Press Releases

By December of 1756, Fort Dobbs was complete. Its garrison of 50 North Carolina soldiers prepared to spend the first of many winters in the building as they guarded the western edge of settlement in the British colony during the French and Indian War.

Historic Bath State Historic Site will open a new exhibit, “Along the Banks of Bath Creek: A Story of People and Place,” with a ribbon cutting Friday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. This immersive exhibit tells the stories of Bath, from its history as an American Indian homesite through the 20th century.

The North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will hold a ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 13 to recognize the state’s acquisition of 246 acres along the Yadkin River in Forsyth County as the first step in creating the Shallow Ford State Historic Site.

Students at the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will have the opportunity to learn and earn next summer through a 10-week paid summer internship within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

There’s a holiday happening to suit every taste at venues of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.  Fireworks over Tryon Palace, a Christmas flotilla at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort, "Christmas by Candlelight," at a state historic site and "Holiday Pops” or other performances with the North Carolina Symphony at home or on tour, are a few of the unique holiday experiences awaiting families at modest or no cost. 

The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), recently approved $17.4 million to fund nine capital improvement projects and six land acquisitions for North Carolina state parks, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The Authority approved the investments at its meeting held Nov. 4 at the state arboretum in Asheville.

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Executive Mansion, the “people’s house,” will open its historic doors again for the beloved annual Holiday Open House from Dec. 8 through Dec. 10. 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.

Join the North Carolina State Capitol and Governor Roy Cooper for the annual tree-lighting tradition on Thursday, Dec. 8. The festivities will begin on Capitol Square at 5:30 p.m. with luminaries and holiday music performed by the Raleigh Concert Band. The governor and dignitaries will make their way to the South grounds at 6:15 p.m. to officially begin the ceremony. The lit tree will be visible the length of Fayetteville Street. The Junior Woman’s Club will give away cookies and cider — and even Santa is scheduled to make an appearance!

The CSS Neuse Museum has partnered with non-profit organization KultureCity to provide a sensory inclusive experience for all museum programs and events. This new initiative will make exploring the museum a little easier for visitors with sensory sensitivities, including people on the autism spectrum, as well as people with sensory processing disorders, PTSD and other needs.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that one additional individual property has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was reviewed by the North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee and subsequently nominated by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register for consideration for listing in the National Register.