Press Releases

Isolation. The immense mountains of western North Carolina made life difficult for early regional settlers. Telling its story with objects, labels, and striking high resolution photographs, “The Mountains Are Calling: At Home in Western North Carolina” utilizes the scenery around the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site to explore facets of life in the North Carolina mountains from c.1790 to c.1830. The exhibit opens Jan. 8 at the North Carolina State Capitol.

Football lovers across the country will soon be in hog heaven. The college football bowl season is here. There are 40 games this season, six of which have taken place already. Three North Carolina schools will play in coming days, and N.C. A&T State played Dec. 16, defeating Grambling State in the Celebration Bowl. If we count distant cousins in the ACC, 10 games of interest will be played up to and including Jan. 1.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which manages the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, requests the public’s help in locating a missing historical marker about B. Everett Jordan.

Explore the imagination behind the creation of riveting novels as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences — with WRAL-TV, Business North Carolina magazine and the North Carolina Humanities Council — present “Thrillers! An Evening with Authors John Grisham and John Hart.” This special event takes place at Meymandi Concert Hall Friday, February 23, 7:30 p.m., and will be moderated by D.G. Martin, host of UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Bookwatch.”

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources officially recognizes more North Carolina history with additions to the National Register of Historic Places. They include one boundary expansion, one additional documentation and seven individual properties across the state.

The North Carolina Arts Council has awarded $75,000 in grants to support four arts programs that will serve military personnel, veterans and their families in the state.

A North Carolina New Year’s tradition of family adventure, exercise and reconnection with nature continues in 2018 with First Day Hikes in North Carolina State Parks on Jan. 1.

The Governor’s Western Residence will be open to visitors for a holiday open house Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has approved a master plan for the mainland portion of Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County. Friends of Hammocks Beach and Bear Island (FHBI), N.C. African American Heritage Commission, conservation groups, Onslow county staff, local businesses, and neighborhood associations participated in developing the plan.

A Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Western Residence in Asheville, originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1-3 p.m., has been postponed due to inclement weather.