New Bern boasts a wide variety of active organizations in the arts and theater. Many of the activities center around The Bank of the Arts, home of the Craven Arts Council and Gallery. Monthly exhibitions feature national and local artists and craftsmen. The New Bern Civic Theater occupies its own downtown building and performs several plays and musicals a year. Craven Concerts brings national touring companies and performing artists to the stage in New Bern and a Shakespeare Festival is held annually.

New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, and the original home has been restored as a museum filled with Pepsi memorabilia. The City of New Bern also maintains a Fireman's Museum housing an extensive collection of early fire-fighting equipment and steam pumpers.

The downtown area, only 5 minutes from Taberna, also is home to New Bern-Craven County Public Library, which offers an extensive research section as well as 92,000 volumes and computerized cataloging.

Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens has a year-round schedule of seminars and workshops open to the public, including such topics as southern perennial gardens and antique collections.

Links

New Bern Public Library: newbern.com/library

Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens: www.tryonpalace.org

Birthplace of Pepsi: www.pepsistore.com