Press Releases

Six-time Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey Long says all roads lead to North Carolina. That will be the case on Wednesday, May 16 when Long visits Raleigh for a talk about his career and a preview of four costumes inspired by French paintings for a one-night-only event.   Presented by the North Carolina Arts Council and Museum of History, the evening kicks off at 7 p.m. with a talk with Long, who grew up in Seaboard, N.C., and Bobbi Owen, author of the recently published book, “The Designs of William Ivey Long.”  

To celebrate their newly renovated library space, the North Carolina Government & Heritage Library will host an open house Friday, June 1, 4 -7 p.m. on the first floor of the Archives and History/State Library Building, 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh.  Festivities will include noted historian David Cecelski speaking at 5 p.m., and a performance by the Oakwood Second Line Marching Band at 6 p.m. The North Carolina Museum of History will bring their pop-up museum, complete with Wheel of History and Guess the Artifact games. 

Ever heard of a closet tax? Were people really shorter way back when? It’s time to break down all those common myths and misconceptions about historic houses and life in the 19th century. After your May 19 interactive tour of the Duke house, you’ll be an expert on what’s not true!

Some North Carolina K-12 students who do not have home internet access will soon receive assistance through a $250,000, two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant was recently awarded to the State Library of North Carolina and the Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) of the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). 

Did you know the state tree is the pine? Or that the state sport is stock car racing? Come out to learn these facts and more -- meet your North Carolina state symbols at the symbol for our state, the N.C. State Capitol! Join the Capitol for a day of free family fun Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Gold mining at Reed Gold Mine was in its heyday in the 1850s. This was before the California gold rush, when gold mining in North Carolina was the place to be. In 1799, young Conrad Reed discovered a 17-pound gold nugget while fishing in Little Meadow Creek, giving rise to America’s first gold rush. Historic interpreters at Reed Gold Mine, Saturday, April 28, will recall that time.

The North Carolina Arts Council, The Arts Council of Wilson, and the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park will present a free concert, The Jazz Revival Project, Thursday, June 7 at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson. 

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi Hamilton announces the appointments of Tracey Burns as Assistant Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion and Michelle Lanier as Director of the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites and Properties. “I am truly delighted to have both of these women in executive level positions at the department,” said Secretary Hamilton. “They both bring a great deal of experience and energy to their roles, and I’m excited to be working with them.” 

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has reached an agreement with Anderson Real Estate #4, LLC and its affiliates to exchange parcels of land near William B. Umstead State Park’s Crabtree entrance in Raleigh. 

Master bluegrass musician, public radio program host and Appalachian music professor Wayne Erbsen will headline entertainment at Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center’s 34th Annual Pioneer Day Festival Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Old Fort.