Traveling Around Downtown Raleigh is Easier Than Ever!!!

Raleigh has introduced a new FREE Circulator Bus Loop! The R-Line.

This is so exciting since it will make it easier than ever for conference attendees to get around downtown, especially for evening dining, visiting the archives and museums and participating in the planned Thursday evening events!

The circulator will run during the following hours:

Mon-Wed Hours: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Thu-Sat Hours: 7:00 AM - 2:15 AM

Sun Hours: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The route will be served by two buses and the service will run every 10-12 minutes.

Check out this map to get a sense of the lay of the land from an aerial perspective ...

• the dirt pits at the bottom is where the convention center and hotel are
• go north and you will see the Capitol building surrounded by it's gardens
• just north of the Capitol building are the Science and History museum buildings
• kitty-corner from the History museum building is where the NC Archives and State Library of NC are located
• the western edge of the loop is Glenwood south -- many restaurants are located along this stretch (as well as long Fayetteville Street, right outside the conference hotel)
• off the eastern evening route addition you are near Moore Square/City Market -- more options for dining

And, this map shows the circulator route, key buildings and where all the downtown parking lots and decks are!

And, now you can view a Google Map of Circulator Route!

So, if you were worried that you would need to walk, now you'll be able to just hop a bus!

Wednesday's FREE Events -- Don't Miss!!

On Wednesday, 13 May 2009 -- The NGS Conference in the States 2009 has several free events that you will not want to miss!

These events are all FREE and are held in the Convention Center!

Join us for a movie, some free lectures, Society Night and extended shopping hours in the exhibit hall Wednesday evening until 7:00 PM. See the conference website for a list of our many exhibitors including book and software vendors, libraries, and organizations.

Society Night
5:00–7:00 PM
Mezzanine area of conference center

Do you have an ancestor from a North Carolina county? Representatives of many county genealogical and historical societies from all over North Carolina and nearby states will staff booths throughout the mezzanine area of the conference center. Society members will display information about their group’s activities, answer questions about area repositories and resources, and sell publications and books. We will enjoy live piano music throughout the evening.

Evening Lecture Series
7:00 PM

• How Our Ancestors Moved over the Land in Olden Times: Land Transport Capabilities and Limitations in Colonial Carolina --Tom Magnuson from the Trading Path Association
• Genealogy 2.0: Using Digital Tools to Trace Your North Carolina Roots -- This presentation will provide a guided tour of the North Carolina State Archives/State Library’s digital resources such as the Archives’ MARS catalog and will showcase digitized publications and records related to genealogy. Participation from attendees is encouraged. Druscie Simpson & Christy Allen from the North Carolina State Library and Archives.
• Melungeon Voices, a film by Julie Williams Dixon and Warren Gentry -- The Melungeons of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia have been shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years with theories of who they might be ranging from descendants of the Lost Colony to descendants of shipwrecked sailors who intermarried with Native Americans. For any genealogist looking for a Melungeon ancestor, this one-hour documentary fi lm is a must see. Part genealogy, part geography, part genetics, the story of the Melungeons offers a fascinating look into the earliest days of America and how people put aside ethnic and racial differences to survive.
• Irish Emigration to America and Canada -- This lecture will explain the reasons for and the pattern of emigration from Ireland to America and Canada—who was affected and why. Mary Sullivan from the Irish History Foundation
• The Journey of an Ancestry Record: How an Image on Ancestry.com Gets from the Archives to the Website -- Laryn Brown from Ancestry.com

Oldest House in Raleigh -- Worth a Visit!

The Joel Lane Museum House

We are so glad you are coming to Raleigh this year! Please make time to visit the Joel Lane Museum House. Joel Lane’s house, the oldest in Raleigh, was built in the early 1770’s. Joel Lane was a Colonel in the North Carolina colonial militia and a patriot during the Revolutionary War. In 1771 he introduced the bill to create Wake County, and in 1792 he sold one thousand acres of land to form the newly planned capital city, Raleigh.

This faithfully-restored manor house was once deemed “The Best House for 100 Miles.” It features the Bible owned by Joel’s third son, William, fine examples of period decorative arts, and a number of excellent pieces of locally-made period furniture. Also on the site is a c. 1790 two-story domicile interpreted as a detached kitchen. Tours begin in the charming c. 1820 Visitors Center which was formerly a wing of Joel Lane’s home. The gardens feature a lovely neo-colonial formal English garden, formal herb garden, and fruit trees including pomegranates.

During the National Genealogical Conference conference, the museum house will be open at special times for tours for attendees. Please see your program guide when you check in or check our website.

The Joel Lane Museum House Board of Directors is responsible for the financial support and operation of the Museum. The organization is funded through donations and grants, not by local, state or federal governments. It is operated by a small paid staff and many loyal volunteers. Please call 919-833-3431, email [email protected], or visit our web site for more information.