Special to Iredell Free News

RALEIGH — In light of Gov. Roy Cooper’s state of emergency declaration and guidance regarding canceling or postponing large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, some upcoming special events at N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources locations have been canceled or postponed through mid-April.

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site has canceled the “War for Empire” event scheduled for April 4-5.

You can find a list of canceled events on our website at https://www.ncdcr.gov/impact-covid-19-dncr-sites-and-events.

The health and safety of visitors, volunteers and staff is the department’s first priority. If these events can be rescheduled, we will announce new dates in the future.

At this time, museums, state parks, state historic sites, aquariums, zoo, state library and archives, and other locations remain open to visitors. If further developments or guidance impact the operating schedule of any of our locations, updates will be provided via the department’s website, social media and email communications.

If you are currently experiencing signs of illness or belong to a group at high risk per the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, please postpone your visit.

During this time we are taking extra precautionary measures, including:
• Canceling or postponing large events.
• More frequent cleaning of high-traffic areas.
• Hand sanitizer provided for visitor use where possible.
• Frequent handwashing by staff.
• Encouraging staff to telework to the greatest extent possible.

The department offers a myriad of virtual experiences. You can visit many of our sites virtually through NC DIT’s 360 experience at nc.gov/nc360. Or visit our website at www.ncdcr.gov to explore our online collections, podcasts, videos, and other resources.