From the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains, from coastal sand dunes to icy mountain streams, North Carolina thrills the imagination of visitors and residents alike.
Equally as captivating as its natural beauty is the history of its people. Indians hunting in unspoiled forests, colonists trading tar and pitch, soldiers and sailors fighting for independence and freedom, and farmers toiling to make a living off the land all represent stories as powerful as the rushing waters of the Nantahala River and the Atlantic Ocean.
If you haven’t heard our tales of Indian cultures and 19th-century plantation life or know about the accomplishments and vivid personalities of our famous writers and educators, then you really can’t know North Carolina, even if you’ve lived here all your life. Today you can still feel the cool dampness underground in an early gold mine, marvel at early 20th-century steam locomotives, and relive a colonial or Civil War battle.
North Carolina Historic Sites, a program of 27 state historic sites, invites you to see our state as it was, to open doors to the past. Visitor centers with exhibits filled with artifacts and multimedia presentations can be found most sites, as are picnic facilities. Most tours and many special programs are free.
So when you’re planning your next trip, don’t just think of tomorrow — think of yesterday.
PRESERVE
Among North Carolina Historic Sites’ goals is to preserve places and properties that played a key role in making North Carolina what it is today. Our 27 sites showcase buildings and grounds for today’s visitors and future generations. Artifacts unique to each site are also preserved so we can better understand how our forebearers lived.
INTERPRET
Our historic sites are an invaluable way to learn about the past. Special programs, activities, and demonstrations such as panning for gold, riding behind a steam locomotive, listening to “boarders” at a famous early 20th-century boarding house tell what it was like to live there, and churning butter or shucking corn breathe life into bygone eras.
OPERATE
Most properties operated by North Carolina Historic Sites have visitor centers with interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, and picnic facilities. Trained staff are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and responsive. You will enjoy a unique experience with personal attention and informative tours. The sites are open year round except on major holidays.
MAINTAIN
North Carolina Historic Sites maintains all types of properties of statewide historical value including houses, farm and industrial buildings, forts, schools, churches, battlefields, and even a gold mine. Professional staff is available to answer questions and make visitors feel at home. Special group programs are available at many sites.
DEVELOP
We continue to develop our sites with new programs, exhibits, and visitor centers. Structures at the sites are restored and upgraded to provide visitors with fresh learning experiences. Historical research and archaeology reveal added information about our sites, information that makes each trip a new adventure.