Historic New Bern

Tryon Palace was completed in 1770.  It served as the first colonial and state capitol building of North Carolina.  It was a political center during the Revolution.  New Bern was known and visited by the pirates who terrorized the Carolina shoreline.  The Hammock House, in nearby Beaufort, was one of Blackbeard's homes. His ship "Queen Anne's Revenge" was discovered in the waters off the Beaufort coast.

After the Revolution, New Bern became wealthy and developed a rich cultural life and claims many firsts in North Carolina:

• The first school to be chartered in North Carolina
• The first Roman Catholic Church
• The first Jewish synagogue
• The first postal service in the colony began here.
• The first Carolina printing press was in New Bern
• The first pamphlet, newspaper and book were printed here as a result.

New Bern became a major port and trading center in the 1800s. New Bern was captured and occupied by a large Union army under the command of General Ambrose Burnside after a fierce battle on March 14, 1862.  Burnside had 11,000 men and a battery of 6 boat howitzers.  Brigadier General Lawrence O’Brien had less than 4,000 untested troops to defend New Bern.  The Confederates suffered 68 dead, 116 wounded and 425 captured.  30 Union soldiers were killed and 169 wounded.  Union officers established headquarters in the mansions along the Neuse River. The rest of the soldiers lived throughout the city.  With New Bern captured, the North could move inland and disrupt the railroads carrying supplies to the main confederate army in Virginia.  The Confederate strategy was affected throughout the rest of the war as troops needed at the front in Virginia had to be detached to guard the vital railroads.  New Bern was occupied for the remainder of the war despite several attempts by Confederate forces to retake the city.  For this reason, New Bern survived with less physical damage than many other small Southern towns.

After Reconstruction, New Bern grew again.  Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi Cola in his pharmacy on Middle Street in 1898.  By 1916, there were 16 lumber mills here. Pitch and turpentine trade was established and seafood was shipped far and wide. 

New Bern has many beautiful, historic churches.  The churches have distinct architectural features and historical significance.  All are downtown and within walking distance of each other.

The First Baptist Church, constructed in 1847 is a Gothic Revival Structure and has excellent brickwork, high turrets and diamond panel glass windows. 

Christ Episcopal Church was first completed in 1824 and rebuilt from 1871 to 1885 after a fire nearly destroyed the original church.  In 1752, a silver communion service, a prayer book and a bible where given to the church by King George II of England. These are still on display at the church.  The tall Gothic Revival steeple is today one of the major features of the New Bern skyline.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist was constructed in 1907.  

St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in downtown New Bern was constructed in 1824. This original structure and adjoining rectory are located on Middle Street.

The First Presbyterian Church was completed in 1822.  It is a magnificent Federal-style building, which is similar to New England structures and is unique to the state.

In the early 1970's many downtown commercial buildings were demolished along the Trent River waterfront. The 14-acre tract of land remained vacant and the adjacent central business district continued to deteriorate as businesses followed the exodus to the suburbs.  In 1979 The Swiss Bear Downtown Redevelopment Corporation was founded to stimulate and revitalize New Bern’s downtown and waterfront areas.  As a result, revitalization has certainly come to New Bern.  More than $70 million has been invested in the rehabilitation and new construction of over 70 buildings.  Four new waterfront hotels, three marinas, a convention center in addition to major streetscape and park improvements have been completed throughout the downtown area.  The completion of the new Neuse River Bridge and removal of the old John Lawson Bridge have also dramatically changed the appearance and traffic flow of the downtown center. 

The face lifting of our city is continuing today.  The Alfred Cunningham Bridge into the downtown area will begin to be replaced in the near future.  A center median strip and new streetscape is slated for Broad Street sometime soon.  A 90unit condominium/retail waterfront project has begun near the Sheraton and the Bridge Point Inn will soon give way to a similar but much larger waterfront project.