Blog Entry List
The America 250 NC commemoration offers the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of local history across the state. Through the support of an America 250 NC County Committee Grant, the Gaston County commemoration team is working to highlight history of the region through their programming.
Western North Carolinians’ frustrations with dishonest government officials bubbled over with the formation of the Regulator movement in 1768. Regulators protested officials’ excessive taxes, illegal fees, and other mistreatments of the public. The Regulator’s also resented their lack of representation in the colonial government. The movement’s name captures member's desire to regulate their own lives without representation in the government.
As part of the North Carolina’s American 250 commemoration, the State Archives of North Carolina and Tryon Palace Historic Site and Gardens will exhibit the original minutes of the First Provincial Congress on August 24, 2024. The exhibit will be held at the North Carolina History Center (529 S. Front Street, New Bern) along with other events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the congress and the New Bern Resolves. The volume will be on display from 10am – 3 pm. We encourage you to come and participate in the Palace’s activities and view this special volume.
The city of New Bern, founded in 1710 by Swiss and German immigrants, is home to many historic sites and stories. Royal Governor William Tryon (1765-1771) made this seaport his colonial capital and residence. During Tryon’s time in office, colonists often complained about taxes, dishonest sheriffs, and illegal fees. Tensions rose when paid and enslaved laborers built Tryon Palace in 1770. Governor Tryon increased colonist taxes to pay for the palace, which cost about $3.3 million by today's standards.
In 1983, Harvey B. Gantt made history. His election to the Charlotte City Council was a groundbreaking moment that set a precedent for future political representation.At the time of Gantt's election, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum across the United States. Despite facing significant opposition and discrimination, Gantt was determined to make a difference in his community. He campaigned on a platform of improving race relations and promoting equal opportunities for all citizens of Charlotte.
On April 13, 1947, a mob attacked civil rights protesters at the bus station in Chapel Hill. Earlier that year, the Congress of Racial Equality laid plans to test the enforcement of a Supreme Court decision that declared segregation on interstate buses and trains unconstitutional.
As the Deep River wanders through North Carolina's Piedmont plateau and curves in a horseshoe bend, there stands on a hilltop above it one of the first big houses of upland North Carolina frontier country, the House in the Horseshoe.
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site is a must-see destination for history buffs and anyone interested in the story of North Carolina's early days. Located in Alamance County, the site features exhibits, trails, and educational programs that provide a glimpse into the past. Here are 10 things you can do when you visit Alamance Battleground State Historic Site.
On December 19, 1777, the Continental Army, including the North Carolina Brigade, entered the winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.Among the North Carolinians present at the Pennsylvania camp was 19-year-old, Major Willam Polk. Polk spent much of the harsh winter recuperating. He had been shot through the mouth while shouting orders at Germantown that October—the ball that hit him knocked out his teeth and shattered his jaw.
On December 13, 1986, Ella Baker, civil rights leader and organizer of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), died. Called “the mother of the civil rights movement” by one scholar, Baker culminated a life dedicated to civil rights work by helping to establish SNCC at her alma mater, Shaw University, in April 1960.