Press Releases

The State Archives of North Carolina will host a virtual roundtable, “Preservation Pointers for the Public,” Wed., May 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Enhance your own family archive with tips from the pros!  May is Preservation Month and State Archives staff want to help you preserve family memorabilia. Staff with expertise in documents, photographs, audio-visual recordings, and electronic records (including social media) will present brief overviews of how to keep those types of materials safe for years to come. They will also address your preservation questions.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites have some great events planned throughout April.  Earth Day is meant to increase awareness of the planet we live on, and encourage people to learn more about pollution, climate change, endangered species, and other environmental issues. This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.”

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson today announced three appointments to key roles in department leadership. Staci Meyer will serve as Chief Deputy Secretary for the department. Meyer has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Arts, Libraries and Administration since 2017, and will continue to oversee those divisions. She previously served the department as Chief Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary during the Easley administration.

A new opportunity to support the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program will help repair or replace damaged historical highway markers. The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program has partnered with the non-profit North Carolina Literary and Historical Association to establish a historical marker maintenance endowment fund.

When young Conrad Reed discovered a rock that was really a 17-pound gold nugget in 1799, he had no idea that the Carolina Gold Rush would soon start. Reed Gold Mine invites you to join the gold panning action during the 2021 gold panning season April 1-Oct. 31. Individuals aged eight years and older can participate for a $3 fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only, weather permitting.

Throughout history, struggles with disease, social and geographic distance, and loss often led to revolutions in medicine, politics, and economics and to the mistreatment of racial and ethnic minorities. These struggles and triumphs have various lessons to teach contemporary audiences navigating the current pandemic and life after COVID-19.   

During the early 1800s, North Carolina was considered a sleepy, backward state with a sluggish economy and little interest in change. It became known as the “Rip Van Winkle State.” Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) will open a new exhibit Saturday, March 27 about the state’s transformation and the culture of mining in western North Carolina.

Songbirds and sunshine return as spring is here! It’s time to get outside and take part in Parks and Trails for Health (PATH), an online program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to encourage activity in parks, trails, greenways, and other outdoor spaces. As you plan spring break and Easter outings, add some history and culture and make a visit to a site historic site that also has a trail. Trails range from a quarter-mile to eight miles. Most sites are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and are free.

The North Carolina Arts Council’s 2021-22 grant guidelines for organizations are now available. Find descriptions of current grant opportunities as well as eligibility criteria and instructions for applying.

The North Carolina Civil Rights Trail is proud to announce that three historical markers will be added to the trail system following the first round of applications. Applications for the second round are now open. The trail will physically mark sites across the state that are critical to the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina.