Newport Historical Museum - Newport NC

06/12/2026

Newport Historical Museum will have a booth at this event. Come by and visit with us on June 20 at the Civic Center!

06/09/2026

05/30/2026

The Teacherage has been a part of Newport's story for nearly a century.

Built in 1927 to house teachers of Newport Consolidated School, the Teacherage provided living quarters for educators serving the growing community. Today, the building serves as the Newport Historical Museum - Newport NC, where artifacts, photographs, and exhibits help preserve and share the history of Newport for future generations.

This post is part of our Newport Landmarks series, highlighting the places that have helped shape our town's history.

Have a favorite memory of the Teacherage or Newport Historical Museum? Share it in the comments.

05/30/2026

Reminder! The Thursday, June 4, 2026, Parlor Talk will be held at the Museum beginning at 11 am. Weather permitting, Newport Fire Department will be bringing their oldest and newest fire trucks, and we are serving hot dogs and all the trimmings for lunch! We also will be accepting a 250th commemorative Betsy Ross flag from WoodmenLife Chapter 1513. The public is invited, and there is no reservation or fee required.

If you missed the May 7 Parlor Talk, the museum was presented with a $5,000 check from WoodmenLife Chapter 1513 Morehead City to help with replacing the heating system. Kevin Taveirne, Deputy Chief of Administration /Fire Marshal, Newport Fire Department, spoke about all of his roles and the growth of the fire department. There are two stations, and work is being done on staffing now. Volunteers are encouraged, and some just drive trucks. He teaches CPR for free. (Any expenses are covered by the Volunteer Association.) He also teaches fire extinguisher safety, inspects foster homes, and distributes free carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Knox boxes that store keys for emergency entrance are available for purchase through the fire department for businesses and homes. New or renovated businesses are required to have Knox boxes.

05/04/2026

If you are still thinking about a Mothers' Day gift, how about an honorary or memorial brick in the Museum's brick walkway. Fathers' Day is coming up in June, so you can get ahead on that one! Bricks are $75. Please contact Susan Davis at 252-622-0042.

05/01/2026

If you missed the April 2 Parlor Talk, the speaker was Doris Oglesby who talked about the origin of the Newport Pig Cookin’ Contest and its continuance to 2026, its final year. The first one took place in a tent behind the Newport School gym. It took a lot of people to put the event together, and there just aren’t the volunteers to continue.

The origin of the Newport Pig Cookin’ is connected to the Newport Developmental Center. The Center was started by Doris Edwards, and Doris Oglesby was asked to fill in for the administrator who left. She filled in, then took over the job permanently, never leaving! The Center needed furniture, and she went to the Town asking for money for the furniture. The first pig cookin’ was held to raise money for this need. It continued every year, eventually providing money for many local nonprofit organizations. She took over the bake sale and visited different businesses for contributions. People she contacted were wonderful and always willing to donate.

At the conclusion of her talk, she answered questions. The most pigs were 125 and this year only 50. The committee starts planning in January for the April event. There is a lot of behind the scenes work like state-required forms and audits. The largest attendance at the Center was 120. Most were from Carteret County, but there were some from Craven and Onslow Counties. The Center served a great need, as it was started when public education was not provided for mentally challenged children. The Carteret County Board of Education took over the Center, and now it is a preschool. The Center served its clients from birth to death. She worked there for 34 and ½ years.

04/03/2026

Stop by the Museum to check out the wonderful art by Newport Elementary School students on display in our parlor! Thank you Frances VanPatten for your continued work to display art in the Museum.

03/30/2026

If you missed the March 5 Parlor Talk, the speaker was Nicole Wagner, Forest Service East Zone Archeologist (Uwharrie and Croatan Forests).

Her talk included Venus Flytraps, archeologic forest site protection including Native American and later historical sites, forest health and restoration, etc. The research and preservation of CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camps was discussed. The Newport Simmons Fire Lookout Tower and its history was especially interesting. There were once six fire towers in the area, and this one is still standing. Built in 1935, it is protected under the National Historic Preservation Act. She reviewed its history, including its namesake Furnifold Simmons. It was truly a most informative talk!!

03/05/2026

Thank you David and Frances VanPatten for all your work on displays at the Museum. This one was just completed and is constructed from repurposed Museum doors.

Don't forget, tomorrow, March 5, our monthly Parlor Talk is scheduled at 11 am. Come to the Parlor Talk and also see what's new!

02/13/2026

Pampered Chef fundraiser!! Thank you, Jo McCabe, for coordinating this fundraiser for the Museum. Pampered Chef is donating 15% of sales during this event, which closes June 1, 2026. Your orders will be shipped directly to you. There are catalogs at the Museum for you to browse, or you can use the QR code and go online. If you don't cook or bake, I'm sure you know someone who does! We appreciate your help with this fundraiser.