Press Releases

A project to restore faded historical murals and create new exterior artworks will receive an award from the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies.The Historic Port of Washington Project in Washington, N.C., will receive the 2023 Newsome Award, which recognizes excellence in local history projects.

An upcoming virtual Lunch & Learn program hosted by the State Archives will commemorate Pearl Harbor Day with “Remembering War in the Pacific: An Internment Camp Experience.”A panel discussion will include Nash County resident Chris Larsen, who survived a Japanese internment camp in the Philippines during his early childhood, along with Ashley Latta, Military Collection Archivist, and Charlie Knight, Museum of History Military Curator, who will provide an overview of the war in the Pacific Theater, including documents, photographs, and artifact collections.

Visit the State Capitol Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to make a rustic outdoor decoration to feed the birds and squirrels on Capitol Square. While the historic Capitol is closed for repairs, we’re bringing holiday cheer outside instead. Families, children, and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to make birdseed and critter-friendly ornaments to adorn the tree, provided by the N.C. Christmas Tree Association. The tree will stand on the east grounds through December.

Six additional local parks and recreation projects across the state will receive grants totaling nearly $1.9 million through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority selected the recipients Nov. 3.The Authority selects PARTF grant recipients annually at its August meeting, and this year, 19 recipients were funded through a continuing resolution. After the state budget was finalized this fall, this year’s PARTF allocation amounted to a total of $10.4 million.

Six distinguished North Carolinians were presented the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest honor, by Governor Roy Cooper at a Nov. 9 ceremony at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The award recognizes significant lifetime achievements in the areas of fine arts, literature, public service and science.The 2023 honorees are Honorable David Price for Public Service, Honorable G.K. Butterfield for Public Service, Fred A. Whitfield for Public Service, Marsha White Warren for Literature, Patrick Dougherty for Fine Arts and Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., for Science.

Crystal Lloyd, one of the park superintendents at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, is now the park superintendent at Carolina Beach State Park in New Hanover County, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Lloyd fills the role after longtime superintendent Chris Helms retired in April.The park superintendent leads the operations and administration at the park and has a comprehensive set of responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, natural and cultural resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.

All backcountry campsites at nine state parks in western North Carolina are closed effective Nov. 10 due to increased fire risk, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The closures will last through at least Dec. 1.The following state parks are affected:Crowders Mountain State Park: All campsites are closed.Elk Knob State Park: All campsites and the zone camping area are closed.

Join Duke Homestead State Historic Site for one last day of baseball this season at the Durham Athletic Park. Two vintage baseball games will be played Nov. 11, beginning at 1 p.m.

Matt Windsor is the new park superintendent at Goose Creek State Park in Beaufort County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Windsor succeeds Doug Lequire, who retired in May.Park superintendents lead operations and administration at a park and have wide-ranging responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.

The campground at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will be temporarily closed beginning Nov. 2 due to black bear activity in the area. The campground will remain closed for the next two weeks.Campground reservations during this time will be cancelled and refunds will be issued to reservation holders.The park remains open to visitors.