Press Releases

North Carolina’s Executive Mansion will soon be decorated for the season, and visitors are invited to view the outdoor holiday decorations beginning Friday, Dec. 4. While the Executive Mansion remains closed to the public due to Covid-19, additional exterior decorations are planned for the public to enjoy. The mansion grounds will be decorated for the holidays, and lit trees will be visible through the mansion’s windows.

President James K, Polk State State Historic Site will close to visitors until Dec. 10.  Due to a recent exposure to COVID-19, the facilities will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and site employees with potential exposure to the virus will self-quarantine for 14 days following N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services and CDC guidelines.  Because President James K Polk State Historic Site has only a few full-time employees, the site will be closed until employees are able to return to work.  

Beginning Dec. 1, the State Library of North Carolina will host a series of online discussions to gather the public’s input regarding public libraries in North Carolina. Meetings will be 45 minutes long. Participants can register at surveymonkey.com/r/NC_Libraries. 

A new podcast from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources aims to highlight North Carolina's amazing rural and small-town appeal.  “Hello NC: Stories from Main Street” is part of the department’s Hello North Carolina initiative. Hello NC celebrates the people, culture, and stories of rural North Carolina through local voices and rich media. This multi-faceted initiative showcases stories about the diversity, traditions and richness of small towns and rural life. 

Due to the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the reenactment, scheduled for March 21-22, 2021 at Bentonville Battlefield has been cancelled. The event had been rescheduled from its original date in March 2020. 

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will honor North Carolina’s military history with a “Military Timeline” Nov. 14. Visitors will learn about the experiences of soldiers and support personnel from the past 450 years.  “It’s important for us to remember the men and women who have sacrificed to make us who we are today as a country” says Site Manager Scott Douglas. The educational program will offer a small sample of soldier life through history. 

State Archives public research spaces in Raleigh, the Western Regional Archives in Asheville and the Outer Banks History Center in Manteo will open to the public on a limited basis Nov. 12 with some new procedures in place to help ensure the safety of staff and visitors, including:  • Researchers are encouraged to use State Archives web resources and contact staff at https://archives.ncdcr.gov/ to determine if they can conduct research remotely. 

RALEIGH, NC – The N.C. Government and Heritage Library will open to the public Nov. 12 with some new procedures in place to help ensure the safety of staff and visitors, including:  • Temporary library hours: 1–4 p.m., Monday-Friday. 

As a part of the Division of North Carolina Historic Sites and Properties’ True Inclusion initiative, the Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace is hosting an online screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary “Wilmington On Fire.” The film will be available for viewing Nov. 17-22, with an online discussion to be held Nov. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.

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.