The Beauty of Raleigh

Raleigh is the capital of the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who was an English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer. At one time in history, he established an English settlement here in the 1580s. The city is like the capital of the U.S., Washington D.C. planned out from the start to be the capital. When it was founded in 1792 it was called the City of Oaks. To take a look at the history of Raleigh you can walk through the Historic Oakwood neighborhood with beautifully restored Victorian homes.

There are many impressive homes to see such as the Tucker House built in the neo-Classical style. You can begin your walking tour by getting a map from the Capital Area Visitors Center.

The Historic Oak View County Park is an antebellum farmhouse that was built in 1885. It features the Farm History Center, the Cotton Gin House, and the Plank Kitchen. You can picnic in the gardens and orchards and see the goats.

Raleigh has a distinctly African American heritage, It is home to many sites celebrating both the triumphs and the sorrows. The African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State at the Witherspoon Student Center features exhibits by prominent artists focusing on this rich heritage.

The Pope House Museum offers free, guided tours. Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope was a graduate of the Leonard School of Medicine. It was the first four-year medical school for African Americans in Raleigh.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens have a bronze statue of King, honoring him.

Mount Hope Cemetery was built in 1872 and is the largest African American cemetery in the city.

The St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church is an impressive Gothic building in downtown. It was built by the first independent congregation of African Americans in Raleigh.

Pullen Park was the first public park to open in North Carolina. Here visitors can ride the Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel and the C.P. Huntington miniature train. You can pedal boats around Lake Howell and for children, there is the kiddie boat ride. Children enjoy the large playground and delight in shows at the Children's Amphitheater.

Fans of the Andy Griffith Show can have photos taken with the Andy and Opie statues. The park also has a cafe, an aquatic center, sports fields, and for special events the Theater in the Park.

Mordecai Historic Park is the birthplace of Andrew Jackson the 17th President of the U.S. The house was built in 1785 and is the oldest house in the city still standing on its original foundation. Guided tours of the estate and gardens are available. You can see other 19th-century buildings as well like the St. Marks Chapel, Badger Iredell Law Office, and the Allen Kitchen.

Marbles Kids Museum offers children under 10 a hands-on interactive attraction. They can explore many different worlds through interactive exhibits. The Wells Fargo IMAX Theater shows both Hollywood hits and educational films.

The North Carolina Museum of Art or NCMA first opened in 1956. The museum exhibits artwork from the Renaissance, ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and artifacts, Egyptian burial artwork, pre-Columbian, and early American art. Guided tours of the galleries and special exhibits are available. They host workshops, lectures, films, and performing arts shows. On the museum grounds, you'll find sculptures, gardens, and a reflecting pool.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is one of the largest natural science museums in the southeastern U.S. It consists of two buildings. One focuses on educational exhibits, and the other on the methods behind the science. There are traveling exhibits. The Natural Exploration Center has a permanent exhibit that includes the Arthropod Zoo, the Living Conservatory, and exhibits that explore the coasts, mountains, and local natural history of North Carolina. There are many other exciting things to do and see here. The SECU Daily Planet is a three-story theater that explores the planet Earth from the inside out. Detailed floor maps are available for all self-guided tours or you can get an app for a digital guide.

The North Carolina Museum of History offers visitors permanent and traveling exhibits that look into the state's past. You can see such things as costumes from the Revolutionary War era and weapons and military gear from the Civil War. This is also home to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The North Carolina Capitol Building is considered to be one of the best-preserved examples of Greek revival architecture in the U.S. It was completed in 1840 and is one of the best-loved landmarks in the city. Today it houses the Governor's office.

The JC Raulston Arboretum is located on the State University Campus and has one of the largest collections of plants in the southeast U.S. There are more than 6,500 plants from all over the world. The public has access to the gardens.

Yates Mill is the centerpiece of Yates Mill County Park. This is a restored mill found about five miles from downtown Raleigh. It dates back to about 1756. There are tours available. Take the time to explore the park which is also a wildlife refuge.

Clemmons Educational Forest opened in 1976 and has well-marked trails with educational exhibits along the way. There are lessons about wildlife and the forest taught by rangers. The forest has areas for picnics.

The Joel Lane House is also known as Wakefield. It was built in the 18th century and is the former home of Joel Lane known as the Father of Raleigh. The home has been fully restored.

The Videri Chocolate Factory is a place for chocolate lovers. Visitors can learn about the chocolate-making process and you can sample the sweets.