There are a lot of fun facts about the Tar Heel State that are real head-turners, like these seven insane things that happened in North Carolina that you just won’t find in history books. But one fact that’s making the rounds this time of year is the simple assertion that what is commonly considered the first official recorded Fourth of July celebration, ever, was held in a tiny town in North Carolina.

Historians may get hung up on the fact that a celebration of any kind is a celebration. And in part, they are correct. It's absolutely true that in other places people were certainly celebrating the newfound independence with casual and impromptu bonfires and such.
Flickr/Bob Travis
Moreover, on the first anniversary, 13 gunshots were fired morning and night in Bristol Rhode Island on July 4, 1777, to mark the occasion.
Flickr/Starley Shelton
The next year, in 1778, George Washington, while in New Jersey, marked the occasion with a double shot of rum for his soldiers.
Flickr/Mike O'Dowd
But it wasn't until 1783, according to this Wikipedia page, that an official program of celebration was created. The event occurred when Moravians in Salem, North Carolina marked the occasion with a big celebration of patriotic music composed by Johann Friedrich Peter.
Flicir/Delwin Steve Campbell

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If you're still in doubt, you can head to the square in the Old Salem Museum and Gardens and bear witness to a plaque that stakes claim to the first "official" 4th of July celebration in the country held there on July 4, 1783.
Facebook/Old Salem Museum & Gardens
To mark the occasion, each year the Old Salem Museum and Gardens has a variety of events to mark the historic occasion.
TripAdvisor/D2958ZXgarym
Enjoy a day in the life of colonial Old Salem and participate in a variety of events that mark the occasion.
Facebook/Old Salem Museum & Gardens
Visit the historic Town of Salem and learn even more fun facts about North Carolina.
Facebook/Old Salem Museum & Gardens

Does this come as a surprise to you? Or did you already know this fun fact about the Tar Heel State?

Old Salem Museum and Gardens is located at 900 Old Salem Road, Winston Salem, NC. The hours of operation vary by individual buildings. All tour buildings are closed on Mondays. See a list of building schedules at this link. Entry ticket prices vary depending upon the level of visitation you select; however, an all-in-one ticket will allow you to gain access to all tour buildings and the self-guided galleries for two consecutive days. The price of the all-inclusive ticket is $27 for adults and $13 for students. More information about ticket prices and about the Historic Town of Salem can be found on the official website for Old Salem.

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900 Old Salem Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA