ncmuseums

An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

NCMC Events From Around the State… April 30, 2012


1). Haywood Arts Council/Waynesville  presents "Through the Lens" an exhibition of work by four western North Carolina photographers at various stages of their careers. Organized by Anna Fariello, her work combines her career as a curator and photographer in her approach to documenting objects and human-made environments. In turning her camera lens to various "cultural crossroads," Fariello focuses on the cultural landscape, shooting in rural, Native American, and Latin American communities to capture the ironies between traditional lifestyles and contemporary life. Exhibit open during the month of May with a meet-the-artists reception on Friday, May 4th from 6 to 9 pm.

2). HandsOn!  Hands On!-A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, is excited to announce the popular “Let’s Get Moving!” program on Wednesday, May 2nd at 11 am. Please join guest instructor, Kaye Brownlee from the Henderson County Department of Public Health. Kaye has an engaging program to help little ones learn the importance of exercise and movement. Cost to attend is included in $5 admission and is free for museum members. Limited spaces so please call to sign-up.

3). Historic Oak View County Park  presents “Antique Automobile Show” on May 5, 2012; 10am-4pm. Relive automobile history at the Antique Auto Show. The Triangle Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America will also be assembling their 1917 Take Apart Model T at 11:30am and 2:30pm!

4). Hunter Library Western Carolina University  is releasing “Stories of Mountain Folk”, a new digital collection. “Stories of Mountain Folk” is an all-sound oral history collection produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, a western North Carolina not-for-profit. The archived files were created from a series of radio interviews that aired weekly on a local radio station. Over 150 half-hour radio programs capture “local memory” detailing traditions, events, and life stories of mountain people. A wide range of interviewees include down-home gardeners, herbalists, and farmers, as well as musicians, artists, local writers, and more. The collection can be accessed from: www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/StoriesofMountainFolk/.

5). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort  “Maritime Folklore”, Were mermaids really manatees mistaken by dehydrated and malnourished sailors? Were sea monsters really whales and squids? Learn more about the stories that have been passed down throughout time from one sailor to another and how they have grown over the years into legends. Join Museum Educator Christine Brin for this free lecture. Wednesday, May 9 at noon.

6). Museum of the Albemarle  The Museum of the Albemarle is requesting to borrow artifacts and images in relation to early northeastern North Carolina sports. Did you or a family member play for the Ahoskie War Hawks, the Chowan Bees, the Edenton Colonials, the Coastal Plain Baseball League or even the St. Louis Cardinals? Did you play football or basketball for a professional team or in high schools such as Hobbsville Consolidated School, Poplar Branch High School, and Windsor High School? The borrowed artifacts will be a part of the Sports and Leisure section of the Museum’s main gallery entitled “Our Story.”

7). Somerset Place State Historic Site will host a lecture, "Surgery and Medicine during the American Civil War," on Saturday, May 5, at 11 a.m., at the Vernon James Conference Center near Plymouth, N.C. Disease reportedly caused more death than combat during the war, and presenter Dr. Yusuf Saleeby will speak on injuries and diseases, and also exhibit his collection Civil War medical instruments in a free program. Prior to the Civil War, Somerset Place was one of the Upper South's largest plantations. Over the life of the plantation it was home to more than 800 enslaved, 50 white and two free black employees.

8). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences  Imagine spending more than 200 days traveling at 17,500 miles per hour, 250 miles above the Earth. Better yet, meet a man who did it. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh welcomes NASA Astronaut and North Carolina native William McArthur Jr. on Tuesday, May 1 at 7pm to discuss his time in space. Main auditorium. Free. Beginning at 6pm, visitors can also enjoy snacks and beverages, a poster session, and a free NASA exhibit on the second floor.

9). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA  Cary Children’s Concert Choir and Cary Youth Chorale of Cary, North Carolina, will perform on the Fantail of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA at noon on May 5, 2012. These musicians ranging in grade levels 3-9 will sing a variety of patriotic pieces that emphasize conflict, resolution, hope, peace and unity, including choral pieces memorializing World War II and 9/11. The feature is a medley of all the anthems of the branches of the armed services. This engaging 30 minute performance will begin at Noon and is included with general paid admission to the Ship.

10). N.C. Department of Cultural Resources  North Carolina native son Thelonious Monk was known as the ultimate hipster and a virtuoso musician. His third copyrighted composition, "Round Midnight" is the most recorded jazz standard of all time. Along with Dizzy Gillepsie, he is credited with being an architect of the bebop jazz style. To recognize Monk's singular achievements in the world of jazz, a N.C. Highway Historical Marker will be dedicated to him on Friday, May 4, at 5 p.m., in Rocky Mount at U.S. 64 East and North Washington Streets.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

NCMC Events From Around the State… April 23, 2012


1). N.C. Museum of History Pulitzer Prize-winning author James M. McPherson is coming to Raleigh in April to present a lecture at the N.C. Museum of History. Widely known as a pre-eminent Civil War scholar, he will present When Will This Cruel War Be Over? on Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m. Sign up early to reserve a seat in Daniels Auditorium. To register and reserve a ticket, call 919-807-7992. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org or in the Museum Shop. Tickets cost $5 per person (free for Museum of History Associates members). The program is part of the museum’s Civil War Sesquicentennial lecture series.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present The Essential Idea: Robert Motherwell’s Graphic Works from March 31 – August 26, 2012. This exhibition highlights the groundbreaking work of master printmaker and Abstract Expressionist Robert Motherwell. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum will host a reception and guest lecture by esteemed Motherwell scholar Mary Ann Caws on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

3). Tryon Palace Tryon Palace is pleased to announce that the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival will present Springtime Masterpieces featuring pieces for String Sextet by Elgar, Schoenberg and Brahms, on Saturday, April 28, in Cullman Performance Hall at the North Carolina History Center, 529 S. Front Street in New Bern. Performance time is 8 pm. Doors and seating begin at 7 pm. A special reception will follow the performance for audience members and performers to meet.

4). Bennett Place State Historic Site  presents the 147th Anniversary of the Surrender & 50th Anniversary of Bennett Place State Historic Site on April 28-29, 2012. This program will include living history interpreters and a recreation of the meeting between Generals Johnston and Sherman at the site of the largest surrender of Confederate forces in the Civil War. In addition, historians and authors will give presentations on the war in the site’s visitor center. The program will also highlight the 50th anniversary of the founding of Bennett Place State Historic Site.

5). Port Discover Port Discover and the Museum of the Albemarle presents To Soar and To Serve: Aviation in the Albemarle on Saturday April 28 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. at the Museum of the Albemarle. The daylong celebration spotlights the history and science of the region’s rich aviation history, with a special focus on the United States Coast Guard. The event is part of the 2012 North Carolina Science Festival.

6). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is hosting a public opening for two new spring shows April 27. These two outstanding exhibitions are: paperless and Light and Space: The Sculpture of Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová. The opening, beginning at 7 p.m., will feature music by D.J. Marley and light refreshments. The event is free and open to the public. SECCA will be closed Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27 to prepare for the opening until doors open at 7 p.m., April 27.

7). Greensboro Children’s Museum The Greensboro Children’s Museum is thrilled to announce that its newest exhibit, Larger-Than-Life will open to the public on Friday, April 27th. The grand opening ribbon cutting is scheduled for 6pm. The “Larger-Than-Life” exhibit was developed through a collaboration with UNCG’s Interior Architecture department. Graduate and undergraduate students have worked to design and build the new permanent exhibit, which playfully redefines the prototypical “park” as an interactive landscape for imagination- from a bug’s perspective!

8). SciWorks  presents Science Festival on Saturday, April 28th, 10-5. We will wrap up the NC Science Festival with an amped-up version of everything we do! Join us for live animal programs, tree ID hikes, hands-on chemistry demonstrations, and other science shows. Learn to read the stars and make a star guide. Appropriate for all ages. Special guest Phillip Harrison and students from Atkins High School will be on hand to demonstrate metallurgy and describe their build-an-airplane project!

9). Cameron Art Museum  presents Julie VonDerVellen exhibit in the Hughes Wing, on view April 28 – August 19, 2012. This exhibition represents the first museum exhibition featuring work by this emerging artist, Julie VonDerVellen, a recent MFA graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. A close inspection of these seemingly pedestrian garments of everyday wear reveal highly crafted, intricate constructions made entirely of handmade paper derived from recycled cotton clothing.

10). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum  Hurricane Irene may have forced the Flags Over Hatteras Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration to be cancelled, but the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has rescheduled the events for April 26 – 29. Leading experts on the Civil War and its impact on the United States and the world will to take part in symposiums and lectures as part of the “Flags Over Hatteras” Conference. In addition to the conference, the Museum will offer free activities for the public; including living history demonstrations.

11). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort Beaufort’s Dolphins, Getting to Know Them; Join Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster for a closer look at the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the waters of Beaufort. Keith and local volunteers participate with other scientists along the east coast in a long-term study of these fascinating mammals. Learn about their research and conservation efforts, and hear some actual recordings of Beaufort’s dolphins. Wednesday, April 25 at noon, Free.

12). President James K. Polk State Historic Site  Exhibit Opening: The President James K. Polk State Historic site opened a new exhibit on April 14th entitled, Political Conventions. This temporary exhibit will educate the public about the history of political conventions in the United States and the role that these meeting play in American politics. The exhibit will run from April, 2012 to November 9, 2012. Artifacts include political memorabilia tracing back to the 1844 election of President James K. Polk. This exhibit will coincide with Democratic National Convention being held in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 3-7, 2012.

Monday, April 16, 2012

NCMC Events From Around the State… April 16, 2012

1). SECCA presents Artist’s Talk @ SECCA: Natasha Bowdoin – paperless on Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m. FREE. SECCA presents an artist talk by Natasha Bowdoin, who has been commissioned to create a new large-scale work for the upcoming exhibition “paperless”, opening to the public on Friday, April 27. With meticulous technique and literary inspiration, Bowdoin creates a fluid visual experience using interwoven layers of text and ribbons of cut paper. Drawing from enigmatic writers of the past and her own writings, Bowdoin creates lyrical installations that weave imagery and the spoken word into one – leaving it to the viewer to decipher what is text and what is image. During her talk, Bowdoin will discuss the motivation and process used in her work.

2). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Nature never sleeps, so the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will open its new wing, the Nature Research Center (NRC), with a 24-hour grand opening beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 20. This celebration is expected to attract 50,000 visitors and capture global imagination, national recognition and local attention, while maintaining a commitment to environmental sustainability. Education will play a starring role in all activities – from global town halls in the SECU Daily Planet on diverse topics such as health, sustainability and forestry – to programming about leading edge research before visitors enter.

3). Greensboro Historical Museum On Wednesday April 4 First Lady Dolley Madison’s red velvet gown left the Greensboro Historical Museum for Washington D.C. Housed in a custom case designed to protect the rare gown, it will be included in the exhibition 1812: A Nation Emerges at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery from June 15, 2012 – January 27, 2013. Dolley Payne Todd Madison, born in Guilford County on May 20, 1768, will be featured in two sections of the exhibition: The Republican Court, which will share her significant role in creating Washington’s first “society” and as an advisor to her husband, President James Madison, Burning of Washington and the Defense of Baltimore, which will share Dolley’s dramatic story as the British invaded the nation’s capital.

4). Preservation Society of Chapel Hill Explore a part of the Franklin-Rosemary National Historic District as guides from the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill lead tours from the Horace Williams House to Hillsborough Street and back again, while youth actors from Act One, Act Now, under the direction of Cyndy Blackburn, bring the beautiful homes to life as they portray colorful characters from Chapel Hill’s past. Call the Preservation Society today for your tickets! April 22, 1 pm – 4 pm.

5). Bellamy Mansion On the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day, the Bellamy Mansion plans to join with others around the globe for a call for a sustainable future. Local children and adults will enjoy a variety of special events designed to improve familiarity with ecology and environmentally-friendly practices that can be carried over into everyday living. On Sunday afternoon, April 22, from 1 to 4 PM, visitors can take a mini-conservation tour, which includes a series of stations around the site to collect fun-filled information on conservation measures. At each stop, visitors will be challenged to think of specific conservation steps they too can take to make a difference.

6). N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort Not too long ago New Bern, NC was home for one of the nation’s premier boat manufactures, Barbour Boats. Unfortunately, the shop has both closed and been demolished, but not before museum staff was able to document and record the story of this amazing place. Join maritime historian Paul Fontenoy for a behind the scenes tour of Barbour Boats. Wednesday, April 18 at 12 Noon, Free.

7). HandsOn! Hands On!-A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to come join the Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 21st from 12 noon – 5 pm at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Hands On! will lead the children’s activities and there will also be live music, vendors and yummy food. The Hendersonville Community Co-op sponsors the grocery store exhibit at Hands On! and co-sponsors the “Who Grows Your Food?” exhibit with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

8). Weatherspoon Art Museum presents WAM Community Day: Art & Reading Rock! on Saturday, Apr 21, 2012, 1-4pm. The Weatherspoon Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro presents a very special afternoon celebrating comics, art, and literacy with our Spring Community Day. Join us and guest artist Chris Schweizer, author of “The Crogan Adventures,” a series of adventure-based graphic novels. Besides being a successful author, Schweizer teaches comics and animation at SCAD-Atlanta. At 2:30 and again at 3:15 enjoy live music by Big, Bang, Boom!, Greensboro’s hottest band for its youngest hipsters (and their parents).

9). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Join Professor Steve Emslie at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Science Café for a discussion about penguins in Antarctica and impacts of climate change. Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion begins between 6:30 and 7 p.m. followed by a Q&A at Surf House Café, 250 Racine Dr. Suite 1, Wilmington. Emslie, a professor and ornithologist in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, conducts research on penguins in Antarctica and the sub Antarctic. For the past 20 years Emslie has focused on the ecology of penguins including historic trends in population movements and dietary shifts.

10). N.C. Science Festival The Festival, April 13-29, 2012, is a two-week, statewide series of programs that showcase science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), highlights the educational, cultural and financial impact of the STEM disciplines on North Carolina. It includes hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other events, and engages a wide range of audiences while inspiring the next generation. It serves as a vehicle for encouraging students to pursue STEM careers and for businesses to invest in North Carolina. Find one of more than 500 events near you by visiting our website. The Festival is proudly produced by UNC-Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.

Monday, April 09, 2012

NCMC Events From Around the State… April 9, 2012

1). Port Discover The favorite science hobby of beachcombing is the subject of the April 14 Second Saturday Science at Port Discover. Terri Kirby Hathaway, Marine Education Specialist with NC Sea Grant, visits Port Discover to teach kids all about beachcombing during “Beach in a Shoebox.” The program begins at 11:00 am. Kids will get to take home their own beachcombing booty!

2). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum What happened to the lush forests of Hatteras Island? As part of the North Carolina Science Festival, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum offers a free program on how the island’s ecology has changed, on Friday, April 13, at 11 a.m. The Museum will be participating in the N.C. Science Festival to show the link between history and science.

3). Waterworks Visual Arts Center Celebrating Rowan County’s Young Artists at Waterworks Visual Arts Center. Now in its 29th year, this rotating exhibition features the artwork of nearly 800 students representing Salisbury-Rowan County’s public, independent, and home schooled students. These exhibitions celebrate both the outstanding efforts of the art specialists who teach the creative process and the extraordinary talents of our county’s youth. Middle school exhibition is on view through April 19. High school exhibition is April 21 – May 12. Spring exhibition “Multiplicity” is also on view through May 12.

4). HandsOn! is excited to host musical visitor, Tania Battista, of the YouTheatre Program of the Flat Rock Playhouse. She will sing at Hands On! Friday, April 13th at 11:00a.m. Cost to attend is included in $5 admission and is free for museum members. Tania’s songs are great for any age and will be fun and interactive. Later that afternoon, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm, Hands On! is hosting a special spring break class – The Royal Tea Party! All young prince & princesses are invited to make their own crown and learn tea party manners that they will use at the Royal Tea Party. This class is for ages 3-6 years (must be potty trained; younger with accompanied adult).

5). Tryon Palace presents Behind the Scenes of the Tryon Palace Gardens on Wednesday, April 18 from 2 pm - 3 pm. Tour begins at the Way Station on corner of George & Pollock Streets. Join the Tryon Palace Garden Staff for a behind-the-scenes look at the Tryon Palace gardens. Tour the greenhouse which produces the flowers, vegetables and perennials for the famous Tryon Palace Gardens. Then, stroll through the Palace gardens while listening to information on specific plants and design techniques. $6 adults, $3 students; included with regular admission.

6). Bellamy Mansion Join us in the Parlor at the Historic Bellamy Mansion for a listening room concert Jazz Age: The Music of the 1920’s, Friday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the smooth and sophisticated vocals of Susan Savia, accompanied by the amazing and talented Al DiMarco on piano and accordion. $20 and seating is limited. Come dressed in your favorite vintage outfit! Wine and beer will be available for purchase, and we’ll have tasty desserts during the break. All proceeds from this concert go to the historic Bellamy Mansion Museum.

7). Reynolda House Museum of American Art will hold gallery discussions this spring in conjunction with two current exhibitions, A Genius for Place: American Landscapes of the Country Place Era, on view through Aug. 5, 2012 and “Domestic Bliss: Art at Home in Britain and American, 1780–1840,” on view through May 20, 2012. Gallery discussions for “Domestic Bliss” will be held on Thursdays, Apr. 12 and Apr. 19 at noon. Guest curator Morna O’Neill and her student research assistants from Wake Forest University will share the cultural and historical aspects of works in the exhibition. O’Neill is an assistant professor in the department of art at Wake Forest.

8). N.C. Museum of History presents History à la Carte: Folk Potters of North Carolina on Wednesday, April 11, 12:10-1 p.m. Bring your lunch; beverages are provided. Charles Zug, Retired Professor of English and Folklore, UNC-Chapel Hill. Generations of potters in our state have produced traditional utilitarian pieces of earthenware and stoneware. Learn about craftspeople and the development of the pottery industry in North Carolina. Zug is the author of “Turners and Burners: The Folk Potters of North Carolina”.

9). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents History Talks: Stoneman’s Raid with Author Chris Hartley on Saturday April 14 at 2pm, free to the public. Civil War Author Chris Hartley will discuss his latest book "Stoneman's Raid, 1865" and the effect of the raid on the people of this area. In the spring of 1865, Federal Major General George Stoneman launched a cavalry raid deep into the heart of the Confederacy. Over the next two months, Stoneman’s cavalry rode across six Southern states, fighting fierce skirmishes and destroying supplies and facilities.

10). Museum of the Albemarle Check out the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday, April 14, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. to view the race cars of Dixieland Speedway’s 2012 racing season. For Dixieland Speedway’s annual car show, talk with the drivers and crew, see the race cars and reminisce about the past. Not only will race cars will be on display but other types of vehicles involved in organized racing at Dixieland Motorsports Complex will be on hand. See go-karts, 4-wheelers, motorcycles and show cars. Come on out and join in the fun and excitement. This is a free family event!

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

NCMC Events From Around the State… April 2, 2012

1). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will open their expansion-Nature Research Center-with a 24 hr. opening beginning at 5 pm on Friday, April 20th through 5 pm on Saturday, April 21st. The Museum has always shared “what we know” in science and now the Nature Research Center will share “how we know it” by bringing scientific research to the forefront. Students, teachers, and the general public will have the unprecedented opportunity to see for themselves how research is conducted by bringing research scientist and their work to the everyday world.

2). Historic Halifax State Historic Site Celebrate 236 years of American Independence from Great Britain on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at the annual “Halifax Day” festivities held in Halifax. From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors at Historic Halifax State Historic Site may join in the remembrance of the vote by North Carolina's Provincial Congress to separate from the British Crown on April 12, 1776. The program will feature colonial-costumed interpreters and tours of historic buildings for young and old. It is sponsored by the Historical Halifax Restoration Association, Inc. All activities are free and open to the public.

3). Historic Hope Foundation The Historic Hope Foundation is proud to announce the 16th annual Elizabeth Stevenson Ives Lecture on Friday, April 14, 2012 in the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center on the Hope Campus. This annual series focuses on scholarship in the decorative arts, history, archaeology, historic preservation, and architecture. The theme for this year’s lecture is historical archaeology in Northeastern North Carolina. Lecture topics include slavery and archaeology and maritime archaeology. Speakers include Anna Agbe-Davies, Ph.D., of UNC-CH, Theresa Hicks of ECU, and Shanna Daniel of the Queen Anne’s Revenge project.

4). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA announces their 5th annual Easter Egg Hunt Carnival on Friday, April 6, 2012, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, with the last ticket sold at 1:00 pm. Hippity Hoppity down the Battleship trail for a fun Spring event with continuous games and egg hunts every 20 minutes. New this year will be two bounce houses and a professional face painter. A petting zoo will also be on hand with the cutest little chicks around. All this is included for only $5 per person, with kids 2 and under free. Don’t forget to bring your camera and take pictures with Buddy the Battleship Bunny.

5). Reynolda House Museum of American Art will present an exhibition titled “Mystical Visions, Divine Revelations: Religion and Spirituality in 19th-Century Art” from March 31 through Nov. 25, 2012 in the Northeast Bedroom Gallery of the historic house. This small, focused assemblage of works from the museum’s collection will lead the viewer to consider the different ways American’s contemplated the mystical and the divine during this dynamic period in our history.

6). HandsOn! Hands On!-A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, is excited to announce the popular “Let’s Get Moving!” program on Wednesday, April 4th at 11 am. Preschool educator, Nicole Dowdeswell, will lead visitors through fun exercises with music that will encourage them to move and be healthy. Cost to attend is included in $5 admission and is free for museum members.

7). Port Discover Port Discover’s first Earth Day Festival is set for Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Elizabeth City’s Mariners’ Wharf Park. The free family event will feature demonstrations and information about all aspects of creating and living an environmentally-friendly life. Earth friendly hands-on science activities will be free and available for all ages. Topics and activities will include: water quality, recycled crafts, energy efficiency, and much more. The First Baptist Church Puppeteers will perform a special Earth Day show.

8). Kings Mountain Historical Museum The 4th Annual Kings Mountain Historical Museum Spring Fling will take place at the Museum on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Join us in the Museum Commons from 10AM – 5PM to experience days gone by. Activities include an encampment of re-enactors from the North Carolina 38th Troops will be on hand to discuss a soldier’s life during the Civil War. Starting at 11AM, Mark Hughes, author of The Civil War Handbook: Facts and Photos for Readers of All Ages will be signing copies of his book, available that day in the KMHM Gift shop.The Log Cabin String Band will be entertaining us with traditional old-time tunes from 11AM – 1PM. Both the Robert Barber House and George Washington Cornwell House will be open for tours.

9). Tryon Palace Presents “A Strange Reflection” - Voices of those who called New Bern home during the Union occupation on Saturdays ~ 1:00 pm, April 7 and Saturday, April 21. While many of the buildings would have looked the same after Union troops occupied New Bern during the Civil War, the town felt very different to anyone who had lived there before. On Saturday, April 7, as part of Tryon Palace Theater’s original drama “A Strange Reflection,” hear the voices of the people who called New Bern home during its occupation as soldiers, former slaves, and the Secesh tried to make life work in a topsy-turvy world.

10). Museum of the Albemarle Join the Museum of the Albemarle Sunday, April 15th at 2:00 pm to commemorate the Battle of South Mills fought in 1862. Area Historian Alex Leary will present a lecture on this fight. Union forces under Brigadier General Jessie Lee Reno met the Confederates under Colonel Ambrose Wright in the South Mills section of Camden County, in an attempt to reach the Dismal Swamp Canal locks and destroy them.