MAY PROGRAMS AT THE N.C. MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Spring days are bursting with activity at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. May’s programs range from an old-time string band performance to a History Corner children’s program. Bring out the red, white and blue for a Memorial Day celebration on the museum and State Capitol grounds.

See the museum’s military exhibits, and join a curator’s tour of the traveling exhibit A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans, opening May 1. The exhibit was created and curated by Martin Tucker of Winston-Salem.

Enjoy these free programs and more at the N.C. Museum of History. Parking is free on weekends.

PROGRAMS

Writer’s Block: The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate
Thursday, May 1 - 7 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7846.
Kevin P. Duffus, Author
Is it possible to learn something new about the pirate known as Blackbeard? That’s what Duffus intended to find out. Hear about his research and his surprising discoveries that promise to change pirate history. A book signing follows the program.


*History Corner: Beacons of Light
Wednesday, May 7 - 10 a.m.
Ages 5-9 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.
Discover the lifesaving role of North Carolina’s lighthouses, hear a short story and make a coastal craft. The program is presented with Cameron Village Regional Library.

Beading Demonstration
Saturday, May 10 - 1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Watch members of the Capital Area Beading Organization demonstrate beading techniques used in jewelry and decoration. Get tips on caring for your beaded jewelry and make a simple strung bracelet.

*Music of the Carolinas: Martin and Johnson
Sunday, May 11 - 3 p.m.
Wayne Martin, Margaret Martin and Craig Johnson make up this old-time string band. Together, they combine strong singing and great picking on old-time breakdowns, gospel tunes, blues and novelty songs. PineCone co-sponsors the performance.

History à la Carte: Wilmington and Raleigh Stagecoach
Wednesday, May 14 - 12:10 p.m.
Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
James Burke, Student, UNC-Greensboro
Stagecoaches crisscrossed more than just the Wild West. They also formed an important connecting line to the developing railroads in North Carolina. Burke, winner of the museum’s 2008 Student Essay Contest, will discuss the links between the stagecoach line of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad, modern roads and the state’s landscape.

Curator’s Tour: A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans
Saturday, May 17 - 1:30 p.m.
Martin Tucker, Photographer
Join the exhibit curator for a poignant perspective of the Vietnam War through the lenses of soldiers who experienced it.

*Three Centuries of American Military History
Monday, May 26 - 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Celebrate Memorial Day in all-American style. See patriotic displays and enjoy activities on the grounds of the State Capitol. Then visit the museum to view the exhibits A Call to Arms; Everybody’s War: North Carolina and World War II and A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans.


* SUMMER CAMPS AT THE MUSEUM
A few summer camp slots are still open at the N.C. Museum of History. Suited for students from age 4 through eighth grade, the history camps are taught by professional educators on staff or experienced teachers in the community. For more information, call 919-807-7979, e-mail emily.grant@ncmail.net, or access the museum’s Web site at ncmuseumofhistory.org.

For more information, call 919-807-7900 or visit ncmuseumofhistory.org

* marks programs of interest to children or families


The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. www.ncculture.com.