Charming New Bern, North Carolina
Last week I was in the New Bern area again, along with my two daughters who were in that Scout troop. One of their sons was getting married in nearby Oriental. I visited New Bern once again, but this time I viewed Tryon Palace from the outside, and chose instead to visit the new North Carolina History Center. The History Center is a next door neighbor to Tryon Palace. It’s a museum that covers the history of Craven County, New Bern, all the wars, people, industry and culture that has imprinted the uniqueness of this town situated at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers.
There are a large number of Civil War landmarks, buildings and intact artifacts from this place because New Bern survived the Civil War with little damage. Following the awful Battle of New Bern in March 1862, the Union army occupied New Bern for the rest of the war. There is a National Cemetery where more than 300 U.S. Colored Troops and more than 1,050 unknown Union soldiers and sailors who died in New Bern, Beaufort, and Hatteras during the Civil War are buried. Homes from the 18th century, battlefields, the Fireman’s Museum and a charming downtown are all reasons to bring your family to New Bern, North Carolina.