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Many historical buildings and areas can be found in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Capitol Building was consecrated back in 1840 and still houses the governor, lieutenant governor and their staffs. This beautiful building is made entirely of granite. The Executive Mansion is home of North Carolina’s governor and is open for tours. The North Carolina Museum of History provides an in-depth look at different historical subjects, like North Carolina’s role in the Civil War and the Wright Brothers’ famous flight at Kitty Hawk. Admission to the museum is free, making the decision to go even easier. Just 20 minutes east of Raleigh is historic Hillsborough, a former frontier settlement with over 100 preserved historical structures. Today, Hillsborough has more than 40 restaurants, a soda fountain, antique shops and a huge sports complex.
Artspace
201 E. Davie St., Raleigh; Tel. 919.821.2787
Watch artists at work in their natural habitat -- loft studios! Artspace is a not-for-profit gallery and workspace for local artists. More than 40 local artists work in this open studio environment, but three exhibition galleries make work of local, national and international artists accessible to all. The first Friday of each month brings special opening receptions to both the Artspace and in the surrounding City Market galleries.
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Cameron Village
Off Oberlin Road btw Wade Avenue and Hillsborough St., Raleigh; Tel. 919.828.3166
Are you personally arty, or do you just like to purchase the results? This collection of shops specializing in North Carolinian-designed crafts welcomes everyone from pottery fans to antique collectors to home décor aficionados. Of course, no shopping center would be complete without access to the latest in designer clothing, handbags and shoes (from Birkenstocks to Stuart Weitzman heels).
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Capitol Building
W. Morgan St. at Hillsborough St., Raleigh
The Greek Revival-style State Capitol Building was consecrated in 1840 and today houses the governor, lieutenant governor and their respective staffs. Monuments, memorials and statuary dedicated to those lost in the War Between the States (as the Civil War is affectionately known south of the Mason-Dixon line) grace the grounds and provide plenty of history. The 'indestructible' (its predecessor, the State House, burned to the ground in 1833) is made entirely from native Raleigh granite.
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Executive Mansion
200 North Blount St., Raleigh; Tel. 919.733.3456
The home to North Carolina's governor since 1891, this clay, sandstone and marble residence is a testament to the earth from which this Southern capitol was made as the building materials came from different sections of North Carolina. Tours of the mansion can be scheduled through the Capitol Area Visitor Center.
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Historic Hillsborough
I-85, 20 minutes east of Raleigh, Hillsborough, NC; Tel. 919.732.7741
Originally a frontier settlement at the site where the Great Indian Trading Path meets the Eno River, the town of Hillsborough (est. 1754) continues to operate as a residential community that integrates the present while preserving the past. More than 100 historical structures are located throughout the picturesque town, including a historical museum, estates and plantations, a Masonic Hall, churches and municipal buildings constructed in Greek and Gothic Revival styles. Walking tours and history lessons are available, covering colonial history, the Civil War and Reconstruction. However, with more than 40 restaurants, antique shops, a soda fountain and an expansive sports complex, history is only half the reason to go.
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Moore Square Park
Blount and Martin streets, Raleigh, NC
If a large bronze acorn isn't enough to get you to Moore Park in the Capitol area, the lush North Carolinian flora should. While you won't find tobacco plants growing in the well-designed urban retreat, you will find a mixture of Northeastern deciduous and Southern year round perennials that fondly summon the fruits of the Tarheels' native garden.
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Morehead Planetarium
UNC-Chapel Hill, CB #3480, Chapel Hill, NC; Tel. 919.962.1236
One of the treasures of the Research Triangle is its clear bright country sky. The Morehead Planetarium features lectures on the stars several times a week, in addition to outdoor lectures and scheduled viewings of meteor showers, eclipses and other celestial events. The Morehead is one of the nations premier planetariums, with state of the art technology, and respected astronomers presenting a wide variety of public programs. Unfortunately, they're not big into the "Laser Floyd" shows.
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North Carolina Museum of History
5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh; Tel. 919.715.0200
Rotating exhibits focus on disparate subjects ranging from North Carolina's role in the Civil War to its place in medical history to its feats of engineering (lest we not forget that Kitty Hawk, sight of the Wright Brothers famous flight, is located on North Carolina's heralded Outer Banks). Semi-permanent exhibits include the interactive North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame where, at the touch of a button, you can watch historic moments in college and professional baseball, basketball and football. Admission is free.
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--Reviews by Michael Stabile
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