Naval history takes the helm at April 30 symposium

The North Carolina History Center in New Bern has set aside a day in April to focus on the state’s naval history from the American Revolution to World War II

The North Carolina Military Historical Society and Tryon Palace are partnering to present the program, free of charge, scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. April 30.

Five presenters will cover a range of naval history, starting with Jeff Bockert, North Carolina Historic Sites east region supervisor, who will discuss the career of the battleship USS North Carolina during the Second World War.

Sion Harrington, North Carolina Military Historical Society vice president and former state military archivist, will focus on people, highlighting numerous North Carolinians who served in the naval forces during World War I.

Chris Meekins, Civil War roster editor with the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, will explore various naval actions around the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal in northeastern North Carolina during the Civil War.

Jim Greathouse, former museum specialist at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, will highlight the naval history of North Carolina during the War of 1812, from the privateer Otway Burns to the Jeffersonian gunboats that patrolled the state’s waters.

Jim McKee, Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site manager, will discuss the operations of the British Navy in the Cape Fear region during the American Revolution, including their cooperation with former Royal Governor and Tryon Palace resident, Josiah Martin.T

Registration for the program opens at 8:30 a.m. April 30 at the North Carolina History Center’s Cullman Performance Hall, 529 S. Front St., New Bern. Those wishing to attend later in the day, may sign in and join anytime.  

For more information visit https://www.ncmilitaryhistoricalsociety.org/ or email ncmhs1@gmail.com.