Press Releases

Jessica Phillips, a 12-year employee of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, is the new superintendent at Mayo River State Park in Rockingham County. Phillips succeeds Keith Martin, who retired as superintendent earlier this year. A superintendent is the chief of operations and administration at a state park or recreation area and has wide-ranging responsibilities for staffing, training, law enforcement, visitor services, natural resource protection, community outreach and environmental education.

Make plans now to virtually “shellabrate” the environmental, economic, cultural and culinary importance of oysters during North Carolina Oyster Week, Oct. 12-16. The week is co-hosted by North Carolina Sea Grant, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the North Carolina Coastal Federation. 

Make plans now to virtually “shellabrate” the environmental, economic, cultural and culinary importance of oysters during North Carolina Oyster Week, Oct. 12-16. The week is co-hosted by North Carolina Sea Grant, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the North Carolina Coastal Federation. 

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking public input on the Mayo River State Park Master Plan. The Master Plan is a long-term plan for the park that provides access to more than 16 river miles of the Mayo River in Rockingham County. The Mayo River begins near the N.C./VA state line and flows south until it joins with the Dan River near Madison, N.C. 

From Historic Halifax in the east to Horne Creek Farm in the west, numerous state historic sites will provide the backdrops for a new virtual music project highlighting some of North Carolina's treasured landmarks. Debuting Sept. 30, “Singing on the Land” will celebrate the stories of historic sites across North Carolina through the voices of North Carolina musicians. The nine-week series will offer a new release every week on Wednesdays throughout the fall.

To support teachers and student learning at public schools in Tier One counties, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is sponsoring free access to Streamable Learning for the 2020-21 school year. Streamable Learning is a platform offering livestreaming educational programs linking content partners and their subject matter experts to thousands of K-12 classrooms around the United States. 

RALEIGH, N.C. – Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed September 2020 as International Underground Railroad Month in North Carolina. Read the proclamation here.  Often called the nation’s first Civil Rights movement, the Underground Railroad included many prominent abolitionists, such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, John Brown, William Still and many others. 

A new study reveals that 65 plant species have gone extinct in the continental United States and Canada since European settlement, more extinctions than any previous scientific study has ever documented. 

The North Carolina Historical Commission will meet via conference call Thur., Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.  

Please note: As of 1/1/23 the shuttle at Pilot Mountain State Park is no longer in service.Pilot Mountain State Park will begin shuttle service to the upper parking lot beginning Saturday, Aug. 22. The shuttle will allow more access to the popular mountain, reduce traffic in and around the park, and reduce waiting times for people visiting the mountain section.