NC Cultural Resources Newsroom

The following selected events are part of “Telling Our Stories,” the Department of Cultural Resources theme for 2008.

January 9 – Kick-off at Cameron Village Regional Library.  Lisbeth Evans, Secretary, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. Mary Boone, State Librarian of N.C. 11 a.m.

January – “Family Connections.” Themed tours of Iredell House and Cupola House.  Interpreters explain family connections.  Fee.  Historic Edenton. Many of the 27 state historic sites offer interpreter-led walking tours with details of the site’s history throughout the year; most are free.

February – Minnie Evans Exhibit.  Visionary artist Minnie Evans vivid illustrations of images inspired by Airlie Gardens in Wilmington exhibited in celebration of Black History Month.

Feb. 6 – “History Corner:  History Detectives.”  The History Corner series is presented monthly in partnership with Cameron Village Regional Library for ages 5-adult.  Use clues from the museum attic to learn about the past.     N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh.  Registration required. 10 a.m.

Feb. 9 – “This Side of the River.”  Documentary/Symposium about Princeville. Filmmakers Ryan Rowe and Drew Grimes, archivist Earl Ijames and a Princeville spokesman. N.C. Museum of History, Sponsored by State Capitol and N.C. Historic Sites 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Feb. 9 - June 1 – “With All Our Rights:  North Carolina’s First African-American Legislators.”  Exhibit explores the political climate at the State Capitol at the end of Reconstruction and introduces the first African-American legislators.  State Capitol, Raleigh.

Feb. 16 – “History Stories for Children.” Award winning children’s book authors Eleanora Tate and Carole Boston Weatherford will discuss how African-American history, such as the Greensboro sit-ins, inspires their stories. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh.  2:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 - July 13  – “Far From Home.”  Free exhibition featuring photography, paintings, and sculpture with the theme of relocation and its impact. N.C. Museum of Art, Raleigh.

Feb. 29 - Dec. 31 – “The Outer Banks Now and Then:  Where We Are, Where We’ve Been.”  Exhibit offers a sampling of boatbuilding, fiahing, midwifery and other subjects that might be presented at the Outer Banks History Center at Roanoke Island.

March 1 – “ArtDuckO:  Waterfowl Culture in North Carolina.”  Exhibition showcasing vintage decoys, Audobon prints, artifacts, and images demonstrating how waterfowl have affected the state’s history and culture. Through August 24. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh.

March 13 – “The Battle of New Bern.”  Speaker Paul Switzer, character interpreter, explores the challenges and opportunities faced by town residents under Union Army occupation during the Civil War. Tryon Palace, New Bern.  7 p.m.

March 15-16 – Bentonville Battlefield. Four Oaks. 142nd Anniversary Program: “War So Terrible” On Saturday and Sunday, costumed living historians will evoke the lives of the average North Carolina Civil War soldier through infantry and artillery demonstrations. Additionally, Saturday evening the Harper House will be lit by lanterns and open for tours. Reenactors will portray both surgeons and wounded soldiers in the home. All events and demonstrations are subject to change. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 6:30-9 pm; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

March 28-30 – Thomas Savage, director of museum affairs for Winterthur Museum and Country Estate will deliver the opening lecture, “Y’all Are Not From Around Here, Are you? Expatriate Charleston Objects,” at Tryon Palace’s 40th annual decorative arts symposium, which will be held on March 28-30 in New Bern. For registration information, go to www.tryonpalace.org or call (252) 514-4900 or (800) 767-1560.

April 7-10 – Sixth Annual Spring Literary Festival at Western Carolina University.

April 11-12 – Public Art 360 Symposium, Chapel Hill. National speakers and panels that address public art from multiple perspectives such as architecture, landscape architecture, community planning, private development, and government.  The N.C. Arts Council is offering ten scholarships of up to $500 to enable teams of three people from NC communities to attend. Call (919) 807-6509 for more information.

April 12 – “Halifax Day Celebration.”  Program on the Halifax Resolves of 1776 recommending independence from England; tours also. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 26 – “History Day.”  Students from across North Carolina will present papers, exhibits, performances, web sites, and documentaries on the topic “Conflict and Compromise in History.”  Winners will advance to the June national competition at the University of Maryland in College Park.

April 26 – “Raleigh Occupied.”  Character interpretations of life in Raleigh under Union Army occupation during the Civil War.  Reservations recommended.  State Capitol, Raleigh.  10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

April 26-27 – “Anniversary Surrender Commemoration.”  Meet re-enactors of generals who participated in the largest surrender of the Civil War, and attend a memorial ceremony. Bennett Place Historic Site, Durham.  10 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 26-27 – Storytelling Festival of North Carolina.  Features tours and family tales from the John Blue House, along with four nationally renowned storytellers and regional storytellers.  Laurinburg.

June 5, 7, 12 – “Shepard of the Ocean.”  Whimsical comedy about Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I, which takes place moments before his execution.  Repeats Aug. 7, 14, 21. Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo.  General admission.  3 p.m.

June-August – “Summer Reading.”  Public libraries across the state will observe the theme “Catch the Reading Bug,” and will engage storytellers, dramatists, craftspeople, and others for summer activities for elementary, middle and high school students.  Program and dates vary.

June 6-8 – Ninth Annual OcraFolk Music and Storytelling Festival.  Two days of North Carolina music and tales.  Ocracoke.

Late Summer – Photo Exhibit of North Carolina Photographers.  Traveling exhibit in conjunction with Our State magazine.

Sept. 8 – Bookmarks/Winston-Salem Festival of Books.

Sept. 12-13 – Carolina Mountains Literary Festival.  Burnsville.

Late September – Eastern North Carolina Literary Homecoming.  Greenville.

Oct. 25 – “The Art of Reading Tombstones.”  Explore the language of tombstones during the Halloween season, and how symbol and word use relate to different periods and beliefs. Historic Bath. 7 p.m.

Early November – Crystal Coast Book Festival.  Morehead City.

Early November – Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair.  Sylva.

Nov. 22 – “American Indian Heritage Celebration.”  Storytellers and cultural activities in observance of American Indian Heritage Month.  N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh.

December – Holiday Observations at Historic Sites