New Bern is an exciting city filled with activities. From exploring Tryon Palace to sailing along the Neuse River, New Bern offers something fun for every member of the family to do.
Take a guided tour of New Bern with either the 90-minute Ghosts of New Bern Tour or New Bern Trolley Tour.
1. North Carolina History Center
Tryon Palace hosts this expansive 65 million dollar complex that transports visitors back in time to explore New Bern’s 300 years of local history, providing fun for visitors of all ages – making history enjoyable for everyone in the family. With attractions designed specifically to bring it all alive! This modern museum experience makes history enjoyable.
Visit this magnificent recreation of royal governor William Tryon’s historic home and state capitol from the late 1700s. Set amidst acres of exquisite gardens, this Georgian-style mansion provides visitors with an immersive experience of colonial living.
New Bern’s downtown streets provide shoppers with ample shopping opportunities. Visitors can visit upscale boutiques, antique stores and unique galleries before enjoying waterfront restaurants and cafes that specialize in Southern cuisine or feature locally-sourced menus. There are even numerous unique shops where visitors can sample wines or artisanal cheeses or pick up mementoes of their trip to this riverfront city.
2. New Bern Academy Museum
History enthusiasts visiting this historic town should make time to visit the New Bern Academy Museum as part of the Tryon Palace complex, transporting guests back in time when New Bern served as state capital.
The museum boasts four separate rooms that each focus on an important chapter in New Bern history. The first room presents New Bern architecture; second and third rooms explore Civil War military occupation of New Bern; while fourth room looks into New Bern as an emerging destination for treating spinal meningitis, yellow fever epidemics, and other diseases common at that time.
Visitors to the museum can learn about one of America’s favorite beverages at the Birthplace of Pepsi exhibit, featuring artifacts and an authentic soda fountain from when Caleb Davis Bradham first began producing Pepsi at his pharmacy.
3. Duffy Exhibit Gallery
New Bern is home to an assortment of museums that will delight visitors from throughout the region. Ranging from sprawling complexes that will keep visitors occupied for hours to places showcasing period antiques, this city’s museums provide something for everyone.
The Duffy Exhibit Gallery showcases both modern and traditional artwork. Currently, they’re featuring Jill Eberle’s works combining “kid’s art” with classical painting techniques. Additionally, Melissa Gray raised sheep that she processed into wool sculptures that are on display. Both artists will demonstrate their craft during ArtWalk.
Other exhibitions feature Sarah McNeary’s Timeline assemblages that examine textile language. Scattered throughout both galleries on both levels, these pieces seem to engage in conversations about representation, labor and family relationships. Duffy also exhibits his “New Order” print which conveys Manifest Destiny through its Marlboro landscape backdrop and depiction of an aged George Washington with an open cigarette between his lips.
4. Athens Theater
New Bern is fortunate to possess the Athens Theater, a neoclassic gem dating back to its days as a vaudeville and silent movie palace. Since 1959 it has served as an anchor of cultural life within its boundaries and today plays host to New Bern Civic Theatre which presents 8-12 professional productions annually in genres such as dramas, comedies and musicals.
At this theatre, special events and performances take place regularly. At present, audiences have been charmed by an outstanding production of Cabaret from Broadway that offers captivating music, dramatic plot twists, and unforgettable characters – something no other theatre can compare with!
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New Bern is renowned for its historic pedestrian-friendly downtown district that’s at the epicenter of vibrant lifestyle experiences in eastern North Carolina, featuring shopping, dining, history and art experiences all in one convenient spot. Tryon Palace was North Carolina’s 1st colonial capital and gave birth to Pepsi. Additionally, New Bern hosts Craven Arts Council & Gallery housed within an old 1912 bank building; also, Croatan National Forest features estuaries, diverse wildlife, recreational opportunities as well as multiple estuaries!