Press Releases

Prepare to have a patriotic Fourth of July celebration through an encounter with history or an adventure with nature at N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) attractions this year.

This 4th of July, a Raleigh tradition continues! The Capitol will host a ceremony that includes an outdoor naturalization for new citizens. The ceremony will also include a reading from the Declaration of Independence and a wreath laying at the George Washington monument by the Sons of the American Revolution. The Raleigh Concert Band will be performing from 11:30 a.m.-noon, and the ceremony will begin on the south grounds at noon. The Capitol is currently closed to the public.

The North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission is pleased to announce that the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program recently approved highway historical markers for nine American Indian sites in North Carolina. Seven state-recognized tribes of North Carolina, an American Indian school in Sampson County, and an Indian burial mound in Robeson County are all the subjects of new historical markers.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has selected Chrystal Regan as the new executive director of Tryon Palace in New Bern.Regan is currently the Education Section Chief at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, where she led efforts to expand two of the museum’s most prominent annual festivals, the American Indian Heritage Celebration, and the African American Cultural Celebration, to include additional virtual educational programming for people across the state.

The State Library of North Carolina announced the 2023-2024 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awardees today. This year's federal allotment will be distributed on behalf of North Carolina's libraries through programs and services available under the North Carolina LSTA Five Year Plan.The 48 awards, totaling $2,590,904, go to local library projects that:    · Promote Community Engagement,    · Provide Equitable Access, or    · Support Responsive Organizations

To commemorate Juneteenth, numerous N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites across the state will feature events and tours throughout the month of June.Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It signifies the official end of slavery in the United States.

Join the State Archives of North Carolina for a virtual program titled "Flag Day: Time to Change North Carolina's State Flag?" as we delve into the history of North Carolina's state flag and explore ideas for its redesign.

Celebrate summer with Somerset Place at the 12th Annual “Days Gone By” living history event.Join us on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a day filled with history, music, storytelling, and exploration.A suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children will be accepted. Guided tours will be available for a separate fee.

Join us for the first PrairieFest celebration in honor of National Prairie Day. This free, family-friendly event takes place at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ 45-acre outdoor learning center in west Raleigh, on Saturday, June 3, 5–9 p.m.

The life of Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown will be celebrated with music. In recognition of her impact on our community, the arts, and the lives of countless Black artists, a special event to commemorate her birthday will be held on Saturday, June 10, when the Greensboro Opera will collaborate with the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum for Black Heritage Day, an Afro-Classical Celebration.