1). Joel Lane Museum House: The Joel Lane Museum House is proud to present a lecture by Warren Bingham on “George Washington’s 1791 Southern Tour” in the Visitors Center on February 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. Find out where George really slept. Mr. Bingham is a very engaging speaker who is very entertaining and informative. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Warren Bingham is a native of Mount Gilead, NC and now resides in Raleigh; he has lived his entire life in North Carolina and Virginia and is an enthusiastic student of American and Southern history, culture, architecture, and landscape.

2). High Point Museum presents “Blacksmithing Demonstration” in the Historical Park Saturday, February 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, February 15, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome.

3). Asheville Art Museum invites you to find out why George Masa has been called “the Ansel Adams of the Appalachian Mountains” when you visit “Mapping the Mountains: The Photographs of George Masa” opening February 6, 2009. An Opening Reception with Gallery Tours will be held Sunday, February 8, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

4). Reynolda House Museum of American Art presents “Brian Turner, Poet” on Monday, February 16, 7 p.m. Brian Turner is a soldier-poet whose debut book of poems, “Here, Bullet,” is a harrowing, beautiful, first-person account of the Iraq war. Winner of multiple literary awards, Turner served seven years in the US Army. The reading is part of Wake Forest University’s Dillon Johnston Writers Reading Series.

5). Cape Fear Museum presents Learning Center: “The Five Senses” on Saturday, February 7. Learning smells great! Make sense of the Museum as you see, smell, hear, touch and even taste this fun science. Experiment with a model eardrum. Discover how we see. Use your sense of touch to explore mystery boxes. Find out how smell and taste work together to help you learn about the world around you.

6). Museum of the Albemarle: The Museum of the Albemarle announced the Civil War Living History Day, February 7, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

7). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher presents “Aquarist Apprentice” on Saturdays, February 7, 21, 28, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Find out what it is like to be responsible for the aquarium critters. Join staff on a behind-the-scenes tour, learn about our animals and their diets, and assist our staff in the preparation of food and feeding of some of our animals. Participants will also observe our Aquarists accomplish some of their daily care and maintenance tasks. Pre-registration required!

8). Hope Plantation presents Historic Hope Foundation’s Annual Celebration of African American History and Heritage on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. Celebrating African American Political and Community Leaders in Bertie County and featuring Alice Eley Jones sharing her research and leading a discussion on “African American Legislators in North Carolina 1868-1901.”

9). Bellamy Mansion presents “African-American History Days” on Saturday, February 7, 2009, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come and experience the Bellamy Mansion with a focus on 19th century African-American History of the area. The Bellamy household included not only the eleven Bellamy family members, but also nine enslaved African- Americans who lived on the site and worked throughout the house. Learn about their lives as well as those of the free blacks and hired-out slave artisans who built this grand house, the carriage house, and slave quarters.

10). N.C. State Capitol: In conjunction with Black History Month, the State Capitol and Raleigh’s Richard B. Harrison Public Library will host the 2009 National African American Read-In, Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1-5 p.m. Capitol staff, students and community leaders will read from selected works by various African American authors. During the Read-In, families or groups are encouraged to bring a book or books to the Capitol and take turns reading to one another. The event will be held in the Old Senate Chamber. It is free and open to the public.