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Tryon Palace gardens
Tryon Palace
New Bern church
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Located at the head of the Neuse River, New Bern is a wonderful
town to explore by foot. Everything of historical merit is
within eight blocks of the waterfront. In addition to the
Tryon Palace (800) 767-1560, North Carolina's first Governor's
Mansion, there's the Fireman's Museum (919) 636-4087, a Civil
War museum (919) 633-2818, the Attmore-Oliver House (919)
638-8558, and many other fine 19th-century Victorian homes.
You will not need to look far for places to dine in New Bern,
for there are several award-winning restaurants right on the
waterfront.
New Bern is the second oldest city in North Carolina and
was settled in 1710 by German Palatine and Swiss colonists
led by Baron Christopher Von Graffenreid. He purchased the
land from the Tuscarora Indians who had a small settlement
here known as Chattawka, which meant "where the fish are taken
out." As a point of interest, the oldest water elm tree in
the US still stand in the historic section of downtown,and
under that tree the treaty with the Indians was signed!
Named for the city of Bern Switzerland, the town was located
on the triangle of land where the Trent and Neuse Rivers meet.
The original settlers suffered with the climate, a lack of
provisions, diseases and Indian problems.
A "Carolina Charter" was issued by King Charles II after
he was restored to the throne in 1660 granting his loyal supporters
and drinking buddies, (The Lords Proprietor) wide areas of
land in the New World. The Carolina Charter spread from Virginia
to the Spanish border of Florida. The name Carolina came from
"Carolus", the Latin word for Charles. William, Earl of Craven
was one of the original Lords Proprietor and Craven County
bears his name. The royal governor William Tryon, saw the
need for a permanent capital in the growing colony and selected
New Bern as the site.
- Eddie Jones
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