The sleepy little village of Newbern in Pulaski County has an enormous history. That history is celebrated, shared, and brought to life in many ways….even during the recent challenges. Newbern became an established town on March 3, 1810 along the Great Wagon Road leading travelers west into Kentucky and beyond. Adam Hance a veteran of the American Revolution established this planned town on his land. He named it “New” Bern to honor his heritage and many other early German and Swiss settlers of the New River Valley. Hance and his extended family first came to the western waters in what is now Pulaski County by the 1760s. Therefore, the history of Newbern spans the early settlement timeframe through the American Revolution, the expansion of the Early Republic and the heyday of the Great Wagon Road, to the formation of Pulaski County in 1839 and leadership of Newbern at the county seat, through the American Civil War and into the 1900s.
Newbern’s history is a microhistory of America. Culturally diverse, scarred by war, uplifted and left aside by an economy and country on the move. Historic Newbern is now a time capsule of American History to be shared with Wilderness Road Regional Museum leading the education. For the third successive year, History Humpdays at the museum on rotating Wednesdays allows for homeschool and public-school students doing remote learning to actively participate in history lessons on-site at the museum. Each semester a theme from both local and national history is explored with classes including both a structured classroom aspect and active hands-on approach in which the museum setting becomes the learning laboratory for students. Spring 2021’s theme is the intersection of geology, geography, and history. The series started with how the Appalachian Mountains formed and will continue with how that geology impacted history for the region and nation.
The suggested age range for participation is children 6-14 years old. Classes meet alternating Wednesdays at the museum from 1:30-4pm. A donation of $10 per class is requested for Spring 2021. Students may attend one, a few, or all classes, but we do request email confirmation on attendance plans, wrrm5240@gmail.com. (Next class will be Feb. 10th)
Class supplies are provided, but the museum does not supply beverages or snacks so parents are encouraged to send those along for the afternoon break period.
In addition to the onsite History Humpdays, the museum also offers the adventurous History Hikes on Thursdays throughout the semester as the weather permits. Parents must drive their children to these hikes and are encouraged to join in on the walks. Most hikes are easily accessible and only last an average of one hour. Historic topics vary by location, but previous hikes have included, Shot Tower, Dora Trail, Oakwood Cemetery, Bissett Park, the Witness Oak at Cloyd’s Mountain, Historic Newbern, with many options yet to be explored. The updated list of hikes can be found on Wilderness Road Regional Museum’s Facebook page or through direct email at wrrm5240@gmail.com
Donations and notification on attendance requested so we can plan accordingly.
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About the Museum:
Wilderness Road Regional Museum is a registered non-profit organization, all proceeds go directly to education and historic preservation. Currently, preservation efforts are underway on the early 19th-century log loom house on site. Additional plans and projects are likewise scheduled in 2021 including one Eagle Scout project at Fort Hill and onsite archiving by local Girls Scouts. Many more opportunities for youth projects are available, please contact us for more information and to learn how to help us keep history alive.
