New Bern, N.C. – 

“Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States.” – Frederick Douglass (Should the Negro Enlist in the Union Army, July 16, 1863).

Tryon Palace will host a United States Colored Troops (USCT) Commemorative Anniversary event Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the New Bern Academy Museum, located at 508 New St., New Bern. During the Civil War, New Bern became a place of refuge and opportunity for formerly enslaved people seeking freedom. It was there that many African American men stepped forward to serve in the USCT, courageously fighting for the Union and the promise of liberty.  Tryon Palace offers this event in celebration of those brave men, the founding of the North Carolina Bureau of Colored Troops, and its impact on New Bern. Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

This free, family-friendly celebration will put visitors into the middle of an American Civil War encampment with interpreters dressed in replica uniforms of the 35^th USCT who first mustered on those very same New Bern Academy grounds, including interpreters who are direct descendants of those very men. Our engaging USCT interpreters will give demonstrations on camp life, cooking, military drills, and firearm handling. 

Author and historian Dr. David Cecelski will give a keynote address on the USCT and Abraham Galloway’s advocacy for enslaved people, pushing for the American Civil War to become a fight for liberation and not just the preservation of the Union. Cecelski is the author of “The Fire of Freedom: Abraham Galloway and the Slaves’ Civil War” (UNC Press, 2012). 

In 1863, the First North Carolina Colored Volunteers had their first parade on the New Bern Academy Grounds—as commemorated on the Highway Historical Marker located at the New Bern Academy Museum.  Members were encouraged to enlist by Abraham Galloway, a leader in the African American community. The first North Carolina Colored Volunteers eventually became the 35^th Regiment of the USCT. 

The 35^th USCT is a historically accurate interpretive group that tells the stories of patriots who answered the call of duty during the American Civil War. In 2016, the Tryon Place Foundation received an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant to form an interpretative program based on the experiences of the USCT during the American Civil War. As a result, the 35^th U.S. Colored Troops Interpretive Regiment was born. With a mission to promote a better understanding of the role of African Americans in the fight for their freedom, the 35^th USCT gathers and interprets the stories of soldiers who served in the original regiment.

The New Bern Academy Museum offers exhibits on New Bern, the American Civil War, education, and architecture and is part of Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens. The museum is open weekdays from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit our New Bern Academy Museum page or call 252-639-3525.

About Tryon Palace
Tryon Palace Historic Site and Gardens is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The original Tryon Palace building, the Governor’s Palace, was completed in 1770 and served as North Carolina’s first colonial and first state capitol. The reconstructed Tryon Palace includes historic buildings, gardens, and the North Carolina History Center. The North Carolina History Center offers interactive exhibits, galleries, a performance hall, the museum store, and a waterfront café. Tryon Palace’s mission is to welcome, inspire, and engage all visitors and patrons to discover eastern North Carolina’s rich and dynamic history through programming and exhibits, presenting an authentic and holistic view of that history. With scholarship and integrity, we preserve and interpret buildings, landscapes, collections, and gardens that tell the story of One History, Many Voices.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.