Historic Edenton State Historic Site

06/20/2026

Happy Juneteenth!

Happy North Carolina

On June 19, 1865, freedom finally reached Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the resilience, courage, and enduring contributions of generations of Black Americans who fought for their freedom and helped shape our communities, culture, and country.

Juneteenth is not only a celebration of liberation, but a reminder of the ongoing journey toward justice and equality. In North Carolina, we can use Juneteenth to explore how liberation and emancipation unfolded in our local communities and reflect on the legacies that continue to guide us today.

At DNCR, the NC African American Heritage Commission and our museums, historic sites, and archives work every day to preserve and share the full story of African American history in North Carolina through research, education, and community engagement.

As we honor this day, we invite all North Carolinians to learn, reflect, and connect with these stories, and to join in celebrating the ongoing pursuit of freedom and community.

06/20/2026

06/11/2026

Historic Edenton State Historic Sites staff will be creating hand-sewn flags in the courthouse on Saturday. Come out and learn about 18th century sewing and two of North Carolinas early flags. You can even help stitch if you would like!
Hope to see you there!

05/25/2026

For those who serve and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice we thank you.

05/22/2026

Excited for this event tomorrow!

05/18/2026

Registration is still open for our free event this weekend. Please consider checking it out!

https://historicedenton.notion.site/We-Were-There-Too-Searching-for-Ancestors-2f66603c26b780e4897ee4577dfe9522

05/16/2026

We are excited to host some amazing speakers for our upcoming event We Were There Too. Please check it out!
Dr. Mark Attucks, Sr. descendent of Crispus Attucks, martyr of the Boston Massacre, holds advanced degrees in law, sociology, and business, along with credentials in security and financial management. An Air Force retiree and a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he now lives in La Plata, Maryland with his wife, Niya, and their children, MiKayla and Mark Jr.

Mark’s Presentation, First to Defy - First to Die: The Attucks Legacy, will begin at 1:00.

05/16/2026

We are excited to host some amazing speakers for our upcoming event We Were There Too. Please check it out!
Shannon Combs Bennett is a professional genealogist specializing in genetic genealogy and related topics. She is an award-winning author, lecturer and consultant. She holds degrees in Biology (with genetic emphasis) and Genealogical, Heraldic and Paleographic studies. She received her Doctoral Degree in History and Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

Shannon‘s presentation, Finding Your Family Using DNA Technology, will begin at 11:00.

05/14/2026

We are excited to host some amazing speakers for our upcoming event We Were There Too. Please check it out!
Taryn Kennedy is the National Vice Chair
of the America 250 Forgotten Patriots Committee and a Research Specialist with NSDAR Specialty Research. She focuses on documenting African American, Native American, and Spanish or French patriots of the American Revolutionary War. An associate member of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter, she previously supported its 250th Anniversary celebration. She holds a Juris Doctor from
Widener University Delaware Law School.

Taryn’s presentation, African American Revolutionary War Patriots in Family Trees, will begin at 10:00

05/07/2026

Check out this awesome opportunity to bring educational tourism to our town!

Help Shape a Literary Program Sponsored by PBS Books and the Library of Congress

In honor of America's 250th birthday, North Carolina Humanities is gathering feedback to determine content for a short video exploring North Carolina's vibrant literary heritage. It will feature the authors, books, bookstores, libraries, and the locations that inspired North Carolina's greatest literary works.

Harriet Jacobs is one of the authors being considered and we need your help in showing your support!

Click on the link below and vote for Harriet Jacobs, the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library and Historic Edenton State Historic Site (questions 3,6,and 8) to be featured in the NC episode.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=7tQEGoYo9kOXvZoGh9niw678LeFmNLNMkwd2EXJ43UlUNkM4NFFVUFJNQ1Q1SjBQUFpMMTFWUkVISC4u&route=shorturl