It may not help the heat, but “cool” best describes July programs at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Talk about cool . . . . Kids can challenge a pirate re-enactor to a sword fight during the program Pirates Ahoy! on July 25. Another program will transport you to the coastal breezes of “Down East” North Carolina, when Lawrence S. Earley highlights the exhibit Workboats of Core Sound.
Check out this list of July offerings, and come chill out at the museum. All programs are free, except Pirates Ahoy! Weekend parking is free. The programs are presented as part of “Treasure N.C. Culture,” a 2009 yearlong celebration of the state’s culture, initiated by the Department of Cultural Resources.
PROGRAMS
*History Corner: Honest Abe
Thursday, July 2
10-11 a.m.
Ages 5-9 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.
Abraham Lincoln was one cool guy. Discover how a farm boy grew up to become president and lead the nation through its most difficult period. The program is presented with Cameron Village Regional Library.
*Time for Tots: Stars and Stripes
Tuesday, July 7 or July 14
10-10:45 a.m.
Ages 3-5 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.
Learn about the variety of flags flown throughout American history, then design your own flag to fly at home!
History à la Carte: Working the Water
Wednesday, July 8
12:10-1 p.m.
Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Lawrence Earley, Guest Curator, Workboats of Core Sound
In his illustrated lecture, Earley will discuss what makes the hand-built wooden fishing vessels of “Down East” North Carolina so special, particularly as commercial fishing ebbs along the coast. After the program, see the exhibit Workboats of Core Sound, featuring photographs by Earley.
*Make It, Take It: Mountain Fun
Saturday, July 11
1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Make a game to take home and look at photos of mountain life in the exhibit On Earth’s Furrowed Brow: The Appalachian Farm in Photographs. Tim Barnwell’s images provide a window into a world that is fast fading away — the world of rural farm families in western North Carolina. His photographs document traditional mountain life over a quarter century.
*A Closer Look: Museum Sleuths
Saturday, July 18
1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
What’s that? How does it work? Become a museum detective with the help of a docent and discover how unusual artifacts are identified. Then see Museum Sleuths: Whatchamacallits and Thingamajigs, an exhibit with uncommon items that will befuddle or bemuse you. Guaranteed.
*Pirates Ahoy!
Saturday, July 25
10-11:30 a.m.
Ages 5-8 with adult (limit 20)
$10 ($8 Museum Associates members)
To register, call 919-807-7992 by July 22.
Calling all buccaneers! Set sail for the museum to hear pirate tales, learn about Blackbeard and other notorious seafarers, make a seaworthy craft, and challenge a real pirate to a sword fight.
Yes, you can participate in a solo sword “fight” with pirate re-enactor Wes Caudill. In the duel, use a sword that you make from Funnoodles® (foam pool toys that resemble noodles). Caudill is a member of the Raleigh Fencing Club and the Ship’s Company, a group known for its dramatic presentations of pirate sword fighting.
For more information about July programs, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street.
* marks programs of interest to children or families
The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The department’s Web site is www.ncculture.com.