Press Releases

In the 1970s, when most movies were made in Hollywood, Earl Owensby decided to build a studio — and create his own independent movies — in North Carolina. Earl Owensby Studios, in Shelby, opened in 1973 and proved that feature films could be produced east of California. In addition to directing and producing, Owensby played leading roles in several of his movies, such as “Death Driver” and “Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll.”

Bright Star Touring Theatre brings this endearing story of the ugliest duckling in the nest to Roanoke Island Festival Park July 29, 30 and 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the Indoor Theatre at Roanoke Island Festival Park.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) announces that Marjorie Hodges has joined the Museum as director of external relations and special projects. Hodges will support the Museum with fund-raising, marketing, audience development, and program development.

The N.C. Transportation Museum is proud to announce plans to bring the Lincoln Funeral Train and the Leviathan locomotive to Spencer, N.C. for a full weekend of Civil War-era recreations, music, living history, tours, sutlers, and more, Aug. 28-30.

“The Tuscarora World and New Bern in Maps: 1590-1800,” a new free exhibit of approximately 15 rare maps, will open at the North Carolina History Center in downtown New Bern Friday, July 24, through Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) presents three free exhibitions opening in September 2015: Chisel and Forge: Works by Peter Oakley and Elizabeth Brim, featuring playful sculptures by two contemporary North Carolina artists; The Energy of Youth: Depicting Childhood in the NCMA’s Photography Collection, highlighting photographs of children from the NCMA’s permanent collection; and a series of gravity-defying video installations by South African artist Robin Rhode.

Secretary Susan Kluttz, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR), today announced that Kelly Alexander has been selected as the new executive director of the N.C. Transportation Museum. Kelly has been on staff at the Transportation Museum for more than 25 years and is well equipped to lead the museum into the future.

Outer Banks historian, author and public speaker James Charlet will give a free lecture about the forgotten heroes of the United States Life-Saving Service at Tryon Palace’s North Carolina History Center from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, July 18.

On Saturday, August 1, at 2 p.m. the Museum of the Cape Fear will host four authors who collaborated on the book, The Brightest Day: A Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology. They will hold a panel discussion about the observance of Juneteenth. Juneteenth has been celebrated as the final emancipation for all slaves after the Civil War.

Francisco de Miranda, the Spanish explorer and father of Venezuelan independence, will be the subject of Tryon Palace’s July Lunch and Learn lecture held at noon Friday, July 17, at the North Carolina History Center.