SMITHFIELD – If you don’t know the story, you don’t know who you are. This idea is at the heart of what Johnston County Heritage Center means – making the lessons of the past accessible to future generations. The grand building on East Market Street in the heart of downtown Smithfield once belonged to First Citizens Bank. It still contains a huge vault, but nowadays it contains a different kind of treasure.
Within the walls of the Heritage Center are artifacts dating back to the Revolutionary War, ancient documents telling first-hand accounts of Johnston County’s history, and an impressive collection of historic photographs. Visitors from near and far stop to explore the family genealogy hoping to further connect the branches of their family tree.
The Johnston County Public Information Department has produced a video that provides insight into how the Heritage Center serves the community. Filmed over several months, the video showcases several rarely seen artifacts from Johnston County’s history, gives a tour of North Carolina’s last Freedman School, and offers a first look at the county’s newest museum.
Join Heritage Center Director Todd Johnson and the dedicated few who preserve Johnston County’s history as they take us on a journey through the past.
For more information on the Heritage Center and updates on the process of moving into the museum’s new space at 329 East Market Street in Smithfield, follow the Maison du patrimoine on their Facebook page.
