The President James K. Polk State Historic Site will host a lecture on February 7 by Dr. Jurgen Buchenau, Professor of History and Latin American Studies at UNC Charlotte. The presentation will focus on President Polk’s role in U.S.-Mexican relations, including the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846–1848. According to a press release from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the event is part of the America 250 series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The lecture will include perspectives from Mexico and Indigenous communities and will discuss the broader impacts of the U.S.-Mexican War, including territorial changes for Mexico and connections to events leading up to the U.S. Civil War. The event begins at 1 p.m. and is free, with a suggested $5 donation. Attendees can pre-register online. Dr. Jurgen Buchenau, a professor of History and Latin American Studies at UNC Charlotte, is the author of The United States and Mexico: Unequal Neighbors.
Dr. Buchenau’s research and teaching focus on modern Mexico, political culture, and the history of capitalism. His work has received support from institutions including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Philosophical Society. The President James K. Polk State Historic Site, the birthplace of America’s 11th president, is located on 21 of the original 150 acres owned by Polk’s father, Samuel. The site is at 12031 Lancaster Highway in Pineville, N.C., and is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The America 250 NC initiative is managed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which oversees the state’s historical, natural, and cultural sites. The department supports education, community programs, and economic development across more than 100 sites in North Carolina. More information about the America 250 commemoration and other department initiatives is available on their official website.
