When I spotted this tall granite obelisk on the grounds of the Lenoir County Courthouse, I fully…read moreexpected that it was going to be another memorial to the Confederate soldiers from this area who served in the Civil War. But it's not that! Instead, this marker memorialized North Carolina's first (and fifth) governor! Richard Caswell was born near Baltimore Maryland and was a surveyor and lawyer then served in the Continental Congress. He was president of the provincial congress that drafted North Carolina's first constitution in 1776, and he took the oath of office as the State's first governor in 1777. The original monument was erected at the intersection of Queen and Caswell Streets in 1881. It was damaged by fire in 1895 and replaced in 1908. In 1929 the Daughters of the American Revolution erected an iron fence around the monument. And in 1934 the second monument was damaged in street paving and subsequently removed to the city landfill. Sections of the monument were subsequently recovered and reassembled, and today the monument sits in front of the Lenoir County Courthouse. The marker is inscribed as follows: Front: Richard Caswell, / their first Governor / under a free Con- / stitution. / Called to / the head of af- / fairs in North Caro- / lina in the struggle with Great / Britain for Independence, he gave / himself up to the service of his country / without stint and without compensation. Side: Born August 3d, 1729, / Died 10th of November, 1789; / An accomplished surveyor, and able / lawyer, a skillful financier, a successful / soldier, a profound statesman, a devoted / patriot and an honest man - the an- / nals of North Carolina for forty years attest his virtue, his /capacity and his services. Side: Deputy Surveyor of the Colony, Member / of the Colonial Assembly, Colonel of / the Colonial Forces, Member of the / Provincial Congresses, Delegate to / the Continental Congress, Pub- / lic Treasurer, Colonel of the / Revolutionary Forces, Brig- / adier-General, President / of the Congress that / framed the first State / Constitution, four / times elected / Governor of / North Carolina, / Comptroller Gen- / eral, elected Delegate / to the Convention to / frame the Federal Constitution, Member of the / State Convention to ratify the / Federal Constitution. Awesome stuff! [Review 15478 overall, 982 of 2021, number 3021 in North Carolina.]

Harmony Hall was built in 1772 and is a real gem. It is open to tour Wednesdays through Saturday…read morefrom 10am to 4pm. When you arrive at the front door, just knock as they keep the door locked. The volunteer working will provide the background of the house. North Carolina's first Governor made Harmony Hall act as the Capital of the state during the war to protect the records. The house may have been used as a hospital at one point. 10 of 12 children of one family died here and another man committed suicide. So there has been a lot of tragedy there. Two floors of the restored house can be toured as well as the one room schoolhouse and garden. The house has 18th and 19th century furnishings. Upstairs one room has a very large doll collection. The schoolhouse shows what it would have been like to attend school in a room with desks and blackboards. A skeleton key is used to unlock the building. A garden club keeps up the garden's beautiful flowers. Harmony Hall is worth a visit. There is no admission fee but donations are accepted to maintain the property.

This green and gold historical marker is located in the parking lot of the visitor's center. It is…read morenot an official state marker and indicates that it is "privately funded and erected in honor of R.C.Gatlin." The marker reads, "Richard Caswell Gatlin, January 18 1890 - September 8, 1896. Kinston Native, West Point Graduate, US Army Officer, Confederate General. Born at Red House Plantation two miles west of Kinston. Grandson of North Carolina's first State governor, Richard Caswell. Served in the Black Hawk War 1832, Indian Territory 1832-1839, 2nd Seminole War 1839-1842 and Mexican War 1845-1848 where he was wounded and decorated for meritorious service at the Battle of Monterrey. Commanded US Army posts in Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska, Utah and New Mexico before resigning to service his home state during the Civil War. Commanded Confederate Department of North Carolina 1861-1862 and was NC State Adjutant General 1863-1865. Kinston/Lenoir County's first West Point graduate and only Confederate General. Buried in Fort Smith National Cemetery, Arkansas." Online, there is more information. "Richard Caswell Gatlin, soldier, Confederate officer, and farmer, was born at Kinston, Lenoir County. His father was John S. Gatlin, the son of John Gatlin who was one of the early settlers of Kinston; his mother was Susannah Caswell, the youngest child of Governor Richard Caswell." "While on a visit to Fort Smith, Ark., he was captured by Arkansas State forces on 23 Apr. 1861 when the state was on the verge of secession. After his parole, he resigned his commission in the U.S. Army and offered his services to North Carolina. He was first made adjutant general of the state, with the rank of major general of militia; later he received the rank of colonel of infantry in the regular Confederate Army and was given command of the Southern Department, in charge of coastal defense, with headquarters at Wilmington." "After the war Gatlin moved to Arkansas where he engaged in farming in Sebastian County until 1881, when he moved again to Fort Smith. He died at Mount Nebo, Yell County, Ark., at the age of eighty-seven, and was buried in the National Cemetery at Fort Smith." [Review 15465 overall, 969 of 2021, number 3009 in North Carolina.]

As I've seen a few Confederate things here and there lately including Beauvior (Jefferson Davis's…read moreretreat) in Biloxi https://www.yelp.com/biz/beauvoir-the-jefferson-davis-home-and-presidential-library-biloxi?hrid=BWsZt2A-u_ExRjKPtx8scQ and the Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans https://www.yelp.com/biz/confederate-memorial-hall-museum-new-orleans?hrid=8Yw80LszilMVhINuwhjdkw this was an interesting addition to the story of the Confederacy. You might not have known that the CSA had a brown water navy but they did. The Neuse (and two other ironclad ships) defended the rivers of the South from Union ships. The display here starts off with a ten to fifteen minute movie that tells the tale of the Neuse. And to be honest, if they hadn't hit a sandbar on the way to the battle of New Bern, they might have been able to have some affect on the Civil War. After the movie, you'll get to see what remains of this ship. And the first time i saw it, I was impressed with the size. I had no idea that it was this large! While all that remains is the below-the-waterline pieces, it is surrounded by memorabilia that tells the tale of the Southern side of the Civil War as well as what life was like on board the ship. Quite interesting and well worth the $5 entry fee. [Review 15477 overall, 981 of 2021, number 3020 in North Carolina.]

If you're interested in the history of the Lenoir county area - and especially the Civil War, this…read moreis a must see. Very interesting museum focusing on the history of Kinston area in the Civil War, with the CSS Neuse as the center piece. The relic of the old CSS Neuse is very interesting, but the museum is about more than the ship. Overall the museum has done a great job of making the history interesting and coming alive.

This is a really interesting thing to take a look at. I think I recommend looking at it both…read morebefore, and after, going to the near-by interpretive center. This lets you see what the ironclads would have looked like when they were all together. It's a really interesting thing to see, but the real history is in the building next door.

If you are in Kinston on a Saturday, make sure to stop by and walk around this massive boat. They…read morebuilt the replica to the design of the original so it is really neat to walk around and feel like what it was like to live and work on the boat. The volunteers can answer your questions and provide extra tidbits. The CCC Neuse II is open on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm as it is run by volunteers. There is no cost to view the replica boat though but they do appreciate donations. There is a large parking lot across the street from the replica. This attraction does require walking up stairs to get to the second level. Then other stairs to go below deck.

The Casewell No 1 Fire Station Museum is open on Saturdays in Downtown Kinston. It is run by…read morevolunteers. It is a small museum but full of history for the fire truck to various hoses and nozzles to safety gear. It is a neat museum to check out the history of firefighting and see how it has changed and improved over the years.

I LOVED THIS PLACE! Great historical significance to Kinston and amazing hospitality displayed by…read moreMr. Basden, whom took the time to talk not only about the Kinston Fire Department but also local attractions. Being an emergency services worker from the West Coast, we were able to share stories and interest as well as learn from one another's experiences in the fire service. I would highly recommend this museum to anyone in town and I'll definitely be back to share more stories and contribute to the brotherhood that is the fire service.

Being a somewhat coastal city, Kinston experienced both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War…read more This marker points out an extended engagement as Union forces sought to develop a supply line through the area that was guarded by Confederates. In the end, some 1257 Union soldiers were lost and more than 1500 Confederate. It is considered a Union Army victory. There is a lot of information to digest on the marker. The first paragraph reads, "In the late stages of the Civil War Union forces were intent on moving up the rail line from New Bern through Kinston to Goldsboro. Their objective was to unite with Sherman and open a supply route through eastern North Carolina. Confederate troops entrenched on Southwest Creek sought to impede their progress. For three days the opposing armies clashed in the fields and woods south and east of the creek. Union Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox commanded over 13,000 soldiers, most belonging to the divisions of Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer and Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Carter. Gen. Braxton Bragg led a Confederate force of 12,500 men, organized in divisions led by fellow North Carolinians Gen. Robert F. Hoke and Gen. D. H. Hill. The Junior Reserves, mostly seventeen-year-olds mustered in only months before, came under Hill's command." "The Battle of Wyse Fork (also known as the Battle of Kinston and the Battle of Southwest Creek) involved one of the largest concentrations of troops ever on North Carolina soil." The marker has a small parking area. There are other markers around Kinston that point out some defensive and offensive positions and battles. [Review 278 of 2024 - 3535 in North Carolina - 21313 overall.]

I have been going to the Kinston Country Club since I was a child. I am now a member myself and I…read morelove it. We love eating in the 3 restaurants they have, swimming, playing golf and hanging out with some great people.