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2025 New Bern History Guide

Pecan Grove Marina

The Pecan Grove Marina stands out among the marinas and boat slips that veritably overrun the small town of Oriental for three distinctive reasons: location, location, location. Set slightly inland from mile marker 182 along the Intracoastal...

Oriental, NC

Many locals attest that Oriental is a "contagious destination," where vehicular travelers via the two lane US 55, or maritime travelers along the Neuse River or Pamlico Sound, tend to stop by for a night or two, and end up sticking around for an...

Latham Whitehurst Nature Park

Latham Whitehurst Nature Park is one of the newest parks in Craven County, and was first opened to visitors and locals alike in 2011. Located in a quiet eastern section of the town of New Bern, the park is a popular destination for wildlife fans of...

Neuse River Recreation Area

The Neuse River Recreation Area is an inviting rustic vacation destination for seasoned campers and newcomers alike, with an equally alluring location that's just steps away from the miles-wide Neuse River, and just a few miles away from New Bern...

Old theater

Visitors can get a taste of Oriental's small but thriving art scene with a visit to The Old Theater, a stark white and impressively large two-story building located on the corner of Broad and Church Streets. Showcasing a number of performances...

Cahooque Creek Recreation Area

The waterfront Cahooque Creek Recreation Site, located at the very corner where the Hancock and Cahoogue rivers meet up with the expansive Neuse River, is a water and boat lover's dream destination. With easy access to all three of these rivers, in...

Oriental History

What we now know as Oriental was first settled about 1870 by Louis B. Midyette. He took shelter in the area's natural harbor on the Neuse River and the mouth of Smith Creek when he was blown off course on his way to New Bern.

Bath, NC History

European settlement near the Pamlico River in the 1690's led to the creation of Bath, North Carolina's first town, in 1705. The town's location seemed ideal with easy access to the river and the Atlantic Ocean 50 miles away--at Ocracoke Inlet.

New Bern Firemans Museum

The New Bern Fire Department began as a fraternal organization and was originally called the "Atlantic Hook & Ladder Company," and was the first chartered fire department in the state of North Carolina. This original company became inactive...

Jarvis Mansion

The Jarvis Mansion is a small and hard-to-find bed and breakfast located along a quiet portion of New Bern's main Pollock Street, just a block or so away from the scenic waterfront. The historic two-story white home, built around the turn of the...

The impressively grand Tryon Palace is easily one of New Bern's most famous local attractions. With a central location on the outer edges of downtown, and bordering acres of riverfront, this historical recreation of a late 1700s governor's palace...

The Attmore-Oliver House is a unique destination on a historic Downtown New Bern walking tour, and is a stately 1790 home that has been transformed into a small museum, as well as the home base of the New Bern Historical Society administrative...

A tempting spot for both art lovers and history buffs, the Bank of the Arts is an eye-catching site in downtown New Bern that’s as renowned for its impressive façade as it is for its wealth of ever-changing attractions and activities.

Situated in the heart of the downtown New Bern region, the Cedar Grove Cemetery is a local landmark that’s a popular spot on many historical or even ghost-themed walking tours that wind through the downtown streets.

The Greenwood Cemetery may be an often overlooked landmark in the historic town of New Bern, but it’s a unique and historic destination that has a collection of stories all its own.

The John Wright Stanly House is a unique stop along a historic New Bern exploration, and is a stately 1780s home that was designed by the same architect who created Tryon Palace, found just a block or two away.

Located just four blocks away from Tryon Palace in the heart of Historic Downtown New Bern, the New Bern Academy Museum presents a unique peek into the often tumultuous history of this small North Carolina town.

Located on the outskirts of the historic downtown area, the New Bern Battlefield Park is a unique destination that served as the site of one of the largest battles in the Craven County area during the Civil War.

Visitors exploring downtown New Bern can’t help but notice the impressive City hall which looms over the city landscape. This unmistakable landmark, which still serves as the home of local government offices, has a unique story and history...

The North Carolina History Center, which is part of the extensive Tryon Palace, is a new 65 million dollar complex which transports visitors back in time to explore New Bern’s more than 300 years of local history.