Press Releases

To commemorate Juneteenth, numerous N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites across the state will feature events and tours throughout the month of June.Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It signifies the official end of slavery in the United States.

Celebrate summer with Somerset Place at the 12th Annual “Days Gone By” living history event.Join us on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a day filled with history, music, storytelling, and exploration.A suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children will be accepted. Guided tours will be available for a separate fee.

Join the State Archives of North Carolina for a virtual program titled "Flag Day: Time to Change North Carolina's State Flag?" as we delve into the history of North Carolina's state flag and explore ideas for its redesign.

United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced today that North Carolina Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson has been appointed to the National Park System Advisory Board.Wilson joins 15 new board members on the board, which advises the Interior Secretary and the Director of the National Park Service on matters relating to the Park Service’s work.

The life of Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown will be celebrated with music. In recognition of her impact on our community, the arts, and the lives of countless Black artists, a special event to commemorate her birthday will be held on Saturday, June 10, when the Greensboro Opera will collaborate with the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum for Black Heritage Day, an Afro-Classical Celebration.

Join us for the first PrairieFest celebration in honor of National Prairie Day. This free, family-friendly event takes place at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ 45-acre outdoor learning center in west Raleigh, on Saturday, June 3, 5–9 p.m.

JD Motorsports and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources have teamed up to bring awareness to North Carolina’s Moonshine and Motorsports Trail.Moonshine and Motorsports Trail branding will be featured on JD Motorsports driver Brennan Poole’s No. 6 Chevrolet entry in the Xfinity Series’ Alsco 300 race, Saturday, May 27.

The Durham City Council has voted to create the Ellerbe Creek Dedicated Nature Preserve on 215 acres of city-owned land near Ellerbe Creek.It will be the largest land conservation project by the city of Durham in decades.Publicly and privately-owned natural areas identified by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program can be dedicated as State Nature Preserves to establish a lasting conservation commitment.

The North Carolina State Capitol will close to the public beginning Wednesday, May 3, for construction and repair work, and will remain closed until further notice.Completed in 1840, the North Carolina State Capitol is a National Historic Landmark. Work is underway to replace copper on the roof and dome, update the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and repair deteriorating mortar and stone on the building’s exterior. The work is expected to take 12-15 months to complete and is being managed by the N.C. General Assembly’s Legislative Services Office.

Adopt an Artifact Program: Help the Museum of the Albemarle protect our state treasures by adopting an artifact that requires conservation. Your tax-deductible donation in any amount will help support the museum’s mission of preserving artifacts and other historical materials relating to the history and heritage of northeastern North Carolina.