In the slow-moving waters of eastern North Carolina, history has a way of surfacing—sometimes quite literally. Earlier this month, a prehistoric dugout canoe emerged from the South River near Autryville, North Carolina, appearing not as a relic in a museum case but bobbing gently in the water, as if waiting to be reclaimed.
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On Capitol Square in downtown Raleigh, a weathered bronze figure stands between two cannons. It’s a familiar sight, but one with deeper meaning as the state prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The life-size statue of George Washington, dedicated on July 4, 1857, recently underwent its first conservation treatment since the mid-1980s.
Alana Gomez, America 250 NC Educator, State Archives of North CarolinaFor Alana Gomez, history isn’t just something to study—it’s something to share, question, and bring to life. As an America 250 NC Educator with the State Archives of North Carolina, Alana is helping shape how the state commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States in ways that are inclusive, reflective, and relevant to a wide range of audiences.
As the American Revolution began after Lexington & Concord, Cumberland County, North Carolina was heavily populated by Scottish Highlanders, many of whom had Loyalist sympathies. 1 However, not all were opposed to independence. A group of Cumberland men were involved in a local committee that had connections to the Wilmington Safety Committee and decided to take a stand for the Colonialists in the debate with the Crown while not quite declaring independence.
Patriots, history lovers, and champions of American heritage—it is time to rally together! Our great nation is on the verge of commemorating 250 years of resilience, ambition, and revolutionary spirit. But this is not just a passive commemoration—it is a call to action!
Amanda Brantley, Site Manager, House in the Horseshoe State Historic SiteAmanda Brantley was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but her passion for public history has taken her across centuries. As the site manager at House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site, Amanda doesn’t just oversee one of the state’s most dynamic Revolutionary War landmarks. She also plays an active role in bringing its history to life through living history interpretation and hands-on education.
Frank McMahon, Assistant Site Manager, Historic Halifax State Historic SiteFrank McMahon didn’t grow up in North Carolina, but his path to interpreting the state’s Revolutionary-era past began early, among the wooded landscapes of Pennsylvania, where a love for history, anthropology, and public lands first took root. A native of the Philadelphia area, Frank pursued a degree in anthropology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later earned a master’s in park and resource management from Slippery Rock University.
“I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies….”Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, March 31, 1776
Image Caption: Looking west across the Yadkin River at the Shallow Ford. Photo Credit: Jason Melius, 2023.
Between February and March 1775, Royal Governor Josiah Martin received pledges of loyalty to the British Crown from 493 prominent North Carolinians from Dobbs, Guilford, Rowan, and Surry Counties. These declarations were made in response to increasing tensions and the establishment of Committees of Safety in late 1774. The Committees of Safety were created to spread Patriot (Whig) propaganda, enforce a trade ban of English goods, and prepare for military operations. The Loyalists, or Tories, lived side by side with Patriots all across North Carolina.
The woodpeckers eagerly peck away at the giant trees while squirrels scurry about as one strolls through the peacefulness and beauty of nature found in Currie, NC. A trail passes by a grassy savannah heading towards Moores Creek. The area is a unique eco-system containing carnivorous plants and perhaps an elusive alligator or two, but amid the wonder of nature, mounds of dirt appear that cast a shadow over what was a bloody struggle that occurred here almost 250 years ago.
The American Revolution VS. The American Revolutionary WarDid you know that when historians talk about the American Revolution, they are not only referring to the fighting that took place? The American Revolution encompasses not only the American Revolutionary War but also the social, political, and cultural transformations occurring in eighteenth-century North America.
A typical Christmas night in eighteenth-century America did not go as one might expect. The Christmas season today brings many nostalgic memories of cozy drinks, opening presents, and time spent with loved ones. This wasn’t the Christmas of colonial and revolutionary America, where the potential of rowdiness and drunkenness filled the streets.
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.