Upcoming Events
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Virtual Events
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Enslaved and Entrenched: Elias Polk
Zacharie Kinslow’s research focuses on the life and career of Elias Polk. Once enslaved by President James K. Polk, Elias rose from the confines of bondage to become a leading black conservative in the American southeast. Supporting southern Democrats, who had earlier enslaved him and his people, Elias Polk’s story reveals a complex and pragmatic figure who did what he could to survive in post-Civil War America, while also actively working to secure and perpetuate African-American economic independence. After registering, please be sure to click the Zoom link in your confirmation email to get access to the webinar! February 20, 2021 | 10:00 AM Missed the event? Click here to watch the recording! |
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Singing to be Heard: Ella May Wiggins During this program Jason E. Luker, Director of the Gaston County Museum of Art and History, will be examining Ella May Wiggins, her difficult life, role in the 1929 Loray Mill textile strike, and how her words and deeds still challenge us today. After registering, please be sure to click the Zoom link in your confirmation email to get access to the webinar! March 13, 2021 | 10:00 AM Click here to register |
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Sorting Out Charlotte Dr. Tom Hanchett, retired staff historian for Levine Museum of the New South, visits to talk about the new edition of his UNC Press history of Charlotte, entitled Sorting Out the New South City. It traces how Charlotte became a big city — and delves deeply into the surprising story of how we became segregated, both by race and class. It’s powerful history that can help us understand issues that are swirling in the headlines today. Click here for options to purchase Tom's book, Sorting Out the New South City, via Amazon. After registering, please be sure to click the Zoom link in your confirmation email to get access to the webinar! April 10, 2021 | 11:00 AM Click here to register |
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First Lady: Sarah Childress Polk Sarah Childress Polk devoted her considerable intelligence and political understanding to advancing the Southern planter’s agenda: small government, low tariffs, and states’ rights. She and husband James K. Polk saw eye-to-eye on political matters and functioned as a nineteenth-century power couple in their home state of Tennessee and in the nation’s capital. Their private and public partnership remained strong throughout Mr. Polk’s brief but effective Presidency. His untimely death in 1849 left her bereft but not forgotten, as the many visitors and well wishers to her home attest. After registering, please be sure to click the Zoom link in your confirmation email to get access to the webinar! May 8, 2021 | 10:00 AM Click here to register |
Guided Tours of the Historic Structures
On-going Events, Demonstrations, and Interest Groups
The following on-going events are currently paused. We will provide an update when we can start having these events in-person again!
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Young Hickory Explorers
The Tarheel Junior Historian Association is a group of clubs throughout North Carolina that promote a love of history. More than that, Junior Tarheels learn critical reading and writing skills, advocacy, volunteerism, art, videography, public speaking and more! Clubs are student-run, so join us and help steer the Young Hickory Explorers towards success in 2019 and beyond! Contact Kate Moore at kate.h.moore@ncdcr.gov or by phone at 704-889-7145 with any questions! 4th Saturday of every month
11:30 am - 12:30 pm ************************ Call for confirmation: 704-889-7145 |
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Weekly Fiber Arts Meetup with the Catawba Valley Fiber Guild
Laura Bain of Phun Knits leads a weekly get-together of fiber lovers of all sorts. Those interested in either modern or historic fiber arts are welcome! Whether you knit or crochet; spend hours pouring over the many gorgeous yarn choices or hours spinning the wheel as your create your own yarn; follow a carefully laid-out cross stitch design or free hand an embroidery creation all your own, all fiber lovers are welcome! Please Note: Meetup members will not typically be in costume during meetings, though they would be happy to discuss historic fiber arts with any visitors who stop in. Members interested in historic spinning, dyeing, weaving, knitting, etc. will be encouraged to join Laura and staff members as they share their knowledge with school groups visiting the site. Period-appropriate clothing (1790s-1810) may be provided to those interested in the educational aspirations of the group. |
Every Wednesday
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ************************ Call for confirmation: 704-889-7145 |
Every 2nd + 4th Thursday
September through May ************************ Call for confirmation: 704-889-7145 |
The Historical Cooking Guild of the Catawba Valley
The Historical Cooking Guild of the Catawba Valley is at the site on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, September through May. Use all your senses as you see, smell, and hear about what the average cook would have prepared during the time that James Polk was a boy. The ladies may simply be stoking the fire and researching "receipts" or they might be rendering some bear fat to use in a wide variety of dishes. You never know what you may see when you stop in, but it is sure to be a fascinating glimpse into a time gone by. *The Cooking Guild will return to the kitchen in September* |
