Press Releases

Today, archaeologists and conservators from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources opened a time capsule buried in 1894 beneath the cornerstone of the Confederate Soldiers Monument on Union Square in Raleigh. 

In light of Governor Roy Cooper’s state of emergency declaration and guidance regarding canceling or postponing large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, Mountain Gateway Museum’s 2020 Pioneer Day festival has been canceled.  Festival organizers had hoped to reschedule the event, usually held in late April, for July 4, but rescheduling has become impracticable. 

RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Library of North Carolina announces the 2020-2021 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awardees. This year's $4,788,098 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 49 awards go to local library projects that:      • Strengthen Capacity      • Expand Access; and      • Engage Communities

Charlotte Hawkins Brown was a woman to stand up and speak out, and in that spirit the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum (CHB) will present an online celebration of women’s activism June 15-22. The “She Changed the World” initiative celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women, though not all women, the right to vote. 

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Film, Television and Digital Streaming will meet via conference call Tuesday, June 9 at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda includes an update from the North Carolina Film Office and discussion of recommendations regarding the N.C. film industry that the council will make in a report to Governor Cooper. Recommendations will be in the priority areas of film industry messaging and marketing; grants, rebates, policies and statutes; access and diversity; and industry expansion.

The 2020 Mountain Gateway Museum Farmers’ Market will open Thursday, June 4, at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Please note that the Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center remains closed to the public.  Vendors and visitors to the market will be asked to abide by state health and safety guidelines and observe the “3 Ws”: Wear face coverings, Wash or sanitize your hands often, and Wait/walk/stand six feet apart in line. Hand sanitizer will be provided. No public restrooms will be available, and picnic tables on the museum’s grounds will not be available for use. 

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed June 1-7, 2020, as "Museum Week" in North Carolina to highlight the meaningful impact museums have on North Carolina residents, tourism and the economy, and their communities. North Carolina Museum Week is a celebration of North Carolina museums. Activities during the week will raise awareness of North Carolina museums as centers of education, community anchors, economic engines, stewards of culture and history, and more.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that one district boundary increase, two districts, and four 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 were subsequently nominated by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register for consideration for listing in the National Register.

A recent grant from the National Park Service (NPS) will make available up to $9.25 million in funding to provide recovery assistance to historic properties (including archaeological sites) damaged by hurricanes Florence and/or Michael that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation accepted the donation of more than 1,000 acres to Morrow Mountain State Park in Stanly County on May 14. The donation, which brings the park’s total area to 5,881 acres, is part of ALCOA Corporation’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing agreement that was finalized in 2013.