Hidden treasures: 6 destinations that capture the unique spirit of Craven County
The sights and sounds of well-known Craven County destinations such as Tryon Palace, Union Point Park and the New Bern Farmers Market are ingrained in the hearts and minds of locals and tourists alike. But take a closer look at our corner of the state and you’ll find that Craven County is also home to a number of off the beaten path parks, museums and historic sites that offer fresh perspectives on the area’s history and people.
Here are six destinations for anyone looking to take a deeper dive into the unique spirit that makes Craven County such a special place to live.
Detective Donald M. Miller Memorial Park - 100 Ave. A, New Bern
A perfect place to quietly read a book or just relax by the Neuse River, this out of the way spot is named after the late New Bern Police Detective Donald Miller, who died on Christmas day of 2001. Miller was shot while off duty after he confronted a man who was driving recklessly in the parking lot of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The detective and his wife were leaving the hospital after visiting their newborn child. Miller had been in law enforcement for 10 years and served with the New Bern Police Department for four years. The one half-acre park named in his honor sits at the end of Avenue A and features a memorial plaque, picnic tables and a peaceful view of the Neuse River railroad bridge.
New Bern Firemen’s Museum - 420 Broad St., New Bern
Established in 1955, the New Bern Firemen’s Museum tells the story of the Atlantic Hook & Ladder Company and the New Bern Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1. Visitors will also learn about the Great Fire of 1922, an inferno which reduced over 1,000 buildings to ashes and left much of the city in devastation. They can also gaze into the chestnut-brown eyes of Fred, a famous fire horse whose head is preserved in a glass box. Fred, who served the residents of New Bern for 17 years, is just one of the many exhibits and authentic memorabilia on display from New Bern's firefighting past. In March, a 9/11 memorial was installed next to the Firemen’s Museum. At the base of the blank concrete slab are four sides that read: "Sept. 11, 2011, Pentagon, Never Forget and Shanksville, PA."
White’s Farm - 5200 Hwy. 17, Vanceboro
One of the only places in Craven County where you can pick strawberries, mine for gems and pet a goat in one afternoon, White’s Farm offers a day of tasty treats, relaxation and fun for the whole family. In addition to a pick-your-own strawberry field, White’s Farm sales blackberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and watermelons and has a nursery with flowers galore. Add in a giant inflatable bounce pillow, a hands-on gem mining area and a homemade ice cream shop, and you’ve got one of Craven County’s most creatively unique destinations.
Circa 1850 Slave Quarters Museum and Park - southeast end of Howell Road, James City
The James City Historical Society recently kicked off its relaunch with an emphasis on one of its most significant projects — a restored mid-19th century slave quarters located on the site of an historic Black cemetery. The former slave quarters formerly stood at the current site of the Taco Bell restaurant in New Bern. In 1994, the building was acquired by the historical society, moved to its present location and restored using 1850s-era techniques and materials. The James City location for the house was selected due to a nearby 3-acre field, known as Far Cemetery, that contains the gravesites of 522 freedmen and slaves buried without tombstones or markers.
Havelock Aviation Museum - 201 Tourist Center Dr., Havelock
Located at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center, the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Museum highlights more than a century of flight technology that has helped define the Havelock-Cherry Point area. The aviation exhibits detail the aircraft U.S. Marines and other military aviators have flown in the past and continue to fly today. Visitors will learn the timeline of flight in eastern North Carolina, beginning at Kitty Hawk and continuing through the introduction of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. Some of the aircraft on display include a Boeing F4B-3 replica, a Douglas A-4M Skyhawk, a Grumman A-6E Intruder, and a McDonnell RF-4B Phantom II.
Fort Barnwell Fort - Hwy. 55 near Belltown and Biddle Roads
The small unincorporated community of Fort Barnwell is home to one of Craven County's more unique historical sites. In 1712 a fort was founded in the area by Colonel John Barnwell of the South Carolina militia. The fort was manned during the Tuscarora War, which was fought in North Carolina during the autumn of 1711 until February 1715 between British, Dutch, and German settlers and the Tuscarora Native Americans. Following the signing of a peace treaty, the fort was abandoned. Today, the area where Fort Barnwell formerly stood is an archeological site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Hidden treasures: 6 destinations that make Craven County a special place
