Press Releases

The Roanoke River State Trail (RRST) is the first North Carolina state trail to be fully designated, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Authorized by the General Assembly in 2021, the paddle trail begins in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and follows the river to the Albemarle Sound, extending northward to additional accesses in Chowan County. There are 15 designated access points along the approximately 215-mile scenic wilderness trail.

WHAT: Asheville Community GatheringWHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6–7:30 p.m.WHERE: Hatch Coworking | 45 S French Broad Ave, Suite 170, Asheville, NC 28801DETAILS: The North Carolina Museum of History invites community members in the Asheville area to participate in an open discussion to help shape the future of the museum’s exhibits. This is an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts on how the state’s layered history should be presented to future visitors.

Get buggy with it when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts BugFest on Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Come satisfy all your web weaving, wing flapping, dungball rolling, creepy crawling and (of course) bug munching pursuits in one day!This year, BugFest spotlights butterflies and moths. Did you know that our state butterfly is the Eastern tiger swallowtail? And in 1587, colonist and artist John White depicted the Eastern tiger swallowtail while accompanying Sir Walter Raleigh’s third expedition to the New World.

The North Carolina Museum of History is embarking on a transformative journey that will redefine how visitors experience the state's rich history. As part of this project, the physical museum building will close to the public Oct. 7 to begin an exciting makeover that will last two to three years.

The Museum of the Albemarle will host History for Lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium. David Moore, Ph.D., executive archaeologist of Exploring Joara Foundation, Inc., and a professor at Warren Wilson College, will discuss the work and history of the Berry site that he has led for 25 years and where he currently directs a summer field school. The Berry Site is an active archaeological site of a Native American town and a Spanish fort dating back to the 16th century.

Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host its third annual Mountain Monarch Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s visitor center. The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and bring attention to the species’ declining numbers.The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in late September each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

The Museum of the Albemarle will host History for Lunch on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium. Chris Meekins, born and raised in Elizabeth City, has been a public historian in the state of N.C. for over 30 years. For most of his career, Chris was an archivist, but in March 2020, he switched hats to become an editor for the Civil War Roster project. Tasked with packing up the old Roster office, Chris also decided to track the project's history. Since the Civil War, there have been several attempts to document the service of N.C. men in the war.

Making waves that have a ripple effect is at the heart of a new initiative to make the North Carolina Ferry System more sustainable, beginning with the Southport and Fort Fisher visitor centers. Riders will find only aluminum cans for water, soda and other drinks in the vending machines. Last year, the ferry system also added water refill stations—another measure to reduce single-use plastic.

In an attempt designed to protect wildlife, 200 new exterior light fixtures, bollards and lampposts have been installed at Jennette’s Pier this summer. The wildlife friendly lighting emits shielded, amber light.All along North Carolina’s coast, beach towns, parks and residential areas are also taking measures to reduce artificial lighting that negatively impacts wildlife.The North Carolina Aquariums are proud to be joining an ever-growing movement of migration to Wildlife Friendly Lighting, Jennette’s Pier Director Mike Remige said.

The North Carolina Arts Council announced today $11.5 million in grant awards for Fiscal Year 2024–25. Three hundred sixty-six grant awards will support nonprofit arts organizations, schools, after-school programs, municipalities, and artists in all 100 counties this year. The grants range from $5,000 to $338,000.“The arts benefit North Carolinians of all ages,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These grants will enrich our communities as well as grow their economies throughout all one hundred counties.”Funding priorities this year include organizations and projects that: