North Carolina is launching its multi-year commemoration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026 with “Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution” in conjunction with Halifax Resolves Day April 12-14 at the Historic Halifax State Historic Site.
In the spring of 1776, delegates from across North Carolina met in Halifax to take part in the 4th Provincial Congress, the forerunner to the modern legislature. On April 12, 1776, the 85 delegates to the Provincial Congress unanimously approved the Halifax Resolves. It was the first official act by any of the 13 colonies calling for independence from Great Britain, according to the state.
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America 250 NC, being directed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is to highlight the road to revolution in North Carolina.
Living history demonstrations, including hearth cooking and blacksmithing, will take place throughout the weekend Historic Halifax.
The Sons of the American Revolution will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at 10:30 a.m. April 12 at the Colonial Courthouse site. Following at 2 p.m. is the Historical Halifax Restoration Association’s annual Halifax Resolves Day Ceremony, with a procession by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drums Corps, and a reception at the Bradford-Denton House. Historic buildings at Historic Halifax State Historic Site will be open for tours from 3-5 p.m.
A ceremony at Magazine Springs hosted by the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe will take place at 10 a.m. April 13. At 10:45 a.m., arriving troops will be led by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drums Corps. Then at 11 a.m., the program “African American & Indigenous Patriots of the Revolutionary War in NC” will be held at First Baptist Church. From 1-3 p.m., meet “Piety,” a Halifax County freedom seeker. The Royal White Hart Lodge and the Edward Cheek House will host open house events from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The site of the “Free Church” in the Colonial cemetery at Historic Halifax will host an 18th-century church service at 10:30 a.m. April 14. Visitors may tour historic building tours and view vignettes and living history demonstrations from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as presentations from speakers on historical topics.
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A full schedule of events and a site map are available on the website.
For more information, please call Historic Halifax State Historic Site at 252-583-7191.
