| North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources | |
|---|---|
| Name | North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources |
| Formed | 2015 |
| Preceding1 | Department of Cultural Resources (North Carolina) |
| Preceding2 | Department of Environment and Natural Resources (North Carolina) |
| Jurisdiction | North Carolina |
| Headquarters | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Chief1 name | Susan Kluttz |
| Chief1 position | Secretary |
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is a state-level cabinet agency in Raleigh, North Carolina responsible for stewardship of the state's cultural heritage and natural assets. The department administers a range of state parks, museums, archiveses, historic preservation programs, and conservation initiatives established by the North Carolina General Assembly. It coordinates with entities such as the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina State Archives, and the North Carolina Zoological Park while interacting with federal partners including the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and National Archives and Records Administration.
The department was created by legislative consolidation in 2015 during the tenure of Pat McCrory as governor, combining functions formerly housed in the Department of Cultural Resources (North Carolina) and parts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (North Carolina). Its roots trace to earlier institutions: the founding of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in the 19th century, the establishment of the North Carolina Archives during the Progressive Era, and the 20th-century development of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. Key historical partnerships have included collaborations with the Works Progress Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and federal programs under the New Deal. Throughout its history the agency has engaged with landmark preservation efforts such as the restoration of Tryon Palace, stewardship of Fort Fisher State Historic Site, and acquisitions related to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The department is led by a Secretary appointed by the Governor of North Carolina and confirmed by the North Carolina Senate. Organizational leadership interacts with boards and commissions including the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the North Carolina Historic Sites Advisory Commission. Internal executive staff coordinate divisions responsible for museums, archives, parks, and outreach; senior managers liaise with the State Historic Preservation Office, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and regional partners such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. The agency also consults with municipal entities like Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina on cultural projects and conservation planning.
Key divisions include the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Department of Archives and History, the Division of State Historic Sites and Properties, and the Division of Parks and Recreation. Programs range from archaeological stewardship associated with sites like Medoc Mountain State Park to interpretive initiatives tied to Biltmore Estate-era collections and exhibits on figures such as John Coltrane and Elizabeth Keckley. Educational outreach connects with institutions like the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the North Carolina Community College System. Conservation and research partnerships involve the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and academic centers including the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Raleigh Museum of History.
The department manages a portfolio of museums, archives, state historic sites, and parks including the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina State Capitol, and the North Carolina Zoological Park. Historic properties under stewardship include Tryon Palace, Baldwin-Felts Building, and Mountainview Plantation, alongside coastal and inland parks such as Jockey's Ridge State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, and Fort Macon State Park. The agency oversees archival repositories containing collections related to figures like Andrew Johnson (in federal context), Zebulon B. Vance, and Julian Carr, and works with preservationists connected to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local historical societies in counties including Wake County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and New Hanover County, North Carolina.
Funding derives from the North Carolina General Assembly appropriations, special revenue from admission fees at sites such as the North Carolina Zoo, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and competitive awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Capital projects have been financed through state bonds approved by ballot measures and appropriations negotiated with administrations under governors such as Bev Perdue and Roy Cooper. The department also receives philanthropic support from private foundations including the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, corporate donors like Bank of America, and fundraising arms such as the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation.
Statutory authority is derived from acts of the North Carolina General Assembly and implementing regulations promulgated by the North Carolina Archives and Records Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office. Policy areas include cultural resource protection under state historic preservation statutes, park management rules consistent with the North Carolina Administrative Code, and collections care standards aligned with guidance from the American Alliance of Museums and the Society of American Archivists. The department has implemented policies addressing climate resilience at coastal properties like Fort Fisher State Historic Site and interpretive equity initiatives reflecting scholarship on subjects such as Slavery in North Carolina and Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina.