New Bern Tours & Convention Services

11/16/2024

Check out these photos of Christ Church by Ben Lindemann Photography !

Christ Church is one of North Carolina's earliest congregations whose members included two royal governors, leaders of the Colony under the Crown, revolutionary patriots and statesmen who provided leadership for North Carolina after independence.

Learn more about its' rich history on the trolley tour.

11/11/2024

History of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Source: United States Department of Veteran Affairs

11/08/2024

This Romanesque Revival building, known as City Hall, is the only one of its kind in this area and its architectural and historical significance have merited its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although first designed without a tower or clock, changes came soon afterward to incorporate one. James Knox Taylor designed the clock tower as it appears today, including the installation of a large Seth Thomas four-face clock.

Join us for a trolley tour for more interesting history! NewBernTours.com

11/03/2024

Presidential Visits in New Bern History, James Monroe

Monroe and his party, which included Secretary of War John C. Calhoun, arrived at the outskirts of town on Saturday, April 10, 1819. They were met by a welcoming committee and escorted to their lodgings through streets thronged with citizens. The Coor-Bishop Home, at that time the town-house of planter George Po***ck, was placed at Monroe's disposal for the length of his stay. Once the president was settled in the waterfront home, the local U.S. Revenue Service cutter fired a national salute from just off-shore.

Pictured here, The Coor-Bishop House then and now and President James Monroe

Reserve your 90 minute tour aboard one of our trolley's at www.newberntours.com

Photo Credits: Kellenberger Room Craven County Library and The New Bern Woman's Club

11/02/2024

It’s time to start planning your holiday trip to New Bern! Schedule your date with Santa and don’t forget to book your trolley tour!

✨Get ready for The Ultimate Santa Experience in Downtown New Bern – where the magic of holiday dreams comes to life for all ages!✨

From twinkling lights to joyful surprises around every corner, this year’s Beary Merry Christmas is bigger & more magical than ever. 🎄

Whether you’re 5 or 95, there’s something enchanting waiting for YOU.

Come be a part of the holiday wonder, & make memories that will last a lifetime! ❄️

11/01/2024

Today is el Día de los Mu***os or Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2. [Source: History.com]

10/31/2024

How Did Halloween Start in America?

The celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies.

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups and the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.

Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.

Source: The History Channel

10/27/2024

Did you know?

New Bern was the first city in America to celebrate George Washington's birthday.

Washington visited New Bern, spending two days touring and meeting with citizens. A special ball was held in his honor where he spent the evening being entertained and dancing at the Tryon Palace.

Learn more about the history of New Bern on the trolley tour.

www.VisitNewBern.com

10/26/2024

We have a beautiful weekend ahead of us. Grab a Pepsi and come join us for a fun and informative tour of historic downtown New Bern.

Reservations can be made at www.visitnewbern.com







Photo Credit: Kaycee Lou Collins

10/23/2024

The Palmer-Tisdale house standing proudly as one of New Bern's oldest and finest homes.

William Tisdale, silversmith, judge of the admiralty court for the Port of Beaufort, and engraver of the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina, lived in this home. Attending Harvard University, he entered with the class of 1755 on a Hollis Scholarship. Tisdale was, according to classmate John Adams, one of the best students in that exceptional class, but he left college before the end of his first year.

On 9 Sept. 1775 he was appointed by the Provincial Congress to the Committee of Safety for New Bern, and a month later he was elected to Congress, which, on 20 Oct. 1775, employed him to engrave plates for bills of credit and designated him "silversmith" in the Act. In 1779 Tisdale was paid £150 for engraving the Great Seal of the new state, and the next year he was one of the commissioners to supervise the issuing of the new paper money.

Book your tour to learn more about many of our beloved historic homes. NewBernTours.com

10/19/2024

New Bern had the first school to be chartered by the royal assembly in 1764 and Thomas Tomlinson was the first teacher at the New Bern Academy.





www.NewBernTours.com

Photo Credit: Tryon Palace Website, Crystal Coast Tourism Guide

10/15/2024

Do you know what pairs well with Ghostwalk?

A trolley tour! Check out the details here for ghost walk then head over to our site to book your Trolley Tour!

NewBernTours.com

Kathy Morrison interview with Executive DirectorAnthony Giardino, [email protected] and Programs DirectorMarissa Moore, programs@newbernhistoric...

10/14/2024

The Gertrude S. Carraway garden is located behind the Way Station near Tryon Palace. This peaceful garden is a wonderful place to relax while you await your trolley tour of New Bern.

Miss Gertrude S. Carraway [1896-1993] has been called the ‘first citizen’ of New Bern, the premier historian of the city, and, in her time, one of the most beloved people in town.

Notable accomplishments include her efforts to fund and rebuild Tryon Palace. Having attended UNC-Greensboro and Columbia University in New York she taught history, English and French. She became a feature writer, and authored hundreds of articles, news stories, dozens of booklets and six books. She was awarded three honorary doctorates for her achievements over the years.

Dr. Carraway received the keys to eight cities, was named a Kentucky Colonel, an Arkansas Traveler, a North Carolina Admiral, an Honorary Citizen of New Orleans, New Bern’s Woman of the Year, North Carolina Citizen of the Year, Tar Heel of the Week by The News and Observer, and received many other awards and honors for her work in historical preservation.

In 1956 she became the first director of the Tryon Palace Restoration.

Credit to Edward Barnes Ellis, Jr. author of New Bern History 101

10/13/2024

TROLLEY TIDBIT: Francis Duffy purchased the house at 610 Po***ck Street , equipped with all the latest conveniences, for $4,550. The Lehmans had paid just $2,000 for the property. Discover more interesting tidbits on the trolley tour. Reserve your seat online at www.NewBernTours.com

10/11/2024

Since 1513 live bears have been a part of the downtown landscape of our sister city and namesake, Bern, Switzerland.

Here in New Bern, 50 beautifully painted bears were brought to our downtown area in 2010 as part of our 300 year celebration. Now we have over 80 bears located throughout New Bern, sponsored by area businesses and civic groups and painted by very talented artists.

While you are in New Bern be sure to stop by our visitors center to get a map so you can participate in a great scavengar hunt. See how many bears you can find!

In the meantime, let us introduce you to one of our favorite bears. This is Flag Bearer. See if you can find him on your next visit to Historic Downtown New Bern.