CLICK ON THE BEAR 300 years of adventure. 365 days to celebrate.
WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR	Lee Wilson Bettis, Jr. Mayor

It is my privilege to welcome you to New Bern, North Carolina, a picturesque and progressive historic community uniquely situated at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. New Bern is North Carolina’s premiere historic city where its citizens enjoy a great quality of life and visitors can take a step back in time to explore and experience a culture rich in history and tradition.

Thank you for taking time to discover all the wonderful opportunities New Bern has to offer. I would like to personally invite you to join us in 2010 for a yearlong grand celebration as the City of New Bern officially recognizes 300 years of people, places, and events that have made New Bern significant in the history of our state and nation.

Founded in 1710 by Baron Christopher de Graffenried of Bern, Switzerland, New Bern is the second oldest town in North Carolina and the first state capital. In a city rich in history, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens offers a taste of life in Colonial America. You might enjoy the architectural beauty and charm of our four National Register Historic Districts, stroll through our historic revitalized downtown, or rediscover our state’s history through technology and innovation at the NC History Education Center scheduled to open 2010.

New Bern is an up and coming venue for the arts and artists. Our downtown has many galleries and art studios, live music, active local theatres, festivals, and special events year round. We are very excited about a new emphasis on public art with a juried sculpture contest sponsored by the Craven County Arts Council and Gallery that has drawn entries from around the globe and is set in what has been called the “Art Park.” Public art is popping up everywhere, including a fun project of painted BEARS sponsored by the Coastal Women’s Forum.

I personally enjoy jumping on my skiff on a warm summer night and heading up the Neuse River for a night of fishing, shrimping, or just watching the painted sunset give way to the night of a million stars. New Bern has historically been a capital of international commerce, and today pine tar and cotton have given way to tourism. The Neuse River is our highway to the world and on any given night you can probably find a sailor or two just in from some exotic port across the Atlantic. New Bern has a policy of access to water for citizens and visitors.  Everyone can enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds New Bern and encourages the boating community to come visit us by water for a few days, a few months, or permanently. We are fortunate to have many in-town parks, and we are adjacent to the Croatan National Forest which offers hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. New Bern is conveniently located close to pristine beaches and quaint fishing villages.

I would like to personally invite you to experience everything that New Bern has to offer, particularly during our 300th Anniversary with many wonderful events, concerts, festivals, parades, and so much more. We are very proud of our past and even more excited about our future. Please join us as we move forward into the next chapter of New Bern’s history.

Yours truly,
Mayor Lee Bettis