilities. The fort was engaged by up to 70 Cherokee warriors in a confusing night-time skirmish on Feb. 27, 1760.

The men who built our state’s most iconic building, although they were enslaved, left a legacy for all North Carolinians. Their contribution to the construction of the State Capitol during the 1830s has been researched by a team of historians who will present their initial findings during an upcoming virtual Lunch & Learn program hosted by the State Archives.In this program, State Capitol staff also will discuss the launch of “From Naming to Knowing,” the project’s website. They also will provide genealogy tips for researching the lives of the enslaved.

Clay County has been chosen as the subject of a comprehensive survey of historic buildings and landscapes. The architectural survey will intensively document historic buildings and landscapes from the 19th century through the 1970s, including those in Hayesville and rural areas. Data gathered during the survey will assist Clay County in planning for the preservation of its historic resources for years to come.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2024 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state, now through April 1.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.This year marks the 60th anniversary of the awards, which have been presented annually since 1964.

The State Library of North Carolina Accessible Books and Library Services (ABLS) is thrilled to announce the upcoming 2024 Eastern NC Regional Braille Challenge, a compelling event that promises to highlight the talents and achievements of blind and visually impaired students in the realm of Braille literacy. Taking place Feb. 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, this event is a unique opportunity for media professionals to capture and share inspiring stories.

Recently released prison records may offer clues for a project that will memorialize incarcerated laborers who died building the Mountain Division of the Western N.C. Railroad from Old Fort to Ridgecrest.These records, housed in the N.C. State Archives, have provided additional information about those working, and at times dying, under dangerous conditions.An upcoming virtual Lunch & Learn program hosted by the State Archives, “The RAIL Project: New Discoveries in the State Archives,” will present some of the early findings.

The second public information meeting for the Pisgah View State Park Master Plan will be held Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the Upper Hominy Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, 1795 Pisgah Highway in Candler. Members of the public are encouraged to drop in at any time and can expect to spend 20-30 minutes to review, discuss, and provide feedback on the proposed options for the development of the park.

The North Carolina state parks system welcomed more than 20.1 million visitors in 2023 and acquired over 2,890 acres of new land, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Visitation at state parks increased by 4% — more than 755,000 — from 2022.

Pilot Mountain State Park’s Bean Shoals Access, located along the north side of the Yadkin River, will be closed beginning Feb. 5 through the end of 2024, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The access will undergo a construction project to improve access, followed by a stream restoration project.