Many sites still want to avoid the subject. At some places, like Durham's Historic Stagville and Wilmington's Bellamy Mansion, are finding ways to show all sides of their history:

Myrick Howard, president of Preservation North Carolina, a nonprofit that restores historic structures, said there is often resistance to talking about slavery. When his group announced plans several years ago to restore the slave quarters at Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, Howard said some local donors balked. He said the group had to go outside Wilmington to raise much of the $400,000 required.

"There are a lot of people who would be perfectly happy if this subject went away and was never discussed again," Howard said.

But Howard said his group thinks it is crucial to save the physical reminders of slavery.

"We want to root it in reality, so it's no longer an intangible thing," Howard said. "These buildings are heading toward 150 years old, but that's only a handful of generations. It's incredibly important to touch the fabric and understand that."

Raleigh News & Observer (2/11/2009)

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Learn more about African-American history at Bellamy Mansion