Experience the rich history of North Carolina through lectures, publications, historical interpretations, and an educator’s corner.

Commentary
Colonial North Carolina

Edenton Tea Party: An American First

1664-1775

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, we see that many events contributed to the nation's declaration of independence. This article tells us about the women's political resistance of Oct. 25, 1774.

Political Documents

Penelope Barker (1728 – 1796)

1664-1775

Penelope Barker (1728–1796) was a remarkable woman. She is known for organizing what is called the Edenton Tea Party. On October 25, 1774, she persuaded fifty women to support fellow colonists in their resistance to British taxation. In a formal statement, the 51 ladies promised not to drink tea or wear English linen.

Commentary
Federalist

N.C. Has a Long History as Battleground State

1776-1835

The 2024 electoral cycle once again showed that North Carolina is a battleground state. But this should not be surprising—it has often been divided over important issues. This article begins with the Constitutional Convention in1787.

Colonial North Carolina

Wilmington Tea Party

1664-1775

A public and political action by Wilmington women, the Wilmington Tea Party occurred sometime between March 25 and April 5, 1774.  It was one of the many tax protests that swept the American colonies after the Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773.

Revolution Era

The Mecklenburg Declaration (or Meck Deck)

1664-1775

The date May 20, 1775, is on North Carolina's state flag to commemorate the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of 1775. But was there really such a declaration?

Colleges and Universities

High Point University

1836-1865

 

Environment

Ben Cone, Jr., and the Endangered Species Act

1946-1990

One of the species that the Endangered Species Act was supposed to protect was the red-cockaded woodpecker. But the law's negative incentives led Ben Cone, Jr., to cut down trees that might harbor the woodpecker.

Tobacco in North Carolina History, Part II

Note: This entry continues the story of tobacco in North Carolina, beginning in the late 1800s. Part I tells the story of North Carolina tobacco from the time of its discovery by Europeans. Cigarette consumption in the U.S. reached 2.19 billion cigarettes in 1889. That was five times what it was before James Duke introduced...

The Tobacco Industry in North Carolina, Part I

Today, tobacco is known to be a dangerous product, and its use around the country has been on the decline for many years. Yet tobacco has been a crop associated with North Carolina since Sir Walter Raleigh took tobacco to England (from Virginia) in 1586. Starting around 1880, tobacco farming, and especially the manufacture of...