Press Releases

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. 

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. 

In anticipation of Thomas Wolfe’s 120th birthday in October, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial invites students and teachers to participate in the 2020 “Telling Our Tales” Student Writing Competition. In this competition, students will submit their own work of fiction inspired by reading part IV of “The Lost Boy.” 

The State Library of North Carolina proudly announces the SLNC CARES Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awardees. The 39 awards, totaling nearly $870,000, support local library projects across North Carolina that target high need communities to address digital inclusion, expand digital network access, purchase internet accessible devices, and provide related technical support in response to the coronavirus.

Thanks to a generous donation from the late Tom Rabe, his wife Jean and the Rabe family, a new 1,000 square foot observation deck is now open on top of Morrow Mountain. The donation was made to the park through the Friends of Morrow Mountain, the non-profit organization that also helped oversee the construction of the project. The observation deck faces east over the park, Lake Tillery and the Uwharrie National Forest.