Pepsi Family Center

For one of the most genuinely fun and immersive family experiences in New Bern, NC, the Pepsi Family Center is a real treasure. Set inside the North Carolina History Center on the historic Tryon Palace grounds in Craven County, this interactive, hands-on space transports visitors back to 1835 — immersing children and adults alike in the daily life of New Bern at its height as a bustling coastal port town. With its mix of dynamic technology, hands-on activities, and authentic 19th-century context, the Pepsi Family Center has become one of the most beloved family-friendly stops in eastern North Carolina. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the center before you go — or to relive the visit after.

Step into 1835 New Bern

The Pepsi Family Center recreates New Bern as it was in 1835 — a remarkable choice of era. In the early-to-mid 19th century, New Bern was one of the most active coastal port towns in North Carolina, with a thriving maritime economy built around naval stores (turpentine, tar, and pitch), agricultural exports, and busy merchant trade. Stepping into the Family Center is genuinely like stepping into that world: the sounds of the port, the rhythms of daily commerce, and the variety of skilled trades that defined daily life in early-19th-century coastal Carolina.

For families looking to bring history to life in a way that engages kids without sacrificing depth, the 1835 setting is one of the most effective educational frames in the museum complex.

The Pepsi Portal to History

The journey through the Family Center begins with the Pepsi Portal to History — a virtual time-machine entrance enhanced by dynamic lights, sounds, and visuals. The Portal sets the tone for the immersive experience that follows, giving visitors a vivid sense of leaving the modern world behind and stepping into a different century.

The effect is genuinely memorable and especially captivating for younger visitors. It’s the kind of thoughtful design touch that elevates the Pepsi Family Center above standard interactive museum spaces.

Hands-On Exhibits That Bring 19th-Century Life to Life

Once inside, families can explore a remarkable variety of hands-on exhibits that recreate the daily tasks, trades, and pastimes of 1835 New Bern:

Sailing a ship — virtual steering and navigation that brings the era’s busy maritime economy to life
Distilling turpentine — a nod to one of North Carolina’s most important 19th-century industries, when the state led the nation in naval stores production
Piecing together an electronic quilt — a creative blend of traditional textile craft and modern interactive technology
Assisting a shopkeeper in a dry goods store — letting kids step behind the counter of a typical New Bern merchant of the era

The exhibits are designed so that children and adults can collaborate, making the Family Center one of the rare museum spaces that genuinely works for visitors of all ages at the same time.

Funded by PepsiCo and the Minges Bottling Group

The Pepsi Family Center owes its name and existence to a generous donation from PepsiCo and the Minges Bottling Group — a meaningful nod to the city’s place in beverage history, even though the center itself focuses on the broader story of 1835 New Bern rather than the invention of Pepsi-Cola specifically. (For visitors interested in the soda’s origin story, the Birthplace of Pepsi — Caleb Bradham’s original pharmacy at Middle and Pollock Streets — is just a short walk away from the History Center.)

Good to Know

Location: Inside the North Carolina History Center on the Tryon Palace grounds
Era depicted: 1835 New Bern — a bustling coastal port town
Entry point: The Pepsi Portal to History, an immersive virtual time machine
Hands-on activities: Sailing a ship, distilling turpentine, piecing together an electronic quilt, assisting a shopkeeper in a dry goods store
Designed for: Children and adults exploring together
Funded by: A generous donation from PepsiCo and the Minges Bottling Group
Best for: Families with children, history buffs, and visitors looking for hands-on, immersive experiences
Pair with: A visit to the Birthplace of Pepsi for the actual story of Caleb Bradham’s invention, plus the Duffy Exhibition Gallery, Guion Gallery, and Regional History Museum — all within the same complex
Located inside the North Carolina History Center on the Tryon Palace grounds in downtown New Bern, NC

A New Bern Highlight

The Pepsi Family Center is the kind of stop that captures everything a great family museum experience should be. The carefully chosen 1835 setting, the immersive Pepsi Portal to History entrance, the hands-on activities that genuinely teach as they entertain, and the welcoming collaborative design all add up to one of the most consistently rewarding family-friendly stops in Craven County. Whether you’re sailing a virtual ship, distilling turpentine, working behind a 19th-century counter, or just enjoying watching the kids dive into the exhibits, this is one of the most genuinely delightful museum experiences you can have in New Bern.