Our Legacy
Our Story
The African American Heritage & Culture Center actively presents the historic impact & progression of African American heritage & culture in our region.
Abraham Galloway
Elected in 1868, former slave Abraham Galloway was the first African American in the North Carolina state legislature.
Harris Taxi Service
African American entrepreneurs established business to serve the community. Pictured next to her cab, Mary Fisher Harris
James Walker Hood
Religious leader James Walker Hood was bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME) Church in North Carolina from 1872 to 1916.
Heritage Walking Trail
The African American Heritage Sign Trail launched in June 2021. 16 sign panels explain and interpret significant historic events, people and places of African American heritage within the greater Craven Terrace and Dryborough neighborhoods of New Bern North Carolina.
Join us to preserve, promote and celebrate
African American art, music, culture and
heritage of New Bern and the region.
Coming Up Next
The African American Heritage and Culture Center announces a unique art event for Arts in April 2025. In partnership with St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, 604 Johnson Street, the event will be open to the public on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm in historic St. Cyprian’s Church.
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The art exhibit will feature African American artists from New Bern, whose original pieces will be displayed in the church’s center aisle, surrounded by light flooding in through the church’s historic stained-glass windows. Artists will be present to discuss their works with visitors. Pieces will include canvas, crochet, and floral art, photography, and pottery.
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“Family History is Local History” will be the theme for the “Sip and Paint” art activity, that will be held in the undercroft of the church also from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The participants will have their own tabletop easel, paint, brushes, and canvas set up to paint their original work. This activity is open to children and adults who are children at heart.
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There is no charge for the Art Exhibit or “Sip and Paint” activity. Donations will be accepted for future programs and St. Cyprian’s renovation fund.
Programs
Around New Bern
Early settlers joined Tuscaroran people and African-American freemen and freed slaves to build New Bern, a city rich in history and culture.
Celebrations
OUR HERITAGE & CULTURE
Before the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, eastern North Carolina's African American families led communities, commerce, education, business and religious communities.
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This region has a rich history of never-enslaved people who were joined by others fleeing or freed from slavery. Together they educated their children, cultivated their lands and built their communities into the time of Reconstruction.
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From that period through continued segregation and discrimination, two world wars, the Depression and into the later 20th Century, NC's African Americans struggled, endured and prospered.
Today, the stories of NC's African Americans speak of a shared heritage with all who have settled in eastern North Carolina.
THE AAHCC ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY offers stories and interviews about African American People, Places and Events. Go to "What We Do" and choose the ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY - it's easy to use and ready to grow.
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The African American Heritage & Culture Center welcomes you, your family and your organization as our ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY partners. Together we will present these stories about our fellow North Carolinians.
Membership Drive
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Become a member today!
AAHCC invites you to join a great tradition of preserving and presenting African American history and culture by becoming a member and engaging in the resources and programs we provide.
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Your membership provides opportunities to volunteer for programs and events that are important to the community, to work with other like-minded, caring members, and the satisfaction of knowing that your membership supports the preservation and commemoration of New Bern’s African American history.
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As a 501© (3) nonprofit that receives no federal funding and very little state, or local funding, the support of our members is very important to us.
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Your $25 annual membership donation is tax-deductible and helps support our Oral Histories, Community Forums, Art Exhibits, our annual Great Fire Commemoration, Musical Performances, Heritage Celebrations, and tours, significant to African American heritage. There will be a General Membership meeting only twice a year.
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Go to our Zeffy link below to fill out a membership form and pay the membership donation. You can also pay with cash or check by requesting a membership form from any of our Board of Directors. A downloadable membership form will be added to our website soon.