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Helping create and shape a travel and tourism plan for the Town of Pembroke.
Advising the Town on all policies and budgets related to local travel and tourism planning efforts.
Board objectives include the
The South is an ideal road trip choice for cultural and heritage tourism experiences. ~Honorable Sonny Perdue~
What's New
Pembroke Tourism Authority presented Chef Pyet DeSpain and her "Storytelling Through Food" demonstration during this year's Lumbee Homecoming. Award-winning Chef DeSpain explored the connections among Indigenous identity, family traditions, and the flavors that bring communities together. Our Board highlights the success of this event and looks forward to bringing more events that celebrate and promote cultural awareness.
Pembroke Tourism Authority Leadership and Members of the Board
A Look Into Our History
Pembroke is a vital hub for Lumbee culture and Native American education in the United States. Located in southeastern North Carolina, it is the political heart of the Lumbee Tribe and home to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.Native RootsLong before it was a town, indigenous people lived along the Lumber River. The ancestors of the Lumbee people thrived here for centuries, uniting diverse communities that survived the challenges of early colonization.From Scuffletown to PembrokeThis area was once known as "Scuffletown," a major settlement in Robeson County. The modern town grew in the late 1800s with the arrival of the railroad. Originally centered at Campbell’s Mill, it was officially incorporated in 1895 and named after official Pembroke Jones.A Hub for Lumbee LifeBy the early 1900s, Pembroke was the primary commercial center for Lumbee families. It maintained a unique social atmosphere during the Jim Crow era due to its large Native population. Following years of activism, the town proudly elected its first Lumbee mayor in 1947.
Early Education and UNCPA major milestone was the 1887 creation of a school for Native Americans. Originally the Croatan Normal School, it moved to Pembroke in 1909. Today, it is known as the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the first public university for American Indians in the nation.Path to RecognitionPembroke is the base for the Lumbee people’s quest for federal status. After decades of effort following initial recognition in 1885 and 1956, the tribe achieved full status in 2025 as the 575th federally recognized tribe. The town remains the symbolic soul of Lumbee governance and identity.Pembroke TodayThough small, Pembroke is famous for its cultural heritage and the annual Lumbee Homecoming. This event brings families from across the country back to their ancestral home to celebrate together.In Summary: Pembroke evolved from a railroad stop into a premier educational and cultural center for the Lumbee people and Native American life in the Eastern United States.
