North Carolina's Most Historic Towns

North Carolina's history includes colonial settlement, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement — all leaving distinctive marks in small towns across the state.

New Bern
Founded 1710, New Bern was North Carolina's colonial capital and the site of the first printing press and first public school in the state. The Tryon Palace complex — a reconstruction of the colonial governor's mansion — is one of the finest historic restorations in the South. New Bern is also the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola (Caleb Bradham's pharmacy, 1898). The Swiss-German immigrant heritage gives the town a distinctive architectural character.

Bath
North Carolina's oldest incorporated town (1705). Bath was home to the pirate Blackbeard in the early 18th century and has three surviving colonial-era buildings: the Palmer-Marsh House (1751), St. Thomas Church (1734 — the oldest church in NC), and the Bonner House (1830). The small, preserved historic district gives a genuine sense of colonial coastal life.

Beaufort
One of the oldest towns in North Carolina (1709), Beaufort preserves a working waterfront of net houses, docks, and a maritime museum. The Old Burying Ground dates to 1709. The view across Taylor's Creek to Carrot Island — where wild horses descended from colonial stock graze — is one of the most iconic scenes in coastal NC.

Old Salem (Winston-Salem)
A Moravian settlement founded in 1766, Old Salem is a living history museum embedded within modern Winston-Salem. The Moravians built a self-sufficient community that is one of the best-documented colonial settlements in America. Single Brothers' House, the Tavern, and the pottery are operational demonstrations. The Winkler Bakery's Moravian cookies and sugar cake are made from 18th-century recipes.

Hillsborough
A colonial-era crossroads town that served as a Revolutionary War military headquarters and the site of multiple colonial and state capitals. The original layout of earthen fortifications and the colonial courthouse square survive. Margaret Lane Gallery and the Dickson House are highlights.