Press Releases

The Museum of the Albemarle will host History for Lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium. David Moore, Ph.D., executive archaeologist of Exploring Joara Foundation, Inc., and a professor at Warren Wilson College, will discuss the work and history of the Berry site that he has led for 25 years and where he currently directs a summer field school. The Berry Site is an active archaeological site of a Native American town and a Spanish fort dating back to the 16th century.

Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host its third annual Mountain Monarch Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s visitor center. The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and bring attention to the species’ declining numbers.The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in late September each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

Making waves that have a ripple effect is at the heart of a new initiative to make the North Carolina Ferry System more sustainable, beginning with the Southport and Fort Fisher visitor centers. Riders will find only aluminum cans for water, soda and other drinks in the vending machines. Last year, the ferry system also added water refill stations—another measure to reduce single-use plastic.

The Museum of the Albemarle will host History for Lunch on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium. Chris Meekins, born and raised in Elizabeth City, has been a public historian in the state of N.C. for over 30 years. For most of his career, Chris was an archivist, but in March 2020, he switched hats to become an editor for the Civil War Roster project. Tasked with packing up the old Roster office, Chris also decided to track the project's history. Since the Civil War, there have been several attempts to document the service of N.C. men in the war.

The North Carolina Arts Council announced today $11.5 million in grant awards for Fiscal Year 2024–25. Three hundred sixty-six grant awards will support nonprofit arts organizations, schools, after-school programs, municipalities, and artists in all 100 counties this year. The grants range from $5,000 to $338,000.“The arts benefit North Carolinians of all ages,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These grants will enrich our communities as well as grow their economies throughout all one hundred counties.”Funding priorities this year include organizations and projects that:

In an attempt designed to protect wildlife, 200 new exterior light fixtures, bollards and lampposts have been installed at Jennette’s Pier this summer. The wildlife friendly lighting emits shielded, amber light.All along North Carolina’s coast, beach towns, parks and residential areas are also taking measures to reduce artificial lighting that negatively impacts wildlife.The North Carolina Aquariums are proud to be joining an ever-growing movement of migration to Wildlife Friendly Lighting, Jennette’s Pier Director Mike Remige said.

Calling all educators, you’re invited to visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Thursday, Sept. 26, 6–8:30 p.m., for the SciREN Triangle Networking Event and Museum Open House. This special night offers an after-hours opportunity to learn more about Museum educational programs and opportunities, as well as access to free lesson plans from local scientists. 

WHAT: Winston-Salem Community GatheringWHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 27, 6–7:30 p.m.WHERE: Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center Branch Library, 1110 East Seventh St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101WHAT: Raleigh Community GatheringWHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6–7:30 p.m.WHERE: Chavis Community Center | Multipurpose Room 205, 505 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27601

The North Carolina Museum of History is excited to announce a calendar full of events as the long summer days fade into the cozy glow of autumn!Come and celebrate the last few weeks of the museum building being open with live music performances like no other! Our fall schedule includes three more Tar Heel Troubadours concerts, a celebration of Americana, roots, bluegrass, and traditional music performed by artists from North Carolina or currently living and working in the state.Read on for all our fall events. Programs are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Guests at the North Carolina Zoo may have noticed a new addition to the Zoo’s band (or group) of Hamadryas baboons. A young female (“Winnie”), delivered naturally on June 16, is one of more than a dozen animals born during the Zoo’s 50th Anniversary year, including critically endangered red wolf pups, six Van der Decken’s hornbill chicks, and a bongo.