Press Releases

You may have heard the legends, read books, or even seen the recent movie, “Harriet,” but now you can see a larger-than-life statue of the heroic figure at Historic Halifax State Historic Site in observance of Women’s History Month. The 9-foot-tall image of Harriet Tubman leading a girl to freedom will be unveiled by the site on Facebook Live Friday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

The Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library system officially joined NC Cardinal in February, giving residents of those counties access to over 7 million books.

Take action for more unity in the great outdoors. The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is partnering with Black Folks Camp Too to encourage participation and engagement with diverse communities through the department’s new Parks and Trails for Health (PATH) initiative. PATH combines physical activity in parks, greenways, and other outdoor spaces in North Carolina with educational opportunities.

Students at the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will have the opportunity to learn and earn this summer through a 10-week paid summer internship within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is launching a new online campaign to encourage North Carolinians to get moving and get outside. Parks and Trails for Health (PATH) is an initiative designed to encourage physical activity in parks, trails, greenways, and other outdoor spaces in North Carolina.

Initially enslaved by North Carolina native President James K. Polk, Elias Polk took up the fight for black economic independence after the Civil War. His advocacy and rise as a leading black conservative in the southeast will be examined in a virtual program presented by the President James K. Polk State Historic Site Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. 

Fort Dobbs in Statesville is the state’s only historic site about the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, that spanned five continents from 1754 to 1763. Discover various aspects of the soldiers’ lives through a virtual program Feb. 27. Participants may sample subjects during the day, or make a day of it, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Hear stories of how freed people built Durham, the wealth and influence of the Cameron family, and how sharecropping shaped the lives of African American families post-Emancipation. All of this will be revealed during in-person tours at Historic Stagville in Durham, Feb. 20.  “Over 900 people were enslaved by the Cameron family in what is now part of Durham, Orange and Granville counties,” observes Site Manager Vera Cecelski. “The people and profits from these massive plantations shape the history of our communities to this day.”

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Film, Television and Digital Streaming will meet via teleconference Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda includes an update from the North Carolina Film Office, updates from council subcommittees, and a review of draft recommendations regarding the N.C. film industry for Governor Roy Cooper. 

African American History in North Carolina involves a range of rich experiences and you can enjoy some of them during Black History Month from the comfort of home. Several museums and programs of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will offer online programs during February for children and adults. All are free. Sit back and enjoy any or all of them from anywhere in the state. East