Press Releases

Come play in a medium that's as old as dirt during "Play in the Clay Fun Day" Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See how the Pee Dee Culture utilized the clay around them, try your hand at making a small piece of pottery, and help us daub the East Lodge walls."What a fun excuse to get your hands a little dirty," says Site Manager Rich Thompson, "while learning about a native culture."

Tomahawk throwing, cannon firing and militia camps are part of the excitement at the 234th annual re-enactment of the Battle at the House in the Horseshoe Aug. 1-2. The House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site will offer other Revolutionary War-era activities including re-enactment of the fight between Philip Alston and David Fanning. The Saturday event will be 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., the Sunday program will be 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking.

The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) is pleased to announce support to 11 historic preservation projects in nine counties around the state with awards of $95,050 in federal grants for 2015.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum plans to celebrate the anniversary of the United States Coast Guard with a number of events planned for July 31 and August 1.  Visitors will be able to see a fully restored Monomoy surfboat, view an extensive collection of Coast Guard model boats, and tour a modern day 47-foot Motor Lifeboat used by the United States Coast Guard today.

In the 1970s, when most movies were made in Hollywood, Earl Owensby decided to build a studio — and create his own independent movies — in North Carolina. Earl Owensby Studios, in Shelby, opened in 1973 and proved that feature films could be produced east of California. In addition to directing and producing, Owensby played leading roles in several of his movies, such as “Death Driver” and “Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll.”

Bright Star Touring Theatre brings this endearing story of the ugliest duckling in the nest to Roanoke Island Festival Park July 29, 30 and 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the Indoor Theatre at Roanoke Island Festival Park.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) announces that Marjorie Hodges has joined the Museum as director of external relations and special projects. Hodges will support the Museum with fund-raising, marketing, audience development, and program development.

The N.C. Transportation Museum is proud to announce plans to bring the Lincoln Funeral Train and the Leviathan locomotive to Spencer, N.C. for a full weekend of Civil War-era recreations, music, living history, tours, sutlers, and more, Aug. 28-30.

“The Tuscarora World and New Bern in Maps: 1590-1800,” a new free exhibit of approximately 15 rare maps, will open at the North Carolina History Center in downtown New Bern Friday, July 24, through Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) presents three free exhibitions opening in September 2015: Chisel and Forge: Works by Peter Oakley and Elizabeth Brim, featuring playful sculptures by two contemporary North Carolina artists; The Energy of Youth: Depicting Childhood in the NCMA’s Photography Collection, highlighting photographs of children from the NCMA’s permanent collection; and a series of gravity-defying video installations by South African artist Robin Rhode.