New Bern History Exhibit Finds New Home

The popular exhibit that wowed thousands at the North Carolina History Center in celebration of the New Bern Historical Society’s 100th Anniversary, has found a new home. It will now grace the walls of New Bern’s DoubleTree Hotel. In partnership with the DoubleTree, the Historical Society has now installed its exhibit “Through the Looking Glass, A Journey with the Storytellers” and it is open and available to the public. This exhibit features hundreds of images from New Bern’s past sharing the stories of many who made our town what it is. You’ll meet folks from Judge Gaston to Abraham Galloway and Gilbert Waters to Miss Gertrude Carraway. You’ll marvel at the many images from our past.

In 2023, the New Bern Historical Society celebrated its 100th Anniversary. After 100 years, the Historical Society has a large collection of images and artifacts of New Bern’s history. Many of these have been hidden for years. After working for three years with the design team from Design Dimension in Raleigh, the exhibit was developed and shared with the public at the Duffy Gallery in the NC History Center. That exhibit came down in January of 2024, but the Historical Society was determined to continue to offer all these wonderful images to the public. The partnership with the DoubleTree has allowed that to happen.

Executive Director Anthony Giardino has pursued this project since taking the post. “This incredible exhibit is the result of years of leadership, planning, fundraising, and a vision to share these images with the New Bern community. Our Centennial Committee, Board of Directors, generous donors, John Haroldson and Rowena Arroza of DoubleTree Hilton, and Design Dimension are the true champions in bringing this vision to fruition. Thank you to all involved!”

Visitors to the exhibit were delighted! “I’m definitely coming back, there’s so much to see!” “This is the best exhibit I’ve seen here!” and “There is so much I never knew, and I was born here!” These are just a few of the comments from the visitor’s book during the exhibit’s 9-month life at the History Center. Now we are thrilled to have this exhibit for years to come on display at the DoubleTree Hilton.

Visitors are welcome to visit the exhibit during business hours at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the New Bern Riverfront at 100 Middle Street in New Bern.

The mission of the New Bern Historical Society is to celebrate and promote New Bern and its heritage through events and education. Offices are located in the historic Attmore-Oliver House at 511 Broad Street in New Bern. For more information, call 252-638-8558 or go www.NewBernHistorical.org or www.facebook.com/NewBernHistoricalSociety.