300 Years: The History of Beautiful, Historic New Bern

It's a quiet waterfront town with a lot of hidden history; a place with all the big box retailers and businesses, as well as the mom-and-pop shops down the street. But, New Bern is home to a major piece of state history that sometimes goes unnoticed.

Named for bears and the daughter city to a small village deep in Switzerland, New Bern is the second oldest city in our state. It was founded in 1710 by Baron Christoph von Graffeinreid, a Bern, Switzerland native.

"It was the colonial capital and the first capital of the state of North Carolina, so many firsts began right here in New Bern so you could say that this is the beginning of the state," Linda Staunch, Executive Director with New Bern’s 300th Anniversary Celebration.

It remained a major city in the state through the Civil War years, where Union forces won the Battle of New Bern in 1862. Now, the history is what drives the waterfront community. Folks here say it's that area and the people that make the town so special.

“Nobody can beat the downtown because you go to any downtown; you're not going to see one like this one anywhere. It's like an eight to ten block area for commerce and it's really wonderful," Tom Balance, owner of Captain Ratty’s Restaurant, said.

"We’re really proud to be a part of a real downtown, a downtown that has survived and a downtown that continues to grow and we're real proud of that," said Greg Smith, the manager of Mitchell Hardware.

"We have customers that come in everyday and we know them by name. You can't walk down the street without saying hi to someone you know," said Kristi Ray, a waitress and New Bern native.

"Really, it's the people that keep somebody here. I mean, it's pretty but I've been to pretty places. And it's quaint and all but when you get right down to it, it's you and me, dealing together and working together," Chief Frank Palombo with the New Bern Police Department said.

You can find locally-owned stores, restaurants and other adventures, like bear hunting, dotting the streets.

"I really take it for granted. I think a lot of people do unless you go elsewhere and you realize that New Bern is really nice," Ray said.

And a place where big city fun can be found…

"If you like golf, there are great golf courses. If you like boating, I mean, you've got two gorgeous rivers,"

….in the comfort of a small town atmosphere.

"Many people know about the big cities. People are looking for ‘off the beaten path’ places that offer a great quality of life and a great visiting experience and that's what we have to offer here," Staunch said.

Folks here are getting excited about celebrating 300 years! They have all the events they have planned to commemorate the year, just type in the keywords: NEW BERN 300.