Juneteenth tour of the 13th Amendment at Vance Birthplace June 12

From a press release:

Juneteenth tour of the 13th Amendment at Vance Birthplace June 12

A handful of documents changed the character of the United States. The 13th Amendment formally ended legal slavery in this country is one of them. It will be exhibited at the Gov. Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace on June 12, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

As part of the observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War led by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, and in recognition of Juneteenth, June 19, the date many African-Americans observe as when the last of the enslaved in 1865 learned they were free, there will be a tour of North Carolina’s copy of the 13th Amendment in June.

“The 13th Amendment wasn’t just a symbol of freedom; it was indissoluble proof that equality means nothing if it is not meant for all,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this rare exhibition to view one of the most important documents in our history.”

The U.S. Congress passed the 13th Amendment on Jan. 31, 1865 and ratified it on Dec. 6, 1865. North Carolina’s copy of the document is stored in a climate controlled vault of the State Archives. The fragile document will travel to six state historic sites from June 5 through June 21, and will be at each venue for one day only. This will be the first time the document has traveled outside of Raleigh.

The Gov. Zebulon Vance Birthplace is the furthest west this document will travel on its statewide tour of 12 historic sites and museums.  The Vance’s were among some of the largest slaveholders in Buncombe County in the early years of the 19th century.  Records for 1811 alone reveal that 18 enslaved African’s labored on this farmstead serving as livestock herdsmen, agricultural laborers, domestic servants, and mill operators.  Additionally, several of the slaves were likely skilled artisans and craftsmen who produced goods which helped to increase the prosperity of the Vance family.

“As we approach the 150th anniversary of the creation of this important, nation-changing document, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources feels it is only appropriate to carry it from Raleigh to exhibit in appropriate symbolic locations,” Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz explained. “I think it especially important that we are showcasing this freedom document in slave cabins at three of the historic sites.”

Original slave cabins stand at Historic Stagville in Durham, and Vance Birthplace in Weaverville, while reproduction cabins are at Somerset Place in Creswell. Each of these state historic sites is on the tour.  Other venues are Historic Edenton, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum in Sedalia, and the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center in Kinston.

In addition to the exhibition of the 13th amendment, items from the Museum of History’s collection related to slavery in North Carolina will be on display.  Guest lecturer’s and performances relating the enormous impact this document had on the lives of enslaved American’s will also be included as part of the day’s programming.

Juneteenth 13th Amendment Tour
June 5, ​​11 a.m.-7 p.m. ​​— Historic Edenton, Edenton​​​Courthouse
June 6, ​​​​​​10 a.m.-6 p.m.​​ — Somerset Place, Creswell
June 12, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. — ​Vance Birthplace, Weaverville​​​​​
June 13, ​​11 a.m.-7 p.m. — ​Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Sedalia Kimball Hall
June 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — ​Historic Stagville, Durham​​​​​​
June 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — ​CSS Neuse Interpretive Center, Kinston​​​​