www.tryonpalace.org
Tryon Palace
New Bern is a favorite day trip destination for my family and we typically visit at least once a year. On our most recent trip, we decided to explore Tryon Palace and the NC History Center. I wasn't sure if my six year old would be interested in these two attractions but I was pleasantly surprised at her reaction to them.
We began our day at the Governor's Palace, which is located on the site of the original home of NC's first governor, William Tryon. The Palace that is standing today is an exact replica of the original structure which was destroyed by fire in 1798. There are stables on site which are the only original structure on the palace grounds.
Upon entering the palace it was apparent that no detail was overlooked in recreating the former residence. The interior was impressive because it contains many furnishings from the 1700s and gave a glimpse into the life of the first governors of NC. The guided tour was interesting. Details were given about the house as well as the lifestyle of those that lived in it. My daughter especially enjoyed learning about what foods were eaten in the 1700s at the governor's palace.
The detached palace kitchen and gardens were fun to explore as well. Food is still grown in the garden and then prepared in the palace kitchen. The cook was very knowledgeable about food preparation and cooking methods.
After spending a couple of hours on the palace grounds, we headed to the NC History Center which is included with admission to the palace. There are a few different exhibit areas in the NC History Center with the two largest being the Pepsi Family Center and the Regional History Museum. The Pepsi Family Center offers a variety of interactive activities that allow families to experience a slice of life in a coastal Carolina community in 1835. Virtual activities include such things as collecting sap for turpentine, cooking, quilting, working on a ship, helping a store keeper and investigating early publishing methods. We spent most of our time in this exhibit as it is age appropriate for younger children.
The Regional History Museum contains artifacts, graphics, audios, videos, and touch-screen interactive displays that tell the story NC's central coastal region. This area was interesting for adults and could possibly hold the interest of older children but not so much fun for a six year old. Therefore, we didn't spend much time in this area.
For an interactive experience with a lot of educational value, Tryon Palace and the NC History Center are great places to spend a day. A one day pass for adults costs $20, a pass for a child in grades 1-12 are $10 and children 5 and under are free. For more information, check out the Tryon Palace website.
