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Nearly 250 years ago, a group of North Carolinians in the northeastern part of the state did something unprecedented. It was a tumultuous time and many people living in the colonies were restless for change. Just a few months earlier, Patriot and Loyalist forces had battled at Moores Creek Bridge. The Patriots won the battle, boosting morale and solidifying Patriot control over North Carolina.
Emboldened by the victory, on April 12, 1776, the 85 delegates of North Carolina’s 4th Provincial Congress wrote and unanimously approved a document calling for independence from England. The document, known as the Halifax Resolves, authorized N.C. delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence.
Celebrating 250 years of independence
Many North Carolinians don’t know that delegates in their state were the first to take official action calling for independence, says Carl Burke, Historic Site Manager with the Historic Halifax State History Site.
And that is something Burke, and his colleagues with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources hope to change starting April 12 and continuing over the next two years.
In 2026, the country will celebrate the United States of America’s 250th birthday. North Carolina officials are starting the celebration two years early, hoping to raise awareness of and interest in North Carolina historical events.
The two-year commemoration kicks off with “Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution,” which will be held April 12-14 in Halifax.
Over the weekend, visitors can experience how colonists spoke, acted and dressed through living history vignettes and see a performance by a fife and drum corps. The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe will perform a ceremonial dedication at Magazine Spring, considered by the Haliwa-Saponi as a sacred site. There also will be opportunities for visitors to learn about Black patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War and to reflect upon the experiences of those who escaped slavery.
“It will be an immersive experience,” Burke says. “We’ve packed a lot into the three days.”
Telling stories unknown
The motto on North Carolina’s license plate, “First in Freedom,” is inspired in part by the Halifax Resolves. (The motto also is inspired by the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1776.). Burke says Halifax residents take great pride in their area’s contribution to the birth of the county and wish each other a “Happy Halifax Day” every April 12 and mark the day with special events.
This year’s commemoration has been expanded to include not only more events, but a wider variety of viewpoints and experiences as well, Burke says.
One highlight is the performance by Jacquelyn Ruffin-Pittman, who will portray Piety, a freedom seeker with ties to Halifax and the Roanoke River.
There will be a presentation about Black and indigenous patriots, the result of a years-long effort researching Black Americans and other people of color who were involved in the Revolutionary War.
The Underground Railroad Trail will be available for anyone to walk and features wayside exhibits, including replicas of newspaper advertisements placed by enslavers describing those whom they wanted captured.
“It’s a space where one can go and think and be contemplative,” Burke says.
History buffs may be excited to learn that researchers recently found the original location of the Halifax courthouse using ground-penetrating radar. Local historic buildings will be open and there will be a recreation of a colonial marketplace, historic weapons demonstrations, and other activities.
“”This particular weekend offers a chance to experience all the different things that make Halifax special,” Burke says. And it’s a chance to tell some of the stories that aren’t widely known.”
Getting people involved
Sarah Koonts, North Carolina’s State Archivist, hopes the Halifax Resolves commemoration in April inspires people to dive deeper into North Carolina history.
The state is working with counties and local nonprofits to develop lesson plans and other educational resources for classrooms to use during the next two years.
“We saw this is a great opportunity to get people more excited about North Carolina history,” Koonts says. “We will use this as an opportunity to explore the voices, places and people that have helped us grow into the ideals and ideas from that time,” she says.
The last time the country had a historic commemoration of this magnitude was in 1976, when the bicentennial of American Independence was held. Koonts says much effort has been put into ensuring North Carolina’s activities reflect a broad range of experiences.
“We have focused around wanting to make sure everybody feels a part of the commemoration and can see themselves in a story,” Koonts says. “We love history, and we want everyone to love history. We really want people to be involved.”
Want to go:
“Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution,” which will be held April 12-14 in Halifax.
See the schedule of events here.
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