RALEIGH—The North Carolina General Assembly’s Quincentennial Committee met March 13 to continue discussions on preparations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Led by Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke), the committee has increased its efforts with former North Carolina History Project founder Troy Kickler at the helm. The North Carolina History Project is a special project of the John Locke Foundation.
The committee highlighted several upcoming events, including the Halifax Resolves Day celebration on April 12 and the Mecklenburg Declaration commemoration in May, which will feature an exhibit opening at the Charlotte Museum of History.
Coming up next month is the commemoration of the historic ride Paul Revere took to warn of the British troop movements on April 18-19, 1778. The Two Lights for Tomorrow initiative will honor the two lanterns hung in the Old North Church steeple that night used to signal which mode the British were taking: one if by land, two if by sea.
America 250 NC is seeking to participate in the Two Lights for Tomorrow by encouraging displays of lights in prominent government buildings on April 18. Additional details will be available on the America 250 NC website in the coming weeks.
Kickler presented a comprehensive working plan compiled from suggestions offered at previous meetings. Members of the committee recommended prioritizing the list, with several key initiatives taking the spotlight:
- Creating a timeline of important Revolutionary War events in North Carolina, with attention to lesser-known milestones before July 4, 1776
- Developing an interactive map of historical sites across the state
- Coordinating with existing county committees and encouraging the formation of new ones
- Examining initiatives in neighboring states to identify potential collaborative opportunities
- Creating an inventory of existing historical markers and identifying sites for new recognition
Sixty-five of the state’s 100 counties have established an official America 250 committee.
Counties that have not yet set up their committee can find assistance by visiting america250.nc.gov/countycommittees.
Committee members emphasized the importance of statewide presence rather than focusing solely on Raleigh-based events. They also stressed the need to create lasting legacies of the commemoration, such as the proposed extensions to the Over Mountain Victory Trail.
In that statewide vein, Kickler brought up the state’s well-known history of flight as an item to consider for promotion.
“There’s a reason North Carolina has ‘First in Freedom’ on the license plate,” said Kickler. “I would like to emphasize some events that tell that story.”
In addition to Kickler’s list, other members offered updates on various projects.
Sarah Koontz from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources highlighted the state’s ongoing projects, including a children’s book about the Edenton Tea Party Ladies and an upcoming publication called “Blues March” about the Over Mountain Men’s march to Kings Mountain.
Foundation Forward’s Jeffrey Morse presented his group’s “Charters of Freedom” project, which seeks to install replicas of America’s founding documents in public spaces across the state. Installation has been completed in 40 counties so far.
“Our mission is to teach and preserve American history and civics so all know how our government is meant to serve and protect we the people,” said Morse. He said they hope to have all 100 counties by 2026.
Funding the initiatives laid out during the meeting was also discussed. With $200,000 in operating funds already secured, the committee indicated it plans to seek additional legislative funding.
“My expectation is that this committee will make an ask of the legislature for funding,” Blackwell said, adding that several million dollars might be needed for programming across the state.
This article was updated to reflect Kickler is the former founder of the North Carolina History Project and not the current executive director.
