New Trails Link African American History, Culture


RALEIGH, N.C. (January 27, 2014) — Paths have a way of crossing in history, and 2014 brings an intersection of new African American history and heritage trails across North Carolina. Both famous and ordinary people play a role in extraordinary stories that inspire a journey through the heart of the state. Choose your destination and find everything you need for the trip at VisitNC.com.

African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina
The newest culture trail from the North Carolina Arts Council springs from the rich sounds rooted in eight counties east of Raleigh. Jazz, blues, R&B, funk, gospel and hip-hop ring out on the 17-track CD that accompanies the book (published by UNC Press). Late, great artists (Thelonious Monk, Dr. Billy Taylor) and modern practitioners (Maceo Parker, the Rev. Luther Barnes) link past and present with extraordinary stories of time and place. The best starting points are the book and ncarts.org/experience-the-arts.

Trail of Flames, New Bern
North Carolina’s Colonial capital rescues a piece of devastating history from obscurity with the new Trail of Flames. The Great Fire of 1922 destroyed 40 city blocks and left one-third of the population — most of them African American — homeless. The trail, created by the Uptown Business & Professional Association, recounts the fateful day and connects it to the development of today’s New Bern. Find the path at trailofflames.org. While in New Bern, explore other dimensions of African American history through a self-guided walking tour and the Tryon Palace complex (choose the African American viewpoint on the hand-held History Navigator). Learn more at VisitNewBern.com

Guide to Wilmington’s African American Heritage
Wilmington’s dramatic history and artistic predilection balance and blend the stories recounted in the city’s African American heritage guide, released this past fall in recognition of Emancipation Proclamation’s 150th anniversary and the Wilmington History Preservation Commission’s 50th. The 37 sites encompass historic events (the escape of 22 slaves from the Orange Street Landing, the Riot of 1898), artistry (Thalian Hall, the “Bottle Chapel” memorial to Minnie Evans), and places that highlight the contributions of African Americans to the city’s business, spiritual and civic life. Find the guide at  www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com.

Winston-Salem African-American Art & Culture Guide
Freed and enslaved African Americans have been part of Winston-Salem’s story since the Moravians first settled here in the 18th century. The new African American Art & Culture Guide brings that long history into today’s vibrant arts and cultural life in Winston-Salem. Old Salem, a 21-block oasis within the modern city, preserves St. Philips Moravian Church (dating to 1861) and the reconstructed 1823 log church while acknowledging how segregationist sentiment chipped away at egalitarian Moravian ideals. The guide incorporates the African American presence at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, nearby Körner’s Folly and other attractions, and sites such as Diggs Gallery at Winston-Salem State University celebrate African American artistry. The guide’s itinerary leads to shops and restaurants of interest. Access the digital guide or request a print copy at  www.VisitWinstonSalem.com.

Jacksonville/Onslow African-American Heritage Trail
The Jacksonville/Onslow trail, dedicated in 2013, commands attention for story lines that illuminate segregation in the mid-20th century. The Montford Park Marine Museum preserves the legacy of the first African American Marines, who fought bigotry as well as foreign enemies during World War II. Hammocks Beach, another site of major interest, glimpses the history of segregated beaches. Its illustrious history leads to the creation of a state park for African Americans, a designation that ended in 1964 with the Civil Rights Act. Connect via the digital guide at  www.aaht.netbookhost.com or online at  www.onlyinonslow.com.

Halifax Maritime Underground Railroad Wayside Exhibit Trail
In the antebellum era, Halifax was a beacon for freedom seekers. The Roanoke River, a substantial population of free blacks and enslaved artisans, and proximity to an active Quaker population made the town a destination for runaway slaves. In 2011, “Olde Town of Halifax” became the Southeast’s first Network to Freedom District. Find tour information at  www.nchistoricsites.org/halifax and an itinerary to extend the journey along the Inner Coast at  www.discoverelizabethcity.com.

These newer trails join Durham’s  African-American Heritage Guide, Fayetteville’s  African-American Cultural Heritage Trail, Edenton’s  Harriet Jacobs Trail and others on North Carolina’s landscape. Learn more at VisitNC.com, a font of information about attractions, events and trip planning.