Craven County is named for William Craven, who was the 1st Earl of Craven and was a Lord Proprietor…read moreof colonial North Carolina. This building is the main courthouse and houses the County Superior Court and the County District Court of the 3rd Judicial District. The rectangular-shaped red-brick building is two stories and faces east. There is a tall square tower with an entrance on the ground floor with a steep roof that rises above the roof line on the east front. At the north and south extremities are one story arched porticos, while the second story windows are arched. The structure's roof is mansard-shaped. The first story's interior has a cross hall layout with a central hallway. The second-story courtroom takes up the entire width of the structure. Street parking and a dedicated lot are nearby. [Review 18899 overall - 3383 in North Carolina - 2422 of 2022.]

On a residential street that is about a block from the side of the Trent River, this marker points…read moreout that yes, the first POTUS really did sleep here. The marker reads, "President Washington visited in the Stanly home two nights, April 20-21, 1791." George Washington toured the United States to observe political climate and to thank his supporters. His tour and stops along the way became important landmarks in the areas he touched. Washington saw more of his country while in office than any other American president before the twentieth century. He also kept a detailed diary. Online, there is more information. "In early 1791, after establishing a site for the new "Federal District" along the Potomac River, Washington embarked on a tour of the Southern states--a product of his desire to visit every state during his term of office. Proceeding from Mount Vernon via Fredericksburg and Richmond (Virginia) into North Carolina, Washington crossed the Roanoke River into Halifax in mid-April 1791. From there, the President's carriage tour took him through Tarboro, Greenville, New Bern, Trenton, and Wilmington before entering South Carolina. Washington re-entered North Carolina near Charlotte and traveled northward, visiting Salisbury, Salem, and Guilford Court House. Washington arrived on the outskirts of New Bern on the morning of April 20 and was greeted by a group of leading citizens who escorted the President into town. He recorded in his diary that the town had about 2,000 residents and that the 'buildings are sparce and altogether of wood." He noted that some of those buildings were "large and look well."" It is marker number C-19. [Review 20320 overall - 3495 in North Carolina - 1298 of 2023.]

One of less than a dozen drawbridges in North Carolina, the Alfred A Cunningham Bridge replaced an…read moreolder swing bridge that dated back to the 1950's. This new bridge opened in 2010 and is a double-leaf bascule bridge that carries Front Street in New Bern. Alfred Austell Cunningham was an American aviator and Marine Corps officer who became the first Marine Corps aviator and the first director of Marine Corps Aviation. His military career included service in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and U.S. operations in the Caribbean during the 1920s. The bridge opens on the hour and the half-hour from 6 am to 10 pm., except from 7:30 am to 8:30 am and from 4:30 pm to 6 pm, when it will remain closed.to help facilitate the exit of traffic in and out of downtown during commuting hours. Confused? Good luck. Bridge operators are employees of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, who own and operate the bridge. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 18892 overall - 3377 in North Carolina - 2415 of 2022.]

City of New Bern!! It has been an honor and a privilege to visit your city and assist with the…read moredisaster relief efforts from Hurricane Florence! Our disaster relief team from Los Angeles, CA (specifically Torrance) arrived on a late Saturday and some of the team was wearing our team shirts from the organization we had worked with. New Bern residents that saw us in a restaurant or other places went out of her way to say thank you to us for being there to help. Love the people, places, and the charming Bear statues everywhere. New Bern was founded in 1710 by a Swiss entrepreneur from Bern, Switzerland. Bern in Swiss means bear which is why there are many bear statues. We thank you so much for the kind hospitality. In the short time we were there, we did did our best and worked hard. We know there is still much work to be done as New Bern is one of the hardest hit cities in NC affected by the hurricane. We believe New Bern is on its way to a make an amazing comeback. We love you, New Bern! #CarolinaStrong

It had been quite awhile since we'd spent any time in this beautiful, historic town snuggled up…read moreagainst the Neuse and Trent Rivers - but I can say without a doubt that we will be back for a visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when they go all out to make it a magical wonderland for kids of all age. So much of the architectural integrity of the the central downtown area has been preserved, even highlighted, as the city has grown and spread out in a much more modern fashion. There are over 160 houses and buildings within in walking distance of the waterfront that are on the National Register, and that area contains almost 2000 crape myrtles, the city's official flower. It is a great deal of fun to walk around the downtown area, especially at night when the buildings are all lit up, especially the beautiful City Hall building. New Bern was founded in 1710 by Swiss and Palatine German immigrants, and it is the second oldest city in North Carolina to be settled by Europeans. The town was named for Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and the hometown of many of the initial settlers. The coat of arms of Bern contains the symbol of a bear, and there are brightly painted statues of bears all over the historical area of New Bern, and even an attractive little section named Bear Park.

Synopsis - Gorgeous venue with great staff and good vibes…read more Was in town for a powerlifting competition at the Riverfront Convention Center and was blown away by the venue. From the parking lots to the halls, concessions, and bathrooms, this place was beautiful and well taken care of. You can tell the staff take pride in their space. Not only was there enough room for the competition, there was plenty of seating for the crowd, good quality bathrooms for all, and easy to access staff areas to help break everything down at night. Really can't beat the views and location! Great experience all around. 5 Riverfront Stars out of 5!

We walked in just to check out brochures on Labor Day (this is also the tourist office) to see if…read morethere was something we could do around town, since most attractions were closed. We didn't find anything new (we had gotten marketing material in other places the day before) but the attendant was very friendly and it was nice to be able to use their facilities and to just look around this waterfront building. They have a statue of Caleb Bradham, creator of Pepsi Cola, right by the water front entrance and a very beautiful painting of Tryon's Palace in its hay days. A nice convention venue for this little costal town.

This marker is located inside the cloverleaf where US Highway 70 meets US Highway 17. I was…read moresouthbound on Front Street leaving New Bern when I spotted it. The marker reads, "Community was founded here in 1863 as resettlement camp for formerly enslaved people. It was named for Horace James, U.S. Army Chaplain." Online, there is more information. "Joe A. Mobley, author of a study of James City, has called Civil War-era New Bern a "Mecca for freedom." Seized by Federal forces in 1862, the city quickly became a refugee center for thousands of eastern North Carolina slaves seeking freedom and safety behind Union lines. In an effort to accommodate them the U.S. Army established three resettlement camps. These were consolidated in 1863 into one, known as the "Trent River settlement," located on land that once belonged to the family of Richard Dobbs Spaight." If the traffic ls light, you can pull to the breakdown lane to read the marker. [Review 280 of 2024 - 3537 in North Carolina - 21315 overall.]

The marker is located in front of the famous Pepsi Store where Caleb Bradham invented the…read moreworld-famous drink. Yes, it all happened here. "Is Pepsi okay?" The marker reads, "Caleb Bradham, 1867-1934. 'Brad's Drink' which he created in pharmacy here, was marketed as Pepsi-Cola after 1898." Online, there is more information. "Around the world, from Prague to Bangkok, the name Pepsi-Cola is known to the masses. The carbonated soft drink's popularity stems in part from shrewd marketing, driven for decades by the company's rivalry with its competitor, Coca-Cola. Both products originated in the American South, Coca-Cola in Atlanta, where the corporation is headquartered and visitors are welcomed to a Coke museum, and New Bern, the small eastern North Carolina town where Pepsi originated." "In the mid 1890s he produced a popular item which he called "Brad's Drink" and later "Pep-Kola." The key ingredients were coca leaf and kola nut. In 1898 Bradham changed the name to "Pepsi-Cola" and, in 1902, left the pharmacy to devote full time to the soft drink business. "Pepsi-Cola" was filed as a trademark in September 1902 and registered in 1903. The Pepsi-Cola Company was incorporated in December 1902. Bradham's friend and New Bern neighbor, pioneering female photographer Bayard Wootten, created the distinctive first logo." "The name of Caleb Bradham and the name of Pepsi are well-remembered in New Bern and in North Carolina. Bradham endowed an annual prize at the pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina. At the height of his acclaim and influence, he had his name mentioned as a potential candidate for governor. He was an active Shriner, bank officer, and a rear admiral in the North Carolina Naval Reserve." Me, I avoid cola drinks. Too much sugar, too many chemicals. I haven't had a Coke in at least five years and a Pepsi in even longer. But they've both diversified and acquired. Minute Maid is owned by one. Aquafina and Dasani water are owned by them too. [Review 18896 overall - 3380 in North Carolina - 2419 of 2022.]

I was originally directed to this location to update VIN # info for taxes due on a recently…read morepurchased vehicle. They further directed me to the NC DMV office (contrary to the info provided by the clerk manning the NC DMV '800' #). Everyone was friendly & mostly pleasant. In the end, I made my way to the local DMV office. I knew I should've followed my gut instinct & started there...