Topics Related to Special Tours

Visitors have another chance to visit behind the scenes spaces at the State Capitol Saturday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. On this special tour, guests will have access to the Capitol’s “secret spaces,” as well as behind the ropes access to most of the building!

First Lady Kristin Cooper will welcome visitors to the Governor’s Western Residence, 45 Patton Mountain Rd, Asheville, for an open house Sunday, July 1, from 2-4 p.m.
 
Reservations are not needed to attend the open house. Mrs. Cooper will greet guests inside the residence. For more information, please call (828) 225-0122.  
 

North Carolina’s Executive Mansion–the “people’s house”–will open its historic doors and beautiful gardens to the public for free tours this spring. School children, adults, civic groups and families are invited to experience the 127-year old mansion for guided tours conducted by volunteer docents.

The Executive Mansion boasts an outstanding collection of decorative arts while the beautiful grounds feature extensive flower and vegetable gardens and modern environmental practices.

In its heyday Somerset Place was a self-sustained plantation equal to many small towns. Home to hundreds of enslaved workers, efforts from across the community were required to ensure effective operations. To commemorate Women’s History Month, a special tour highlighting the roles of the women at Somerset will be offered March 6-10, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. The fee is $3.

The State Capitol in August will transport visitors to the tumultuous days of the early 20thcentury, before women were granted the right to vote.

Tryon Palace's monthly African American Heritage Tour will lead visitors on a walking tour to more than 20 historic locations around the heart of downtown New Bern. This month's tour begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 17.

Tryon Palace will offer behind-the-scenes tours at the costume shop and conservation lab Tuesdays throughout the month of July. All tours will begin at 2 p.m. at the Waystation, located on the corner of Pollock and George streets in downtown New Bern.

Tryon Palace will offer behind-the-scenes tours at the costume shop and conservation lab Tuesdays in June. All tours begin at 2 p.m. at the Waystation, located on the corner of Pollock and George streets in downtown New Bern.

National Train Day, an event held annually to celebrate the driving of the Golden Spike, completing the first United States transcontinental railroad, is being held at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer on May 14. The event allows train lovers of all ages to enjoy a full day dedicated to full-sized and model trains.  Passenger train and special caboose train rides, behind-the-scenes tours, programs focused on railroading, and children’s events make this an attractive and affordable day of family fun.

Stagville Plantation will celebrate the efforts of enslaved people to build some of the site's great structures May 14.