Chatham County Historical Association upcoming events

May BOOK CLUB ~ Like a Family (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

“NC History Between the Lines”- A Local History Book Club

MAY 2026 ~ MAKING A LIVING

Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World

by Hall, Leloudis, Korstad, Murphy, Jones and Daly (1986)

Like a Family explores life in Southern cotton mill villages, with a strong focus on the North Carolina Piedmont textile region (and many accounts from the mill in Bynum). Using local histories, the book reveals insight into the close knit communities shaped by work, faith, and resistance.

The Chatham County Historical Museum invites you to join NC History Between the Lines, a monthly book club exploring our local area’s rich past through engaging reads that connect with historical themes. We’ll meet on the third Saturday of each month at 9:30 am at the museum for lively discussion and conversation.

Each month’s selection will reflect our rotating historical focus. Whether you’re a lifelong history lover or simply curious about the people and events that shaped our area, we would love for you to join us. Come read, learn, and share your perspectives as we connect our local stories to the larger sweep of American history.

Sign up here for the Saturday, May 16, 2026 session where we will discuss Like a Family. Participation is free and you are welcome to bring friends.

Questions ~ or to borrow a copy of the book contact: Volunteers@chathamhistory.org

June 7 Downtown Pittsboro Historical Walking Tour: Noon (7 Jun 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Step into the past with the Chatham County Historical Association in the Downtown Pittsboro Historical Walking Tour Series! Each month explores a new theme, bringing the stories of our streets, buildings, and people to life. Walk through history with us and discover how downtown has evolved through the years.

Our June Tour ~ "Transportation"

Follow the routes that connected downtown to the wider world. Learn how roads, rails, and other modes of transportation shaped growth, commerce, and daily life and through time, changed how people moved around the county.

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Tour Time: Noon (Arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour.)
Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members (Members may order guest tickets at the member price.)
Location: Meet at Historic Courthouse, 9 Hillsboro St
Group size: Limited to 20 participants per tour.
Age requirement: 12 years and older only (no pets or strollers)
Weather: Rain or shine (canceled only in case of severe weather)

Important notes:

Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes.
The tour will cover approximately one mile and will last about 90 minutes.
A liability waiver will be required at check-in.
Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is canceled due to severe weather.
Want discounted tickets? Join CCHA today.

This Chatham County Historical Association fundraiser is brought to you by our dedicated volunteers.

June BOOK CLUB- Fire on the Beach (20 Jun 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMT

“NC History Between the Lines”- A Local History Book Club

JUNE 2026 ~ TRANSPORTATION

Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers by David Wright & David Zoby (2002)

Fire on the Beach explores the dangers of 19^th century coastal transportation along North Carolina’s “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” where ships carrying goods and people faced constant danger. Through the story of Richard Etheridge and the all-black crew of the US Life-Saving Service, the crew faced discrimination and the dangers of the Atlantic yet rose to heroism in their service.

Sign up here for the Saturday, June 20 meeting at 9:30 am. Participation is free and you are welcome to bring friends.

Questions ~ or to borrow a copy of the book contact: Volunteers@chathamhistory.org

July BOOK CLUB- Redcoats on the Cape Fear (18 Jul 2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT

“NC History Between the Lines”- A Local History Book Club

JULY 2026 ~US INDEPENDENCE

Redcoats on the Cape Fear: The Revolutionary War in Southeastern North Carolina by Robert M Dunkerly (2012, revised version of Redcoats on the River, 2008)

Redcoats on the Cape Fear brings the American Revolution to Chatham County’s doorstep. British troops patrolled the Cape Fear River, and local farmers, townspeople, and militia faced danger, disruption, and difficult choices. Through local stories, this book shows how ordinary people helped shape the fight for independence right here in our area.

Sign up here for the Saturday, July 18 meeting at 9:30 am. Participation is free and you are welcome to bring friends.

Questions ~ or to borrow a copy of the book contact: Volunteers@chathamhistory.org