Bath offers plenty to do this winter

Published 6:54 pm Saturday, January 26, 2013

By Bea Latham

 

The busy Christmas and New Year season is behind us now and we are testing the waters of 2013. These early days of a new year often find us inside possibly awaiting the thrill of a few snowflakes, working on organizing receipts for tax season, or mentally planning a warm weather getaway. But, don’t get caught up in the winter doldrums – there are plenty of things to do at Historic Bath.

By taking advantage of Historic Bath’s Historical Film Series, the big screen movie experience is close to home and not only is admission free, so are the drinks and popcorn. The movies begin at 7 p.m. in the Orientation Room of the Historic Bath Visitor Center. On Feb. 21, the 2012 movie “Red Tails” will be shown in observance of Black History Month. This movie is based on the true story of the all-black World War II unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The 2011 film, “The Iron Lady” will be shown on March 21. Meryl Streep portrays Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of Britain whose political career and determination changed the rules that had limited women’s opportunities for leadership. Following in April is the classic “The Sound of Music.” On the Feb. 18, join us to fall in love with Maria who is failing in her attempt to become a nun but finds her real calling when she takes a job as the governess for Georg Von Trapp’s seven mischievous children. This movie has been a family favorite for almost 50 years and watching it never grows old!

The Historic Bath Lecture Series makes its 2013 debut on Feb. 2, as Laurel C. Sneed presents “Thomas Day, Cabinet Maker: Man in the Middle.” Sneed is a filmmaker, educator and researcher and she will share her work on Thomas Day, African-American artisan and businessman, (1801-1861) who had the largest furniture business in the state during the height of slavery. She will examine how he stood at the center of competing forces in nineteenth-century America – between black and white, slave and free, North and South, African and American, and art and craft. We are fortunate to be able to have Sneed with us and we hope that she will feel welcomed by a large turnout as she brings to life this artist who called North Carolina home and whose statue today stands outside of the Museum of History in Raleigh.

Sneed’s visit is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The lecture will begin at 10 a.m. in the Historic Bath Visitor Center.

You may also like to choose this quieter time of the year to take a tour of the Palmer-Marsh and Bonner Houses or maybe just take advantage of those more pleasant days that creep into the winter season in eastern North Carolina and stroll around the town with the walking tour map. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of the homes are given every hour, the Palmer-Marsh on the even hours and the Bonner on the odd hours. Just stop by the Visitor Center desk to purchase your ticket and get on the schedule.

Would you like to receive a monthly email of Historic Bath events? If so, please send your name and email address to bea.latham@ncdcr.gov.

 

The Historic Bath Visitor Center is located at 207 Carteret St. in Bath. You may call the Visitor Center for more information at 252-923-3971.  The center is open Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We offer tours daily but we can also tailor a visit (with advance notice) to meet your needs depending on the size and ages of the group and their interests. Please call us to learn what we can offer you and to schedule groups of more than 10. During our non-operating hours, walking tour brochures can be found outside the front door entrance.