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Event Schedule

Friday, October 18, 2024  ~  5 pm to 9 pm

  • Concert Performance

  • Watch night-time Cannon Firings on Contentnea Creek

  • Tour the Grifton Museum and Indian Village

  • Fellowship around the campfires within the Civil War Encampments

  • Enjoy Concessions available on the grounds

Saturday, October 19, 2024 ~  9 am to 5 pm
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  • All Day Events include:

    • Civil War and Colonial Encampments​

    • Black Beard History Presentations, 

    • Tours of the Grifton Museum and Indian Village

    • Fossil pit activities with the Aurora

    • Beaufort Pirate Invasion

    • Tuscarora Indians

    • Children's Activities

    • Ropemaking, Soap making, old tractors and engines, blacksmithing, primitive technologies, and much more.

    • Speakers to be announced​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Underground Railroad Museum, Washington, NC
9:30 - 10:30

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The Underground Rail Road museum is housed quite literally in a rail road car. A caboose to be exact. This historic train car was provides a place for our collection and serves as a powerful reminder about the purpose of the museum and the fragile history protected within.
Did you know that as early as 1820, the first long distance route of the Underground Railroad with multiple stops was established? This route could successfully transport slaves all the way from North Carolina to Indiana.

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Dr. Arwin Smallwood
11:00 - 12:00

Dr. Arwin D. Smallwood is the Dean of the College of Arts Social Sciences and Humanities at North Carolina Central University, prior to becoming Dean he was Professor and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he has also served as Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. He received his BA in Political Science in 1988 and his MA in History in 1990 from North Carolina Central University.  He received his Ph.D. in early American, Native and  and African-American history from The Ohio State University in 1997.  Dr. Smallwood is a Life member of the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association and the Association for the Study of African- American Life and History. He is also a member of the North Caroliana Society, the Historical Society of North Carolina, Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. He is the author of several books including; NCA&T vs. NCCU: More Than Just A Game, and the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, fellowships and grants including; the Governor James E Holshourser Jr Award for Excellence in Public Service, the American Philosophical Society’s, Library Resident Research Fellowship and their Franklin Research Grant. Dr. Smallwood also serves on several Boards including; Board of Directors for the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, the Advisory Board for the North Carolina Historical Markers Commission, Z. Smith Reynolds Art Grant Review Board, the Scholars Advisory Board for the Gilder Lehrman Institute, he is the past vice president and president of The Historical Society of North Carolina and member of the Board of directors for the Historic Hope Foundation.

“A History Long Forgotten: “
The Early History of the Tuscarora in Martin & Bertie County
and Eastern North Carolina to the American Revolution
This presentation will discuss the history of the Tuscarora of Lenoir and Pitt County and eastern North Carolina. It will discuss their impact on both counties, North Carolina and American history from the 16th century to the end of the American Revolution. It will explore the relationship between the Tuscarora and the various Native Americans that traded, wared and were in alliance with them as well as early White and African Americans who interacted with them in the area. The presentation’s main objective is to explore the forgotten history of the Tuscarora in  Lenoir County, Pitt County, eastern North Carolina and America from European exploration and settlement through the Revolutionary War period. The presentation will explore the survival and sometimes creolization of the Tuscarora, Whites and African Americans within the contexts of North Carolina and American History.

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Roger Kammerer
1:30 - 2:30

 After being born in Nebraska to a Marine Corps family, Roger came to Swansboro, N. C. with his family before first grade. After growing up in this small Southern coastal town, he graduated from Swansboro High School in 1974. Roger garnered recognition for his artistry early and after winning a scholarship in art, attended the art school at East Carolina University. Almost from the start of his career he became known for his brushwork and beautiful color in his paintings. Besides art, Roger has had a long interest in local history and genealogy. Under the tutelage of  the late Tucker Reed Littleton, noted NC historian and friend, Roger gained research skills,  which has led to an “unexpected” writing career.   In 1984, was asked to write a local history column for a Greenville entertainment newspaper.  His historical writing has led to numerous articles, over a dozen books and several awards. Many people know Roger as a local historian who gives an annual walking tour of downtown Greenville for the Pitt County Historical Society. He was honored in 2006 when he received the “Robert Lee Humber Award” from the City of Greenville Historic Preservation Commission for his contributions to the understanding of Greenville’s heritage. An avid genealogist, Roger has given innumerable talks on local and North Carolina history all over North Carolina and has given numerous genealogy and local history classes all over eastern North Carolina.  He has been president of the Pitt County Family Researchers, a local genealogy group, for nearly 30 years. He was also editor of the award winning “Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly”  for 23 years and still puts out an biennial Pitt County genealogical magazine. He is very aware of places and family names in eastern North Carolina and where you might go to find information on them.

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Chadwick Stokes
3:00 - 4:00

Mr. Stokes is an 8th grade history teacher at E. B. Frink Middle School in La Grange, North Carolina. A native and current resident of Winterville, North Carolina, Mr. Stokes graduated from East Carolina University in 2007 with a degree in political science, followed by a master’s degree in history education from ECU in 2014.

He has taught there for seven (7) years, primarily with the 8th grade students during his tenure. He has been recognized by numerous organizations for his innovative approach to history education, including developing interactive, engaging lessons for his students.

As the founder and director of the E. B. Frink History Lab, Mr. Stokes seeks to spread his passion for history education and the History Lab concept to other schools and educational institutions.

In his spare time, Mr. Stokes enjoys the cinema, concerts, taking nature walks and traveling to various historic sites.

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