Main Exhibits

Visitors are invited to experience several of Tryon Palace’s permanent exhibits, which can be found in the North Carolina History Center, Governor’s Palace, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

For a look at our visiting exhibitions, click here.

New Bern Academy Museum

“Face to Face: Civil War Sketches and Stories”

Experience New Bern’s Occupation through the eyes of African Americans, Confederates, Union soldiers, and women caught between both North and South. Spanning the March 1862 invasion of Burnside’s forces, through the devastation of the 1864 yellow fever epidemic, “Face to Face” reveals the daily lives of both military officials and citizens under their rule through artifacts, audiovisual panels, compelling stories, and period images. Learn more about the New Bern Academy Museum, located at 508 New Street.

Displayed artifacts include:

• Civil War drum that was captured at the Battle of New Bern, March 14, 1861
• Civil War era patriotic apron on loan from the New Bern Historical Society
• Amputation kit from the period
• Artifacts that were stolen by Union soldiers and later recovered
• A recreated hospital scene depicting a yellow fever outbreak

North Carolina History Center

Guion Gallery – “Treasures from the Attic”

Named in honor of Bess Guion, Tryon Palace’s newest gallery was dedicated on April 5, 2019, as part of the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Tryon Palace’s reopening. The Guion Gallery honors the original collection of decorative arts, and boasts pieces purchased by and donated to Tryon Palace. Tryon Palace reinterpreted the Governor’s Palace and grounds in an attempt to make it more historically accurate to how Governor Tryon may have lived here in 1770. This reinterpretation made many of the decorative arts pieces unusable in the historical setting. In an attempt to display the beautiful and impressive collection spearheaded by Mrs. Maude Moore Latham, theTreasures from the Attic exhibit will remain a permanent exhibit in the Guion Gallery in the North Carolina History Center. Entrance to the Guion Gallery and Treasures from the Attic exhibit is free to the public.

First Citizen’s Regional History Museum

North Carolina’s Central Coastal Region comes to life through artifacts, graphics, audios, videos, and touch-screen interactives. Follow the “River of Light” to explore five centuries of the region’s history and learn more about the key forces that shaped its development. Learn more.