Like many neighboring states, North Carolina will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War during 2011-2015.  According the NC Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, 13 of the state’s 27 historic sites will launch a new, comprehensive, education initiative in 2011 to highlight the North Carolina Civil War Experience.

The NC Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee’s objective is to bring an understanding of the Civil War’s complex issues and interpret the events for a new generation. The theme for the sesquicentennial commemoration is “North Carolina: Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory.”

Traditional Civil War State Historic Sites with site-specific programs include Bennett Place, Bentonville, Brunswicktown / Fort Anderson, CSS Neuse, Fort Fisher, the State Capitol, and the Zebulon D. Vance Birthplace. Civil War sesquicentennial programming is also expected at Fort Branch in Hamilton, NC, and at Plymouth, NC, though these locations are not state historic sites.

Several non traditional Civil War state historic sites will also offer programming related to the sesquicentennial.  They include Duke Homestead, Historic Edenton, Somerset Place, Historic Stagville, Tryon Palace, and Roanoke Island Festival Park.