Inspiring New Bern history,
serene park setting, 
& talented actors
in one magical evening!  

The New Bern Historical Society’s newest storytelling event, the Hallowed Ground Lantern Tour, returns! 

Take a 60-minute guided, lantern-lit walk through the wooded battlefield trails, where spirits from New Bern's Civil War past will share their inspiring stories of courage and conviction. Our 2023 program featured:
   ◦ A devoted wife who bravely fought disguised as a man
   ◦ Friends who found themselves on opposing sides of the war
   ◦ An influential Freedwoman who changed the course of the war
   ◦ A skilled nurse who was also a plucky Confederate spy . . . and more!

Enjoy more tales in the tent after your tour. While you are waiting to begin your tour, visit with local reenactors from the 7th and 5th NC Regiments and 35th US Colored Troops, and see their encampment.

Not a battlefield tour or a program about the war, these are poignant human stories of the experiences of civilians, soldiers, formerly-enslaved persons, and others. These gripping narratives are largely based on letters, diaries, and contemporaneous accounts.

Plan about 90 minutes for the entire event, which includes time in the tent after the guided tour. For more details and FAQs, click here. Group sizes are limited. Walk-ins MAY be accommodated on a space-available basis but they will have a longer wait before beginning the tour. 

Reservations recommended for a specific day and arrival time, but walk-ins will be accommodated. Reservations can be made below or at the New Bern Historical Society, 511 Broad Street, New Bern; phone 252.638.8558. Tickets on sale in February 2024.