Historic First Presbyterian Church Cemetery was established in 1831 and over time has survived vandalism, storms, an earthquake, and threats of removal. It is a lasting remembrance to the early citizens of Greensboro who carved a city out of the wilderness. Originally the cemetery was located on the edge of town, but because of Greensboro's growth, it is now nestled in the center of the cultural district behind the Greensboro Historical Museum. Those buried in the cemetery are from all walks of life-from wealthy to poor, those with doctorate degrees to the illiterate, the famous to those whose names are lost for all time, the newborn to the centenarian, the saint to the sinner, and the slave owner to the abolitionist. The early builders of the city and state and veterans of four wars now rest in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In 1860, leading citizens of Greensboro emotionally beseeched all residents to remain citizens of the United States during the turbulent days preceding the War between the States. Peace efforts failed after Pres. Abraham Lincoln wired Gov. John Willis Ellis of North Carolina to send troops to contain the rebellion in Charleston, South Carolina. After Lincoln's request for troops, the State of North Carolina officially severed relations with the United States on May 20, 1861. The citizens of Greensboro immediately went to work providing for their sons, brothers, and husbands serving in the army of the Confederate States of America. In 1865, Federal and Confederate troops converged on Greensboro. Images of America: Greensboro's Confederate Soldiers tells the story of the men wearing the gray uniform of the Confederate States of America. Additionally, the little-known stories of mothers, wives, and children left at home to fend for themselves while praying for, providing for, and maintaining the home front are told for the first time.

Tour the Old North State's famous--and not-so-famous--historic sites. "First in Freedom," "First in Flight," and "First, Farthest and Last" are all honorifics that have been used to describe North Carolina's well-known history. Learn the truth behind each of these epithets and other tales from the sands of the Outer Banks to the bustling cities of the Piedmont and the western mountains. Tour the state's famous historic homes, gardens and cemeteries. Dive deep into its military conflicts, from the golden age of piracy to the Second World War. "Join North Carolina's veteran historian, Michael C. Hardy, for an exploration of the many sites, monuments, museums, and public spaces that tell story of North Carolina's history.

Guilford County residents felt the brutal impact of the Civil War on both the homefront and the battlefield. From the plight of antislavery Quakers to the strength of women, the county was awash in political turmoil. Intriguing abolitionists, fire-breathing secessionists, peacemakers, valiant soldiers and carpetbaggers are some of the figures who contributed to the chaotic time. General Joseph E. Johnston's parole of the Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, as well as the birth of a free black community following the Confederate defeat, brought amazing changes. Local author and historian Carol Moore traces the romantic days in the lead-up to war, the horrors of war itself and the decades of aftermath that followed.

Jesse Lee Hall (1849-1911) was one of many young men seeking a new life following the Civil War, when he left North Carolina to find adventure in Texas. After a stint as a deputy sheriff and a Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Representatives, he joined Captain Leander McNelly’s Texas Ranger Special State Troops in 1876. This was the career move that he had needed as he soon found enough action in South Texas. When McNelly could no longer command due to illness, Hall was named to take his place. Hall was involved in arresting King Fisher and his gang, and he (with a small squad) arrested seven of the Sutton faction, effectively ending the bloody Sutton-Taylor Feud. One of his men, John B. Armstrong, finally captured the most wanted man in Texas, John Wesley Hardin, in far-off Florida. In 1878 Hall took part in the gun battle ending the career of outlaw Sam Bass. Nearing his fiftieth birthday, Hall hoped to join Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders,” but that did not happen. Instead he was posted to the Philippines, where as a commander during the Philippine Insurrection he was so badly injured that he was given a medical discharge. The old warrior died in San Antonio in 1911, loved and respected, having a reputation equaled by few.

The Book of Burwell Students offers a rare glimpse into the world of women's education in the antebellum South. From 1837 to 1857, Anna and Robert Burwell ran the Burwell Female School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, educating more than two hundred young women. The Book of Burwell Students illuminates a time and place, now preserved as the Burwell School Historic Site. The late historian, Mary Claire Engstrom, wrote informative biographical sketches of many Burwell students, offering insight into life in antebellum Hillsborough, inside and outside of school, and the seminal role of Anna Burwell in shaping the students' lives.

John Gray and his family moved in 1737 to Timber Ridge, Augusta Co., Virginia, from either Ireland or New Jersey. He died in 1751.