September 11, 2020
The Charlotte Museum of History is opening its grounds to the public on Saturday, September 19 for a self-guided tour. This is a great chance to get out of the house and view the Hezekiah Alexander House, which is located on the Museum grounds.
Details:
For one day only! On September 19, the Museum will open our 8-acre site for a self-guided, outdoor experience of Charlotte’s oldest home site. Guests can explore the Museum’s park-like setting, walk through the garden, and view the historic buildings. Tickets are discounted to just $10 per vehicle and include a digital guidebook that tells the story of the people who lived and worked at the Rock House and includes videos and resources to dig deeper into Charlotte’s past. To support social distancing, tickets are limited.
Visitors over the age of 5 are required to wear a face covering when they may be within six feet of any person not in their group, including Museum staff. Visitors ages 2-5 are highly encouraged to wear a face covering. You can read our full mask policy here: https://charlottemuseum.org/product/an-afternoon-on-the-grounds/
The Museum building as well as the historic buildings will not be open. No restrooms are available for visitors, so please plan accordingly.
September 11, 2020
From Preservation North Carolina:
The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, in partnership with World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Preservation North Carolina, recently secured protection of Nina Simone’s childhood home. The home, located in Tryon, North Carolina is now protected with a preservation easement held by Preservation North Carolina, a statewide historic preservation advocacy organization. A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement where a property owner agrees to permanently protect a historic building’s authentic character. With the easement in place, the home is now protected indefinitely, with the agreement carrying forward to all future owners. While protecting the home, the easement will not impede rehabilitation of the home, but ensure its historic character is maintained and prevent demolition.
“Preservation NC has long been in the business of saving the places that matter to the diverse communities of North Carolina—and equally important, we are committed to telling the stories of those places,” said Preservation NC President, Myrick Howard. “When the place disappears, frequently, the story does too. Easements are one of the most important tools we have to save places and their stories. We are beyond delighted and honored to be a part of preserving not just Nina Simone’s childhood home, but the powerful story of her roots in North Carolina.”
For more: “Nina Simone Childhood Home Permanently Protected”
September 10, 2020
Another textile mill in Charlotte is finding new life as a food hall that will also include office and retail space. The mill, known historically as Lawrence Knitting Mills and now known as Lintmen’s, is located at 2315 North Davidson Street, close to the historic Optimist Hall.
Read more about this project: “New food hall to open in Charlotte in 2021, one mile from Optimist Hall”