HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND CIVIC CENTER

     The Grifton Historical Museum at the Civic Center presents the story of the past and present culture of an area within 100 miles of Grifton. Volunteers open it by appointment throughout the year (call 252-524-4708) and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during Shad Festival.

     Natural history exhibits include fossils that show that Grifton was once beneath the ocean. Cannonballs and other Civic War artifacts are from battles fought in the area. Farm and home tools, clothing, and early photographs depict lifestyles. A display about DuPont’s world’s first polyester plant near Grifton shows their products and how DuPont’s arrival made a major impact on Grifton’s growth. The Indian Heritage Room has a wealth of information on prehistoric and Tuscarora Indians native to Grifton, and tells of New Bern’s founder who was captured by Indians at Catechna which was in or near present-day Grifton. Museum outreach programs by volunteers include working with area schools, especially during Heritage Week in the spring, and tape recording interviews.

The portion of the Civic Center which houses the museum originally was a church for a white congregation, then became a school for black children, and was developed as a Museum of Area Culture for our Bicentennial project in 1976.  The Town acquired the Civic Center property under a federal HUD Community Block grant in 1975.

An Art Room, a Craft Room and Senior Fellowship rooms, town utilities headquarters, storage space and two tennis courts are also part of the complex.

Committee & Boards

Civic Center Advisory Group

Copyright 2006 - Town of Grifton - All Rights Reserved