NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction

NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction The NCHCCWER will create extensive exhibits on the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras.

The overall goal of the NC Civil War & Reconstruction
History Center is to create a comprehensive portrait of North Carolina history that spans the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction periods. The Center builds on histories already told, using new records that have been since uncovered, patterns of data that have been newly seen, and recent scholarship. All of these things will make a valuab

le contribution to a new and more accurate depiction of this history that was unavailable a century ago. The NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center, will tell North Carolina’s Civil War story from the top-down, and the ground-up. The history told here will focus on the human impact of the most traumatic period of United States history. At the same time, visitors should experience, and understand, the sweep of the state’s Civil War era history. Using current interpretive technologies, and anticipating trends that will be available at the time of its completion, the NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center planning committee envisions a state-of-the-art institution that embraces a historic site, a facility that conveys the significance of its historic charter, and a digital dimension that extends its reach across the state of North Carolina. The Center shall serve as a primary Civil War era historical resource for all of North Carolina.

Comfort food has a history, too. 🥧Long before frozen dinners, chicken pot pie was bringing comfort to tables. Made with ...
08/25/2026

Comfort food has a history, too. 🥧

Long before frozen dinners, chicken pot pie was bringing comfort to tables. Made with simple, hearty ingredients, it was a practical way to stretch a meal while feeding a family.

A letter home was more than just news—it was a lifeline.On **August 20, 1863**, Lt. Lallister "Lal" White wrote to his f...
08/19/2026

A letter home was more than just news—it was a lifeline.

On **August 20, 1863**, Lt. Lallister "Lal" White wrote to his family from camp while with the Army of Northern Virginia, sharing updates from camp while asking about life back home. Like many soldiers, he balanced thoughts of military service with concern for his loved ones and the hope of seeing home again. His words offer a personal glimpse into the everyday realities of the Civil War.

Read more: 📖 https://nccivilwarcenter.org/lt-lal-whites-letter-home-august-20-1863/

Some lives change history in ways that deserve to be remembered.Born into slavery in North Carolina, **Dr. John Jefferso...
08/18/2026

Some lives change history in ways that deserve to be remembered.

Born into slavery in North Carolina, **Dr. John Jefferson Smallwood** overcame extraordinary obstacles to become an educator, minister, author, and advocate for racial equality. As the grandson of Nat Turner, he chose a path of education, opportunity, and empowerment—founding the Temperance, Industrial and Collegiate Institute to help uplift future generations through learning and self-determination.

His story is one of perseverance, purpose, and the lasting impact one person can have on countless lives.

Read more about Dr. Smallwood's legacy:
https://nccivilwarcenter.org/documenting-the-life-and-works-of-dr-john-jefferson-smallwood/

Potato chips have been a tried-and-true favorite since the Civil War! This recipe is an early version of the salty snack...
08/15/2026

Potato chips have been a tried-and-true favorite since the Civil War! This recipe is an early version of the salty snack we still love today.

In the middle of war, letters carried more than news—they carried hope.In one letter, Emanuel Houser shared reports that...
08/13/2026

In the middle of war, letters carried more than news—they carried hope.

In one letter, Emanuel Houser shared reports that deserters were crossing over from Grant's Army, writing, *"If such reports be true, we can look for success."* His statement reveals the uncertainty of his situation, and rumors, optimism, and firsthand accounts shaped how people understood the complexity of the war.

Read the full story: https://nccivilwarcenter.org/deserters-came-over-last-night-from-grants-armythey-say-they-will-not-fight-if-such-reports-be-true-we-can-look-for-success-emanuel-housers-letter-to-his-cousin-j/

☕ A Cup of Ingenuity: Coffee Without CoffeeWhen the Civil War disrupted trade and made coffee increasingly difficult to ...
08/12/2026

☕ A Cup of Ingenuity: Coffee Without Coffee

When the Civil War disrupted trade and made coffee increasingly difficult to obtain, people found creative ways to adapt.

This 1861 recipe, published in the Southern Cultivator, explains how rye could be prepared as a substitute for coffee. According to the article, when properly roasted and prepared, many people couldn't tell the difference—and some even recommended mixing rye with coffee to improve the flavor.

Would you give rye coffee a try?

The story of Phoebe Graybeal Eastridge and her eight sons is one of resilience, family dedication, and the difficult cho...
08/10/2026

The story of Phoebe Graybeal Eastridge and her eight sons is one of resilience, family dedication, and the difficult choices faced by North Carolinians during a turbulent period in our state's history.

All of Phoebe’s eight sons served in one army or the other during the Civil War, some for the Union and some for the Confederacy. At least two, Barnabas and John, were what was then called a “galvanized Yankee,” which was a term used for a man who originally enlisted in the Confederate army but chose to serve in the Union Army later in the war. Although three of Phoebe’s sons, Barnabas, Henry, and John, served in the 58th NC Troops (CSA), only Barnabas enlisted voluntarily. Henry and John were both conscripted several months after Barnabas joined.

Passed down through generations and enriched through genealogical research, this family's journey reminds us that the Civil War was experienced by ordinary people whose lives were forever changed.📖 Read her family's story and discover how personal histories help us better understand our shared past. https://nccivilwarcenter.org/phoebe-graybeal-eastridge-and-her-familys-story/

Did you know?This Omelette Soufflée recipe dates back to 1864 and uses just a handful of ingredients to create a light, ...
08/05/2026

Did you know?

This Omelette Soufflée recipe dates back to 1864 and uses just a handful of ingredients to create a light, fluffy dish.

👀 Would you try a Civil War-era recipe?

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824 Branson Street
Fayetteville, NC
28305

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