What Does New Bern Have To Offer?

The Jarvis Mansion is located in beautiful, downtown historic New Bern, NC, the original capital of North Carolina and North Carolina’s second oldest city. It was settled in 1710 by Baron de Graffenried and named after Berne, Switzerland. The city is situated where the Neuse and Trent River join and has something to offer everyone. New Bern’s motto is, “ North Carolina begins here.” Here are some of New Bern’s firsts:

1. First permanent State Capital Building and site of first inaugurated state officials
2. First in America to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday
3. First in NC to celebrate Independence Day
4. First incorporated school in NC
5. First public school for African –Americans in NC
6. First printing press, first newspaper, book, and pamphlet printed in NC
7. First postal service in NC
8. First public banking institution in NC and one of the first 2 banks chartered in 1804
9. First fire department in NC
10. First to develop, bottle, and market Pepsi-Cola
11. First Roman Catholic Church and parish in NC
12. First in NC to decorate the streets with colored electric lighting during Christmas

New Bern’s tri-centennial, a year-round celebration, will take place in 2010

You Have To See New Bern To Believe It!