New Bern

New Bern was the first state capitol of North Carolina, just inland up the river from busy Portsmouth, a "lightering" port. Heavy, deep-draft ocean vessels arriving from Europe or the Caribbean could not make it through the shallow Ocracoke Inlet. They stopped at Portsmouth to transfer their cargo onto smaller, shallow-draft boats (lighters) that could safely navigate the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River to mainland ports like Bath and New Bern. New Bern remained the capital until 1792, when the capital moved permanently to Raleigh in 1792 after the legislature voted for a more central, inland location. ​

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In addition to famous sites like Tryon Palace, which was the first permanent capitol of the Colony of North Carolina and home for the Royal Governor, William Tryon, and his family, you might also visit Bradham's Drugstore, the birthplace of Pepsi Cola.