NEW BERN — Families have an opportunity to enjoy the Governor’s Palace, learn about cooking in the 1770s, mingle with Gov. Tryon’s Craven Militia, make a clay bowl and other activities at today’s annual Free Day at Tryon Palace.
It is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and offers tours and events based around the theme “Fresh from the Past: Food and Culture in Eastern North Carolina.”
Funded by a grant from the Harold H. Bate Foundation, Free Day ensures that families living in Eastern North Carolina have an opportunity to visit the state’s first capitol at no charge.
In addition to free tours and events at the historic site, a special discounted Galleries Pass— $10 for adults, $3 for students — will also be available for admittance into the Pepsi Family Center, Regional History Museum and Duffy Gallery.
Tryon Palace welcomed more than 2,500 visitors to Free Day in 2012 and has a goal of 3,000 this year by offering a new program of guided tours, art of tea presentations, craft demonstrations, take-home crafts, period cooking, a colonial militia encampment, a statewide scavenger hunt and other attractions.
“We are very fortunate to have the support of the Harold H. Bate Foundation to provide free, fun and engaging history education to everyone who visits Tryon Palace on Free Day,” said Brandon Anderson, director of education for Tryon Palace. “Our hope is that anyone planning on coming to Free Day will tell their friends and bring the entire family along. Everywhere you turn there will be a different experience to enjoy and to make cherished memories.”
“Fresh from the Past: Food and Culture in Eastern North Carolina” is a theme that’s woven throughout the events scheduled at Tryon Palace this year. Whether it’s visiting the Governor’s Kitchen Office for a glimpse of the latest in kitchen gadgets for 1770, enjoying a sample of a popular colonial hot chocolate drink or a look at what Tryon’s Craven Militia is cooking over the fire, all visitors are invited to become immersed in history and explore the food culture of Eastern North Carolina’s past.
Call 252-639-3500 for more information. A printable map with a full list of the day’s activities is available on the web at tryonpalace.org/pdfs/free_day_map.pdf.