Tryon Palace

New Bern church

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, North Carolina's first Governor's Mansion, there's the Fireman's Museum, a Civil War museum, the Attmore-Oliver House, and many other fine 19th-century Victorian homes. You will not need to look far for places to dine in New Bern; 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 U.S. still stands 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 is 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