Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that 10 individual properties across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.The following properties were reviewed by the North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee and subsequently nominated by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer. They were submitted to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, an official with the National Park Service, for consideration and ultimately approved for listing in the National Register.

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro was nominated for “Best Zoo” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024. As the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, the North Carolina Zoo spans over 2,800 acres and cares for over 1,700 animals. The North Carolina Zoo also turns 50 this year, making the nomination an added treat for its golden anniversary.

On Thursday evening, April 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the Museum of the Albemarle and Elizabeth City State University, will host the Max Roach Centennial Celebration Jazz Festival opening night reception with special guest Elizabeth City native, A. B. Spellman. Spellman has written essays and poetry for Rhythm magazine and taught at Morehouse College, Emory University, Rutgers, and Harvard University.  

A new exhibit has been installed in the visitor center at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site.Using a mix of authentic relics and replica items, the exhibit explains the importance of trade between colonists and American Indians in the Carolina backcountry in the 1750s, calling particular attention to occasions when American Indians visited the fort, both as friends and as enemies.

First appearing approximately 230 million years ago, the hearty crocodilians — alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials — have survived nearly every earthly scenario. They have outlived dinosaurs, ice ages, mass extinctions and more, yet they have changed very little over time. Find out all you ever wanted to know about crocodilians, plus a menagerie of wild reptiles and amphibians from North Carolina and around the world, at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Reptile & Amphibian Day, Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Division of Parks and Recreation will be hosting a Wildland Fire Engine Academy, March 3-9, 2024, at Haw River State Park.The academy is a joint effort with the Florida Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina State University, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

 Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site soon will commemorate the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville with a day of historic demonstrations, activities, and informative presentations.The event, “Always on Duty,” Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., will highlight the experiences of medical providers during the Civil War, including surgeons, stewards, and nurses. Visitors can learn more about the battle and what life was like for soldiers and civilians during the Civil War. The event is free.

The historic contributions made by women will be celebrated at venues of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources throughout March.Women's History Month honors the remarkable achievements of women throughout history and in contemporary society. As we embark on this annual observance, DNCR is recognizing the legacy women have left in North Carolina, from science and politics to arts and literature.Join us as we celebrate the diverse narratives, resilience and leadership of women who have shaped our past and continue to inspire our future.

The CSS Neuse Museum is pleased to announce an upcoming free admission day scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2024. The event is expected to start at 10 a.m. and will continue until 3 p.m. The museum offers visitors a chance to explore a range of exhibits and engage with interpreters who will provide valuable information on different aspects of the Civil War. The topics that will be covered include the life of sailors, the contributions of African Americans and women, the Battle of Bentonville, and more.

Education has always been a core mission of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR). For over 50 years, the department has inspired a lifelong love of learning at more than 100 sites across the state, including museums, parks, historic sites, aquariums, libraries, archives, and the zoo.