This was a conveniently located post office in downtown Kinston. I arrived late on Saturday after…read morethey had already closed but the mail drop outside was easy. Plenty of parking and good access, even for the Sprinter van. [Review 276 of 2024 - 3533 in North Carolina - 21311 overall.]

Officially activated in 1942 under the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command, it was named in…read morehonor of Lieutenant Seymour A. Johnson, a U.S. Navy test pilot and Goldsboro native who tragically died in a crash in 1941. Uniquely, it remains the only Air Force base named after a Navy officer. During the war, the base served as a vital training ground for aviation cadets and replacement pilots, particularly for the P-47 Thunderbolt. The base was deactivated in 1946 as part of post-war downsizing. And then the base was reactivated in 1956 under the Tactical Air Command. Today, it is presently home to the F-15E Strike Eagle and the 916th Air Refueling Wing, playing a critical role in global air operations. It's worth noting that it was in 1961 when a B-52 bomber broke apart in mid-air near Goldsboro. It had taken off from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base carrying two Mark 39 thermonuclear bombs. One of them parachuted safely to the ground. The other crashed into a muddy field at high speed and remains there to this day. One of the bombs was prevented from detonating by a single low-voltage safety switch after other preventative switches failed. Yes, North Carolina was nearly nuked. Have a read of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Goldsboro_B-52_crash. I stopped to take this picture of the historical marker in front of the main gate. I'm sure I'm on some list as a result. The marker reads, "Field used, 1942-46, for flight training by Army Air Forces; reopened in 1956. Named for Seymour Johnson, naval aviator and Goldsboro native." [Review 753 of 2025 - 4185 in North Carolina - 24313 overall]

It's a military base and I'm retired military. There is nothing there worth noting. I can only use…read morethe commissary and base exchange..

I had the opportunity to be incarcerated at this facility in 2023 for 6mths. Although, the…read moresituation was horrific, the experience here was beyond pleasant. Staff members were unbelievably courteous and thoughtful. Operations ran smoothly and as it should. Two memorable members of their staff stood out especially in the best of ways and I will not soon forget their encouragement and the time they took out to have a normal conversation. Stg. Casey and C/O Gurley. The facility is clean, and the environment is very laid back. The energy in this place is very calm (until it's not). And the food is decent. Lol. These people should be the people who train employees of state prisons and jails around the USA! Jhirmick Cabbagestalk

For just $2 you can have a guided tour from a seasoned employee. Leigh Strickland did an excellent…read morejob giving us the history of this site and the buildings, which are locked unless you are on a guided tour. To visit the Site and Visitors' Center is free of charge. The Center has rest rooms, a chronological display of exhibits from Governor Aycock's boyhood and political and law careers. His greatest accomplishment was his agenda for universal (free public) education for all--African Americans and Whites, despite having run on a platform of white supremacy. A new school house was built in NC for every day he was in office! There is also a dated film available for free viewing on demand in the visitors center. Outside visitors can enjoy a picnic shelter, looking into building windows, visiting with sheep and chickens, and touring the cemetery. We will return when a special event is taking place to see volunteers reenacting life on the farm.

I saw a historical marker sign for The Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace on my way to be…read morevaccinated so I decided to stop on the drive home as this seemed like a museum off the beaten path. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at a long dirt driveway. But when I arrived there was a museum inside and quite impressive. A video was offered with an introduction about Governor Aycock. I had no idea who he was or what he accomplished. The exhibits were great and more than I expected. Governor Aycock valued public education and opened over 4000 schools in the state one for everyday he was in office including Sundays. White Supremacy is sugar coated and I do hope that more is done to address the ugly history of the state. I did not get an opportunity to explore the buildings outside but will be returning to check out the one room schoolhouse, barn and stables. On my return I will be better educated on Governor Aycock.

Located on the Neuse and Little Rivers this nonprofit historic park is located on the site of the…read moreformer town of Waynesborough, the original seat of Wayne County from 1787 until 1847. Run by the Old Waynesborough Commission. The park consists of a village featuring nine historic buildings brought from across the county. These buildings, including a school, lawyer's office, and Quaker meeting house, date from the 1860's to the 1920s. The Visitors Center is open on weekends only. 9-5 Friday and Saturday 1-5 on Sundays. In addition to the village there are 150 acres along the Neuse and Little Rivers with over four miles of walking trails through open spaces, forest, and cypress swamp. This area is also on the NC Birding Trail. There is a family cemetery from the 1800s accessible by walking trail. Facilities are available for weddings, reunions, and other special events. Popular area for photo shoots. The hiking trails, especially bridges need repair and maintenance desperately to be safe. While there are trash cans, much more trash is littering the grounds.

Yes, I drove an hour round trip to take a picture of a sign but this one is special. It denotes the…read moretime that the United States bombed North Carolina, nearly a hundred years after the end of the Civil War. The marker reads, "Nuclear Mishap. B-52 transporting two nuclear bombs crashed, Jan. 1961. Widespread disaster averted; three crewmen died 3 miles south." Okay, all kidding aside. Three Air Force crew died and in the process, prevented what would have been an unspeakable tragedy. It is a serious matter. During the height of the Cold War, the United States had a policy of keeping armed aircraft in the air at all times in the event of a conflict. Nuclear deterrence and all that. Well, this B-52G Stratofortress took some structural damage during an air refueling and while preparing to land at nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, it experienced a major failure of the right wing. The plane broke up and exploded at 8000 feet. "As a result of the breakup of the plane, two MK39 nuclear weapons were released at a height of between 10,000 and 2,000 feet. Seven of eight arming, fusing, and firing switches and devices in one bomb automatically actuated. Only a crew-controlled switch prevented a nuclear detonation. Since its parachute deployed, one bomb had only minor damage when it fell about a mile from the crash site. The second bomb fell free, without its parachute deploying, and broke apart on impact." "Components of the bomb were sought for several weeks. The decision was made to leave remaining portions of the weapon containing uranium, believed to have entered the water table, in the ground. As a precaution, the government purchased part of the site and still maintains an easement in order to prevent digging in the vicinity. Periodic groundwater tests, still conducted by the state, have revealed no contamination." As the sign mentions, the actual crash is three miles away and the grounds are secured. Here in downtown Eureka, there isn't much. A small sandwich shop is near the sign if you're hungry. [Review 15486 overall, 990 of 2021, number 3029 in North Carolina.]

I spent about a half of a day in downtown Kinston. If you are visiting downtown, that's about all…read moreyou really need to spend here. My disclaimer when rating towns and cities, is I rate based on cities of similar size. So I do not compare Kinston to Atlanta for example. Kinston is in the eastern part of NC. Population ~ 20K. Located right on the Neuse river. Several parks in the area. The closest larger city is Greenville. If it wasn't for the Chef and the Farmer, I doubt I would have ever visited Kinston. It just isn't easy to get to, at least for me. Now I was impressed with the downtown area. Most of the buildings were occupied. Several decent shops to see. Art galleries as well. A lot of the shops close around 5 PM so keep that in mind if you visit. Not a lot of bars, but there are places to get a drink, including Mother Earth Brewery. Restaurant scene is decent with low end, diners, middle of the road restaurants and higher end. There is free parking in lots right in downtown. If you are into Civil War history, the CSS Neuse museum is right in downtown. I found downtown safe and not real congested. There were even scooters on the sidewalks for rent. We don't have scooters in Wilmington and they have the here. Crazy.

Downtown Kinston has a lot of potential from restaurants to museums to art galleries to stores. But…read morea lot of these businesses are not open during the advertised hours. There were signs that said "open" but the doors are locked. Then others were "closed" but the opening hours were to be open during that time. At least some businesses were open the day I was in town so I could shop and dine.

This marker is located along a relatively quite road that follows the Neuse River. It points out a…read moreCivil War battle that took place nearby. The marker is on the side of the road and there is room to stop if you wish to read. It says, "On December 15-16, 1862, on a raid at Whitehall, Union troops led by Gen. J. G. Foster damaged the Confederate Ram "Neuse."" Online, there is more information. "The engagement between Federal and Confederate forces at Whitehall (today known as Seven Springs) took place during Union General John G. Foster's raid from New Bern to Goldsboro in late 1862. On December 15, Foster's contingent of three companies of cavalry and several pieces of artillery entered Whitehall, which is located on the south bank of the Neuse River several miles above Kinston, hoping to capture or destroy the railroad bridge and confirm suspicions of Confederate ironclad construction on the river. Upon their arrival, they found the bridge burned by the Confederates in order to protect the ironclad and the opposite bank of the river occupied by several regiments of Confederate troops under the command of Brigadier General B. H. Robertson. During the ensuing battle, which lasted through December 16, the Federal artillery bombarded Confederate positions with such a barrage that the dense woods along the bank were cut down for a quarter of a mile back from the river and construction materials for the ironclad were damaged or destroyed." This is marker number F-44 and some of the letters could use a repainting. [Review 286 of 2024 - 3543 in North Carolina - 21321 overall.]