Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed February as Black History Month in North Carolina and urges citizens to honor the heritage of African-Americans and their contributions to our state and nation. Several state museums and historic sites will offer special programs and exhibits to mark the month.

“I encourage all North Carolinians to take advantage of the many opportunities throughout the month to learn more about and to celebrate the contributions that African-Americans have made to our country and our state,” said Gov. Perdue.

The N.C. Museum of History has scheduled a series of free events and programs throughout the month and there are exhibits and programs at other museums and historic sites around the state. Below are some highlights:

• N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh: Hands-on History, learn about African-Americans who have called North Carolina home as you make a craft, jump a rope, or hear a story! Saturday, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1 to 3 p.m.

• N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh: African-American History Tour, explore the lives and accomplishments of African-American North Carolinians from the antebellum period to the Civil Rights era. Saturday, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh: Rethinking Slavery and Freedom in Early Virginia and the British Atlantic, Professor Holly Brewer from North Carolina State University will discuss the struggle between English authorities and colonists in the 1690s over issues of sovereignty, such as the powers of owners over slaves. Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. To register, call 919-807-7847 919-807-7847.

• N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh: History a la Carte: Fifty Years Since the Sit-Ins, In February 1960 four African-American college freshmen in Greensboro ignited a sit-in movement protesting racial segregation. Hear about the movement’s early days and the museum that now occupies the historic F.W. Woolworth store where it all began. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 12:10 to 1p.m. Bring your lunch, beverages provided.

• N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh: Film and Q&A: February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four, This award-winning documentary chronicles the historic day—February 1, 1960—when four black freshmen from North Carolina A&T State University sat down at a whites-only lunch counter in downtown Greensboro. Their actions served as a blueprint for other nonviolent civil rights protests across the South and the nation. A Q&A with the film’s producers and some of the people involved in the protests will follow the screening. Saturday, Feb. 20, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

• Town Creek Indian Mound, Mount Gilead: Screening of “Black Indians: An American Story” narrated by James Earl Jones on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m.

• State Capitol, Raleigh: African-American Read-In, Saturday, Feb. 27, from noon until 4 p.m., featuring local authors and community leaders reading books from their favorite black authors.

• Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial, Sedalia: Free exhibit about African- Americans on U.S. Postage Stamps.

• N.C. Transportation Museum, Spencer: Has a permanent exhibit “North Carolina Lining Bar Gangs,” in tribute to African-American workers who laid the rails, and were known as “gandy dancers” because of their work combined with rhythmic singing.

• Tryon Palace, New Bern: “Liberty and Justice for All: Black Voices from the past” is a play to be presented on Feb. 18. Dr. Reginald Watson, East Carolina University will introduce the play which depicts various scenes from African American history. Tryon Palace also offers a walking tour highlighting the African-American history of New Bern and a lecture series.

In addition, Somerset Place in Creswell is one of the state historic sites steeped in African-American history. It interprets the lives of the Collins family and the nearly 300 slaves who worked the 100,000-acre plantation. It is open year-round and admission is free.

Many events and accomplishments in North Carolina history are noted with a N.C. Historical Highway Marker, often called “History on a stick.” A marker in Dare County for Richard Etheridge notes that he was the first African-American to serve as commanding officer of the all-black Pea Island Life Saving Station, 1880-1900. In historic Edenton, a marker salutes Harriet Jacobs, who hid in her grandmother’s attic for seven years before escaping to the North and becoming and abolitionist.

For more information on black history month events in North Carolina, visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/.