Milton Renaissance Foundation, established in 2016, initially worked to simply increase tourism, education and cultural interest in the 1796 Town of Milton. The historic Milton State Bank was available at the time for lease. Employing that beautiful space to house a museum featuring Milton history and host historically themed lectures worked well.

Since commencing the lecture series in 2017, speakers have included:

Arthur Tillett, American Indian artifact collector/Timberlake, NC Earl Ijames, curator with Museum of History/Raleigh, NC Matt Neel, artifact preservationist, formerly with Museum of History/Raleigh, NC Charles Rodenbough, North Carolina historian-author/Greensboro, NC Russell Hicks, southern artifact-photograph collector/Bedford VA Gerald Roxbury, Civil War era weaponry-Halifax County Museum/South Boston VA Sally Gant, Director of Education and Special Programs Emirita-Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts/Old Salem, NC Dr. Bartlett Ganzert, Milton Chronicle newspaper history/Winston Salem University, NC ReVonda Crow, Western NC Storyteller Scott Mason, WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler/Raleigh, NC Barry Thompson, furniture craftsman-woodworker/Halifax, VA Patrick Stewart, Saponi Tribe member/Roxboro NC Jim McKnight, author/Mataoca, VA Paul Allen. author of When Tobacco Was King/Florida and Canada Stephen Wilson, Danville canal history-West End restoration/Danville VA Jean Bradsher Scott, Milton historian-columnist-author/Milton NC Alyssa Veasey, dramatist-Averett student/Danville VA Martha Bradsher Spencer, Milton historian/Raleigh NC Tom Edmonds, Race to the Dan history enthusiast/Hyco Lake, NC

Milton treasures have found their way back home since the museum opened.

As the Museum found surprising success, the Mission Statement changed to focus on curatorial responsibilities. While the Museum thus far has found a home through leasing the Milton State Bank, the funds to purchase the Old Christ Episcopal Church were donated in 2021 to be used for event hosting space and for additional museum space if and when needed. While COVID has limited event hosting possibilities in the last two years, we are currently planning upcoming lecture dates for spring 2022 as the pandemic threat is, at least temporarily, easing.

Notable visitors: NC First Lady Kristin Cooper and NC author/UNC-CH professor/musician Bland Simpson, considered a legend in his time.

Several owners of the historical homes here have provided restoration accounts along with historical significance. Shared in past newsletters, plans are to archive the narratives here.

A popular weekly column we write in The Caswell Messenger entitled, “A New Milton Chronicle,” continues to generate interest in Milton’s history. This column replaced “Milton Memories” written by the late and very dear Jean Bradsher Scott, whose love of this Town will continue to inspire us infinitely.

Thank you for visiting our site and check out our Events Page. Hopefully we will see you soon in Milton!