The State of the Palace Issue 1 | November 2025

A Letter From the Chair of the Tryon Palace Commission

Dear Friends of Tryon Palace,

It is my distinct privilege as Chair of the Tryon Palace Commission to reflect upon a truly remarkable period of growth, engagement, and stewardship at North Carolina’s premier historic site. Since becoming the chair of the Commission late 2024, I have seen the vibrant spirit that thrives within these hallowed grounds — a spirit fueled by your dedication and support of the beauty, history, and programs at Tryon Palace.

Looking back over the last several months, I think of the spectacular December Candlelight season, which once again transported thousands of visitors to a world of holiday wonder. As winter gave way to spring, we provided free admission to the Tryon Palace gardens in coordination with the New Bern Historical Society’s Annual Heritage Homes Tour. This event, a perennial favorite, showcased not only the breathtaking beauty of our heirloom plants but also the deep connection between Tryon Palace and the historic heart of New Bern.

The summer months brought a different kind of energy to the Palace grounds. Many families from all over the world enjoyed the Tryon Palace tours and outdoor interactive exhibits. Our Fourth of July celebration was a particular highlight and included an address from Governor Josh Stein, musket demonstrations, fife and drum performances, and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence that powerfully connected the present to the profound ideals of our nation’s founding.

In August, the Sons of the American Revolution and Tryon Palace worked together to commemorate the drafting and proclamation of the New Bern Resolves on August 27, 1774. The New Bern Resolves constitute a significant chapter in the history of the American Revolution, reflecting the growing discontent of the colonies with British rule and their bold steps toward self-governance. Tryon Palace, at that time the symbol of British rule, was at the center of this historic event.

Behind the scenes, your support has enabled crucial preservation work. This year saw the completion of a multi-month restoration project on the exterior woodwork of the Stanly House and a complete restoration of the Palace’s English eighteenth century, wrought iron front gate, ensuring its structural integrity and historical accuracy for decades to come. This vital work is a direct result of the generosity of our donor community, the Department of the Natural and Cultural Resources, and the General Assembly.

None of these achievements would be possible without the incredible people who form the Tryon Palace family. To our talented and tireless staff, who bring history to life every single day; to our dedicated volunteers, who generously give their time and passion; to our dedicated elected officials, who serve in a long line of public officials supporting Tryon Palace; to our generous donors and Foundation members, whose financial contributions are the bedrock of our mission, I offer my most sincere and profound gratitude.

As we look toward the autumn season and prepare for the cherished traditions it holds, we are filled with optimism for the future. Thank you for being an indispensable part of our story and for ensuring that Tryon Palace remains a timeless treasure for all.

Sincerely,

James Normen Chair, Tryon Palace Commission

Facilities

Chris Bach

The Dixon House All shutters were built and prepped. The installation process went smoothly and was well-received by the community. We also completed repairs on the some of the railings of the exterior entryway steps, and the replacement of the Dixon House backup generator is in the design phase.

The Daves House All shutters were repaired—we fixed all rotting wood and painted—and the installation process has begun. The first and second floor bathrooms were renovated, and the second and third floors were cleaned and painted in anticipation of being used for staff offices. We also scraped, caulked, and painted the exterior of the building.

The Cook House The HVAC unit was replaced.

The New Bern Academy The fence on the west side of the Academy underwent repairs.

The Commission House  Like the Stanly House, the Commission House required a complete shutter replacement, and that project is underway and has reached the installation phase. All rotting siding was replaced, and the exterior of the building was scraped, caulked, and painted. The second floor A/C was also replaced.

The Disosway House The roof was replaced, as were the first and second floor A/C units. A complete shutter replacement was required, and the new shutters were readied for installation. The replacement of the exterior siding and painting is underway.

The Stanly House The Stanly House shutters underwent a complete replacement. Shutters were built—including removing and refurbishing the hardware, and staff have finished the installation. Rotting siding was replaced, and the exterior of building was scraped, caulked, and painted. The railing around the roof was also replaced and painted, and the metal roof was scraped and repainted. The new HVAC project passed the design phase and has entered the bid process.

The Jones House The shutters were repaired and installed. We have ordered the necessary materials to replace old and damaged siding.

The Palace The rotting wood of the Tryon Palace boxing and dental molding was repaired and painted. The inner courtyard iron fence was also primed and painted.

Looking Ahead…

We are looking to finalize the replacement of the Stanly House HVAC unit and the Daves House backup generator. New shutters will be installed on all historic houses, and the Jones House siding replacement will round out the current exterior historic house projects. We also look forward to the completion of construction on the interior of the Douglas Complex.

Education

Lindy Cummings

Staff and Development

• Ericka Osen joined the team on June 30 as the Historic Costumer. Lindy Cummings was promoted from Research Historian to Education Branch Head.
• The education staff at the Palace prepared for and launched a new interpretive plan in January 2025— the first major interpretive update in two decades. The initiative involved collaboration among key staff members who planned and trained others. Part-time staff commented that this was one of the few times they had enjoyed the opportunity to meet as a group, explore relevant information, and learn new content during a dedicated training period.

Educational and Interpretive Programming

• As part of the America 250 initiative, education staff organized two events in partnership with local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution. The North Carolina History Center’s Mattocks Hall hosted Revolutionary War Day featuring family-friendly activities and public lectures on 18th century topics with an attendance of approximately 427. On August 24, 2025, the 251st Anniversary of the First Provincial Congress and New Bern Resolves was commemorated on the Palace grounds with a parade and various patriotic organizations participating. Event attendance was 650 people, including 165 parade participants.
• On May 23, 2025, the site commemorated the final days of Royal Governor Josiah Martin at Tryon Palace. Martin, the final royal governor of North Carolina, preemptively fled the colonial capital in the spring of 1775. Martin was the first royal governor to leave his post as tensions escalated in the wake of the Battles of Lexington and Concord that April. This is the first time the Palace has commemorated Martin’s departure.
• In February, the volunteer members of the 35th United States Colored Troops presented a dramatic, first-person interpretation of the histories of key historical USCT members. In June, Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson, co-director of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network and chair of the NC African American Heritage Commission, presented the 2025 Juneteenth lecture entitled “Freedom, Liberty, Democracy & Citizenship in the Age of Revolution.” We look forward to closing out the year with additional African American lectures.
• Our Volunteer Fife & Drum and NC Continental Line interpretive groups received and continue to receive requests for offsite participation at DNCR Historic Sites, National Park Service sites, private sites, and city commemorations across North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina as the nation prepares for the semiquincentennial in 2026. We anticipate that the high volume of requests will continue into 2026.
• In the coming six months, we look forward to welcoming students back—supporting learning outcomes for primarily 4th and 8th grade social studies, and providing excellent guest experiences while planning commemorative programs and events.

Gardens

Mike Spafford

Staffing Updates

Madalynn Binkerd was hired to fill the vacant gardener position. She started on May 15 and hit the ground running, proving to be a great asset to an already stellar staff. Additionally, Gardens has 20 volunteers that assist the four full-time gardeners with everything from trellis construction, mowing, weeding, planting, and the Spring and Fall Plant Sales.

Greenhouse and Nursery Updates

Total sales for the Spring Heritage Plant Sale in April were $40,311.23 with $6,989.35 in total expenses, making it the second highest spring plant sale profit. We sold 332 woodies and vines, the majority purchased from local wholesale nurseries. We also sold 2,360 perennials, ferns and grasses, the majority of which were produced by Tryon Palace staff. Also sold were 108 fruiting woodies including 36 figs propagated from Tryon Palace Garden plants. Rounding out the sales were herbs, vegetables, and annuals totaling 957 plants — all produced in-house.

Gardens Planting and Maintenance

Summer display gardens were planted in April with nearly 5,000 annuals and ornamental grasses. The Commission House gardens continued their transformation into a collector’s garden, displaying plants from around the world. Expansion of the west Wilderness Garden herbaceous plantings continued with the addition of many ferns and woodland plants in the shade gardens and with the addition of more than 150 perennials in the prairie garden. The Dixon medicinal and dye garden was planted after more than a year of planning. We installed and mulched 200 plants of nearly 50 different species of perennials—all produced by Tryon Palace staff. The Kitchen Garden continues to be updated seasonally, and spring has given way to summer crops such as okra and cotton.

Outreach and Education

• February 11: Mike Spafford presented at the Craven County Master Gardener Symposium titled “Four Seasons at the Palace”. 175 people were in attendance.
• February 11: David Hite presented at the Fairfield Harbour Garden Club meeting. 31 people attended his talk about cover cropping.
• February 13: David Hite presented at the Trent Woods Garden Club February meeting. 29 people attended.
• March 8: Mike Spafford and Hadley Cheris presented at the Tryon Palace Garden Lecture “Exceptional Plants for Every Garden”. The talk highlighted unique plant selections available at the Spring 2025 Plant Sale. 70 people attended and donations of $292 were received.
• May 10: Rachel Tipton of Harbourside Garden Company presented “Gardening on the Coast: The Do’s and Don’ts” to 50 people for the May Tryon Palace Garden Lecture.
• July 12: Brent Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs presented “Bulbs for Sexy Southern Landscapes” to 80 people for the July Tryon Palace Garden Lecture.
• July 31: David Hite presented at the New Bern Breakfast Rotary. 25 people attended to learn about different garden herbs.

Continuing Education and Professional Development

The staff attended the Eastern Landscape Conference in Rocky Mount in February. Aaron Gerlach became a Certified Plant Professional through the NCNLA in April. In June, Aaron Gerlach and Mike Spafford attended a two-day Certified Arborist Prep Course presented by the North Carolina Urban Forest Council in Wilson. Both Aaron Gerlach and Mike Spafford then successfully passed the International Society of Arboriculture exam to become certified arborists. Madalynn Binkerd is scheduled to take the exam to become a NCDA Public Pesticide Applicator. Staff also attended the JC Raulston Arboretum Landscape Color and Professional Field Day on July 10, in Raleigh.

Goals for the Next Quarter

We will continue expanding the range of plants throughout the gardens with an emphasis on Eastern North Carolina native plants, upgrade garden pathways and improve signage. With the help of Facilities, we are renovating Tryon Palace water features. The Kellenberger fountain was replaced and is working nicely. We plan to use the Fall Garden Sale to educate the public about the diversity of plant material available to grow in Eastern North Carolina. We also continue to inform and educate the public through our Garden Lecture series. Mike Spafford spoke at the September lecture about the fascinating and unusual plants available at the Fall Plant Sale. In November, Brice Lane will entertain and educate garden lecture attendees about the importance of biodiversity in the garden.