Home > Non-Profits > New Bern Historical Society
The mission of the New Bern Historical Society is to celebrate and promote New Bern and its heritage through events and education. We have an active calendar of educational events, storytelling programs, speaker presentations, tours, and social gatherings. Membership has grown to over 1000 with hundreds of volunteers contributing to our programs each year.
The Historical Society owns and operates the historic century Attmore-Oliver House and Gardens, home of our administrative offices, and the New Bern Battlefield Park where the Civil War Battle of New Bern occurred.
The Historical Society is a non-profit membership organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt classification, with no state or local government funding. Our work to honor and share New Bern's amazing past depends on membership dues and contributions from people like you.
To our members, we say thank you. And, to all others who cherish New Bern's history, we invite you to join us in membership!
Love this organization. Everyone is friendly and professional. Mickey and Jon(Battlefield) are doing such a terrific job.
. Harry Goodman Battlefield Adventure Day, a springtime event for the entire family, is Saturday, April 8 at the New Bern Battlefield Park. A day full of learning activities, period games and living history, it is held annually at the Park, which has been extensively upgraded by the New Bern Historical Society. The event is open to guests of all ages, with special activities for children 6-12 years old. Check-in begins at 12:30 pm. with activities from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Lunch is not included in this year’s event.
Guests will be greeted by re-enactors from the 5th and 7th North Carolina Regiments. The newly enlisted recruits participate in practice drills, Civil War period camp activities, crafts, and games. Adults and teens will enjoy living history presentations and a walking tour of the battlefield. There will be hands-on displays for the entire family. The day’s activities will conclude with a delicious apple crisp made by the new recruits, and an exciting mock battle reenactment that includes the children.
Displays and demonstrations will include bugle calls and drum beats, hand-carved toys and period games, military camp life display, historic equipment and tool displays, demonstration on making pine pitch and tar, make your own “True Tar Heel” certificate, and Cavalry horse display.
Cost is $5 per family member with a $20 maximum for a family. For more information or to register: New Bern Historical Society; 252.638.8558; www.newbernhistorical.org
It’s a special birthday gift, and you get to open it! The New Bern Historical Society is celebrating its 100th year with a special free exhibit at the North Carolina History Center’s Duffy Gallery. Entitled “Through the Looking Glass, A Journey with the Storytellers”, the exhibit will fill the gallery and will be free and open to the public from April 22, 2023 to January 5, of 2024. After 100 years, the Historical Society has a large collection of images and artifacts of New Bern’s history. Many of these have been hidden for years in our files and storage, and others will be on loan from friends. The generosity of many, including our friends at Tryon Palace, has made this impressive exhibit possible.