Free Event | 10 AM – 5 PM | Reception Hall, Galleria, Grounds | *Gallery Admission Price Still Applies

Join us for Living History Day, an annual community event held on the anniversary of the Battle of Forks Road—an important Civil War battle that took place on the very grounds where Cameron Art Museum stands today. Commemorating the 161st anniversary, the day features living history presentations, family activities, and engaging lectures by USCT Historian Jerilyn James Lee and author and historian David Cecelski.

Bring the whole family! This day is centered on learning, reflection, and community through hands-on family activities, lectures by guest speakers, and historical reenactments. Drop-in any time! Lectures are free with registration — more info below.

We invite you to spend this historic day learning more about the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and the lasting significance of this battle.

Lectures (Free with Registration)

1PM at Boundless: Join David Cecelski as he speaks on topics from his book, The Waterman’s Song: Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina and the Wilmington and Cape Fear area in his lecture, Freedom and the Sea: African American Life on the Cape Fear.

** The first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of The Waterman’s Song.

2PM: Jerilyn James Lee, USCT Historian, will present an illustrated lecture on the history of the USCT. Drawing on dozens of historical images, Jerilyn will highlight the courage, service, and claims to citizenship of USCT soldiers, NCOs, officers, cavalrymen, and U.S. Navy sailors.

$5 donations are suggested for the lectures.

What was the Battle of Forks Road?

Occurring 161 years ago on Cameron Art Museum’s grounds, the Battle of Forks Road was a Civil War battle fought in 1865. Victory was won by the United States Colored Troops (USCT), leading to the fall of Wilmington.

The impact of the USCT is significant, yet their story is virtually unknown.

What is Living History?

Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time.

The history of the USCT and the Battle of Forks Road is brought to life by USCT reenactors from Battery B, some who were cast for the Boundless sculpture.

Through engaging demonstrations, visitors can learn more about camp life and daily experiences of the USCT from the 1860s.
What is Boundless and the PNC USCT Park?

Boundless is a permanent sculpture by North Carolina artist Stephen Hayes honoring the legacy of the USCT and their fight for freedom.

The life-size figures were created using molds taken directly from the faces of 11 African American men with personal ties to this history—descendants, reenactors, veterans, and community leaders.

Boundless honors the USCT and their fight for citizenship and stands proudly on our museum grounds and as the centerpiece of this commemoration.

The PNC USCT Park is an award-winning park on CAM’s grounds. It is currently the only sculpture park in the nation
created to honor the United States Colored Troops and their fight for freedom.
About the Speakers

David Cecelski has written several award-winning books and hundreds of articles about history, culture and politics on the North Carolina coast. His most recent book is The Fire of Freedom: Abraham Galloway and the Slaves’ Civil War (UNC Press, 2012). He divides his time between two places he loves deeply, Durham, N.C. and his family’s homeplace in Carteret County, N.C. His writing focuses passionately on telling stories from his little corner of the world that illuminate American history more broadly. Dr. Cecelski was recently the co-recipient (with Tim Tyson) of the N.C. Literary and Historical Association’s Crittenten Award for lifetime achievement.

Jerilyn Lee James, author of ‘The Kinship of War: Stories of the United States Colored Troops’ is a native of Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in Mount Olive, North Carolina with her husband Kenneth Lee. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Mount Olive with a B.S. in Business Administration and holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of Maryland in Organizational Management. She is a 2019 recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for service in North Carolina. Jerilyn is active within the Civil War community as a USCT historian and speaker, and creator of the Facebook page “Stories of the United States Colored Troops” with 8,000+ followers.