It was a step back in time as the Tryon Palace in New Bern celebrated the first Independence Day.
Families lined the palace grounds while the Declaration of Independence was read on the palace steps. The Drum Corps also performed for the crowd, which enjoyed the celebration for free.
Matt hales was among those at the festivities. He says he's glad to share part of history with his son. "I hope people can take notes from this and continue to look back at where we've come from and and kind of take that to where we'll go in the future as a country."
This is just one of the free events the palace is evaluating as they figure out how to make up their million dollar cut from the state this year
