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.