In 2024, Caldwell County received an America250 NC grant from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to create a display in commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. This exhibit, which is housed in the Alden Starnes County Office Plaza (905 West Avenue, Lenoir, NC), highlights the people, events, and places that have shaped Caldwell County and the communities that call it home.
Curated by the Public Information Office and a dedicated committee of local historians, educators, public officials, and generational residents, this display brings together a timeline of key events and photographs presented in story form, tracing the county’s journey from pre-Revolutionary War times to the present day.
While this display only scratches the surface of Caldwell County’s rich history, it offers a glimpse into the stories, achievements, and everyday lives of our neighbors—reminding us that our local history is an important part of the larger American story.
A special thank you goes to the America 250 committee members: Kierston Matheson Banks, Sharon Bryant, Amber Bryson, Nelson Brookshire, Pam Smith Cooke, Paige Richardson Counts, Chair, Linda Richards Crowder, Cindy Hedrick Day, Brenda Floyd, Mayor Joseph Gibbons, Sherrie Hartsoe Sigmon, and Eric Stafford