Press Releases

Thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers battled back and forth across the woods and fields of the Willis Cole Plantation March 19, 1865, during the opening phases of the largest battle ever fought in North Carolina. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will open new trails through the area allowing visitors greater access to the site of this battle Tuesday, Aug. 1.

The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, a division of the North Carolina Arts Council, has received a $148,450 grant from the national Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for its project "Green Books’ Oasis Spaces: African American Travel in NC, 1936-1966.” 

Summer is a perfect time for wandering back roads and discovering new adventures. Whether your summer plans include a staycation or a vacation, we’ve got you covered with uniquely North Carolina events and attractions to visit in all 100 counties.

While there are many followers of Jack Sparrow and his ship Black Pearl, of Pirates of the Caribbean fame, history lovers can follow the evolution of the flesh and blood pirate Blackbeard, and his flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Many opportunities to experience art, history and nature await you on Veteran's Day from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Most state historic sites are closed, but all state parks are open.  Many DNCR venues are open, and offer free admission to all on Veteran's Day. To salute veterans and their families, we are offering free and discounted admissions to many venues to active military with ID.  Free or low-cost activities across the state include:

Learn more about North Carolina’s role in World War I and join in a salute to veterans at the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Western Office through the current “North Carolina and the Great War” exhibit that focuses on World War I through Nov. 18.

Due to an extremely high risk of wildfire, 14 state parks in western North Carolina have placed temporary bans on campfires, according to North Carolina State Parks. Restrictions on campfires and cooking fires could be expanded to other parks on short notice, depending on local conditions.

The fund has awarded grants that have impacted every county in the state. Two outstanding stream restoration projects involve the Ararat River in Surry County and Little Sugar Creek in Mecklenburg County. 

A new traveling exhibit about The First Gulf War: The War to Free Kuwait, opens Friday, Nov. 4, at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. The Government of the State of Kuwait funded the exhibit to honor the 75,000 men and women, and their units, stationed in North Carolina, who served and sacrificed to liberate Kuwait.

Enjoy an out-of-this-world experience that combines the music of Gustav Holst’s famous symphonic suite The Planets with stunning images from NASA missions sent to explore the planets of our solar system during a performance of the North Carolina Symphony in collaboration with imagery from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.