Special guests ranging from Earl Owensby, a Tar Heel film legend, to Tyrone Jefferson, who served several stints as music director for entertainer James Brown, will present August programs at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Owensby opened North Carolina’s first modern independent production studio in 1973. During an Aug. 7 program, he and Noel T. Manning, a professor at Gardner-Webb University, will highlight and show clips from Owensby’s movies, such as “Wolfman” and “Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll.”
On Aug. 15, Jefferson will give a master class and then perform with his band, A Sign of the Times. Catch the rhythmic eight-piece-ensemble funk performance, and see the small exhibit Hey America!: Eastern North Carolina and the Birth of Funk.
August will bring film screenings for “The Last of the Mohicans,” which was shot in North Carolina, and the documentary “The Last Barn Dance,” focusing on an Alamance County dairy farmer and his efforts to save a lifestyle.
There’s all this and more in August. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. Parking is free on weekends.
PROGRAMS
Time for Tots: Clay Creations
Tuesday, Aug. 4 or 11, 10-10:45 a.m.
People have made items out of clay for thousands of years. Find out about North Carolina’s pottery traditions, and make your own clay creation. Ages 3-5 (with adult). $3 plus tax per child; $1 plus tax for museum members. To register, visit NCMOH-programs.com. For information, call 919-807-7979.
History Corner: To Fly!
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 10-11 a.m.
Look — up in the air! Could you make a flying machine? Come and learn how the Wright brothers figured out how to fly. Ages 6-9 (with adult). $3 plus tax per child; $1 plus tax for museum members. To register, visit NCMOH-programs.com. For information, call 919-807-7979.
History Hunters: The Wright Stuff
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Ohio and North Carolina both claim the Wright brothers. Why? What did these first-in-flighters do in each state? Ages 10-13. $3 plus tax per child; $1 plus tax for museum members. To register, visit NCMOH-programs.com. For information, call 919-807-7979.
Storytime in the Gallery
Thursdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 10-10:30 a.m.<
Meet a staff member at the information desk and follow your guide to one of the museum galleries. There, you can look around and listen to a history-related story. Topics change every week! Ages 3 and up (with adult).
First Fridays at the Museum
Friday, Aug. 7, 5-9 p.m.
Visit The Story of North Carolina chronological history exhibition on the lobby level and the Starring North Carolina! film exhibit (last tickets sold at 8 p.m.) on the third floor. The N.C. Craft Brewers Guild will feature tastings of beer from Carolina Brewery of Chapel Hill during the evening. Before you leave, stop by the Museum Shop to look for a souvenir.
Earl Owensby: Tar Heel Film Legend
Friday, Aug. 7, 6-7:30 p.m.
Earl Owensby, film producer, radio host, filmmmaker and Noel T. Manning Professor at Gardner-Webb University, opened North Carolina’s first modern independent production studio in 1973 — then, the largest facility of its kind outside of Hollywood. In 1997 Manning documented Owensby’s creation of such movies as “Wolfman,” “Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll,” “Tales of the Third Dimension” and “Hyperspace.” Highlights of the evening will include clips from some of Owensby’s classic films.
Dirty History
Saturday, Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m. (drop-in program)
North Carolina has dirt in its past. Find out about and play in the amazing variety of soils in the state, and learn about the father of soil conservation, Hugh Hammond Bennett. Also, visit the Dig It! exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences, and make a “dirt dessert” to take home! The program is one of several in the History of the Harvest series, supported in part by Syngenta. For series information, go to ncmuseumofhistory.org.
History à la Carte: Through War, Peace, and William Peace: Archaeological Investigations of Fort Caswell
Wednesday, Aug. 12, noon-1 p.m.
Fort Caswell is a haunting reminder of the strategic importance of the Cape Fear River and the port of Wilmington. Constructed between 1826 and 1837, it was occupied during the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and both world wars. Thoms Beaman, Jr., associate professor of anthropology at Wake Technical Community College, will focus on recent archaeological attention towards the Civil War and World War I. Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Conservation Assistance Day
Friday, Aug. 14, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Make an appointment and bring up to three objects for assessment and advice on care from a museum conservator. This will be the last Conservation Assistance Day in Raleigh this year. Appointment required. Call Jan Sweatt at 919-807-7823.
Starring North Carolina!Film Series: “The Last of the Mohicans” <
Friday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m.<
This 1992 blockbuster was shot alongside Lake James near the Pisgah National Forest, in parts of DuPont State Recreational Forest, and around Hickory Nut Falls in Chimney Rock Park. Starring North Carolina! features costumes and an assortment of weapons — some used by star Daniel Day-Lewis, who spent a month in the North Carolina woods learning the skills of 18th-century American Indians. $5 plus tax per person; $4 plus tax for museum members. NOTE: MPAA rating: R-V; run time: 112 min.
Tyrone Jefferson and A Sign of the Times
Saturday, Aug. 15
Don’t come just for a rhythmic eight-piece-ensemble funk performance by Tyrone Jefferson and his band. Come early, bring your own instrument, and take part in a master class with Jefferson. Between 1979 and 2006, Jefferson served several stints as music director for entertainer James Brown. Master class from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and public performance from 6-7:30 p.m. $5 plus tax per person; $4 plus tax for museum members (includes either the performance or master class or both); free for high school and college students with ID. Register for the master class by e-mail to kate.betka@ncdcr.gov or by phone at 919-807-7984.
Saturdays in the Garden
Saturday, Aug. 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m.<
Join the museum’s garden staff for an informal tour of the History of the Harvest exhibit along Bicentennial Plaza. Tours begin at the information desk in the lobby.
Film Screening: “The Last Barn Dance”
Sunday, Aug. 30, 3-5 p.m.
Filmed over the course of three years, this 2014 documentary follows Alamance County dairy farmer Randy Lewis and his efforts to save a lifestyle, including a barn-dance tradition his family started. Lewis and filmmakers Ted Richardson and Jason Arthurs will participate in a Q&A session after the screening. Stick around to meet the filmmakers during a dessert reception featuring the music of David Kleiss and Shawn Chase of Acoustic Manner. The program is presented in collaboration with PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music. Not rated; run time: 32 min.
SUMMER CAMP OPENINGS AVAILABLE
Openings are available in two of the museum’s popular camps. Sign up today! $100 plus tax per camper per camp; $90 plus tax for museum members. Need-based scholarships are available. Lunchtime care (noon-1 p.m.) is available for $15 plus tax per week. Find more information or register online at NCMOH-programs.com, or call 919-807-7979.
Pirates, Ships and Lighthouses
August 17-21, 9 a.m.-noon
Set sail for adventure! Learn about fierce pirates like Blackbeard and Anne Bonney, build a lighthouse, wear pirate’s clothing, taste sea rations and listen to seafaring tales. For children who have completed grades K-2.
Moccasins to Rocket Ships
August 17-21, 1-4 p.m.<
Explore how transportation has changed in North Carolina over the years, from foot and animal to boat, train, and motorcar to spaceship! For children who have completed grades K-2.
For details about the N.C. Museum of History, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum, call 919-807-7900 or access www.ncmuseumofhistory.org or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ or YouTube.