Settled in 1710, and named after Bern, Switzerland, New Bern is the second-oldest colonial town in North Carolina and was the capital of the North Carolina colonial government. For a short time, it was also the state capital. Its picturesque location and growing political prestige soon earned New Bern the title, “Athens of the South.” To this day, the Athens Theater and the Masonic Temple are active entities in the downtown; testaments to the staying power of a rich, cultural past. But the future of this city is all about building new foundations. >>READ MORE