Last updated on October 1st, 2022
41. Mugs are in plenty
The House of Mugs in Collettesville sounds like a gift shop, but it is an eclectic collection of thousands of mugs that cover a cabin and other structures on a property. The owners invite visitors to add to the collection by bringing and hanging a mug if they can find an empty spot.
42. A water spitting head
David Černý’s Metalmorphosis in Charlotte is a giant polished steel kinetic water-spitting, head-shaped fountain at the Whitehall Corporate Center. The colossal, eye-catching piece weighs 14 tons and features mirrored, stacked layers that rotate 360 degrees with all layers coming together to reform the shape of a head during rotations.
43. A lighthouse by the name of Frying Pan Tower
Frying Pan Tower in Southport was built 32 miles off North Carolina’s Coast in 1964 as a lighthouse to prevent ships from running aground in the shallow waters of Frying Pan Shoals. Previously operated by the Coast Guard, the tower is now a non-profit project used for education, recreation, and research.
44. Clean and green
Cary has made it easy for residents to ride their bikes or walk around town. With 200 miles of green way and biking paths, residents can bike or walk to work, school, parks, and other destinations, contributing to cleaner air and a sustainable community.
45. A tribute to the first flight
The Monument to a Century of Flight in Kitty Hawk consists of 14 wing-shaped, stainless steel pylons that start at 10 feet tall and ascend to 20 feet and set in a circle measuring 120 feet. The 120-foot circle is symbolic of the distance of the first flight by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. Visitors can read the panels on the pylons to learn about events that have impacted aviation.
46. Collection of Wesleyan Staffordshire Pottery
The World Methodist Museum at Lake Junaluska was built in 1956 chronicles Methodist history. Visitors will find numerous artifacts, including rare books, manuscripts, poetry, replicas, and the most extensive collection of Wesleyan Staffordshire Pottery in the world.
47. The Road to Nowhere, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Road to Nowhere is an actual road just outside Bryson City. It is 8 miles long, leading to a 1,200-foot walkthrough tunnel that has never been completed. It was meant to give the displaced community that had been displaced as a result of the construction of the Fontana Lake and Dam in 1941. The road, unfortunately, was unfinished. The road, to this day, is only 7 miles long.
48. Twin Poplars, Lenoir, North Carolina
The Twin Poplars are two poplar trees that appear to grow together. The trees are separated at the base but their trunks appear to grow as one. According to legend, two warring factions of Native Americans, the Cherokee and the Catawba, decided to make peace and tied two trees together so they will not grow apart. The Twin Poplars stand firm to this day.
49. Weeksville Airship Hangar
The silver-toned Weeksville Airship Hangar was built in WWII for the manufacture, storage, and maintenance of blimps owned by the U.S. Navy. These airships were filled with helium and were deployed to observe the waters for incoming enemy ships. The hangar could house about 12 blimps that were at least 250 feet long.
50. Hoggatt House High Point, North Carolina
The Hoggatt House is the oldest standing structure in High Point, having been built in 1754 by Philip Hoggatt. The colonial cabin was later moved to the property of the High Point Museum during the 1990s and is now a popular place for tourists and locals to visit. Actors on site reenact life during the 1750s for visitors.
51. American Idol finalists
North Carolina also has the interesting statistic of having more American Idol finalists than any other state.
52. Laurinburg-Maxton Aircraft Boneyard, Maxton, North Carolina
This aircraft boneyard is the resting place of retired DC-10s, 747s, and 727s, all of which are planes flown by Northwest Airlines. Plane parts are now being sold for scraps.
53. Homeless Jesus, Davidson, North Carolina
This statue is a depiction of Jesus as a homeless man lying on a bench in the park at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. The bronze sculpture shows Jesus covered by a blanket with only his feet showing, with his crucifixion wounds visible. The statue is in the middle of a well-to-do community.
54. The Can Opener, Durham, North Carolina
The Can Opener is a railroad trestle that was so-named because it was too low for big rigs, standing at just 12 feet and 4 inches high. If any careless driver dares to cross, let’s just say that the can opener will do its job of decapitating the topmost portion of the vehicle.
55. Old Salem Coffee Pot, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Old Coffee Pot is a 7-foot coffee pot made of tin. It was built by Julius and Samuel Mickey in 1858, two Moravian brothers who worked as tinsmiths.
56. The first state to declare independence
If that seems like a small detail to stake the state’s pride on, consider that North Carolina is the first state to declare independence from Great Britain in 1775 with the Mecklenburg Declaration.
57. Famous craft beer
One of the towns, Asheville, is famous for its craft beer tradition. People come from miles around to taste different craft beer at its markets. It has a lot of breweries because of the local interest, more than any other town in the USA.
About the Flag of North Carolina
1. Design and Symbolism
The flag of North Carolina highlights the state’s leadership in the American independence movement. It has three sections: blue on the left, red at the top, and white at the bottom.
On the blue band are the initials of the state separated by a white star. It is roughly the same height as the letters “N” and “C.”
Above this is a gold scroll with “MAY 20TH, 1775.” It is the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration, considered by some to be the first recorded declaration of independence within the 13 Colonies. It came out of Charlotte, North Carolina, from a committee of citizens in Mecklenburg County.
Meanwhile, under the star is another scroll with “APRIL 12TH, 1776” – the date of the Halifax Resolves. It empowered the state delegates to vote in favor of independence in the Second Continental Congress. The resolution paved the way for the US Declaration of Independence three months later.
2. Adoption
On March 9, 1885, North Carolina adopted a state flag with the design of Johnston Jones. It was last modified in 1991.
3. Technical Details
The flag uses a proportion of 2:3. The upper and lower bars are of equal size. The length of the horizontal bars is the same as the dimension of the vertical blue bar.
4. History
North Carolina was the twelfth state admitted to the Union on November 21, 1789. Locals probably made several flags during the Revolution, but no records survived. None of them gained official recognition.
The First Flag
In 1861, the state held a constitutional convention to choose its side in the Civil war. The delegates voted to join the Confederacy. John D. Whitford of Craven County proposed a state flag with a blue field, a star, and a white “V” surrounded by the words “Surgit Astrum, May 20, 1775.”
The convention established a flag committee, but members chose a different design: red on the left, blue at the top, and white at the bottom. Within the red bar, a large white star appears at the center. Above it is the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration, while under it is the date of secession from the Union.
The Second Flag
In 1885, Adjutant General Johnston Jones introduced a bill for a new flag. The design switched the colors around such that the left is now blue and the top is red. The state initials “N” and “C” flank a white star, while the top and bottom show historical dates for the independence movement.
The 1991 Modification
In 1991, the North Carolina senate changed the proportions of the colored bars in the state flag. Instead of 3:4, it is now 2:3.
5. Flag Facts
The flag of North Carolina has an official salute. The bill adopted by the General Assembly calls for residents to pledge their love, loyalty, and faith to the Old North.
The Mecklenburg Declaration enhanced North Carolina’s status in US history, although skeptics doubt its authenticity. Aside from placing its date on the flag, the state also celebrates its anniversary.
The state also remembers Halifax Day every year. People dress up in period costumes while offering guided tours of colonial buildings in the Halifax Historic District.
North Carolina – quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | NC |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Raleigh List Of 50 U.S. States And Their Capital |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 53,819 sq miles; Land Only: 48,711 sq miles |
| Population | 10,835,491 (Estimate July 1, 2023 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | November 21, 1789 |
| State rank by population | 9th |
| State rank by date of formation | 12th |
| State rank by area | 28th |
| Number of Counties | 100 Complete list of 50 states and number of counties in each |
| Demonym | North Carolinian (official); Tar Heel (colloquial) |
| Bordering States | Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia |
| Official Language | English |
| Highest Point | Mount Mitchell 6,684 ft (2037 m) |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean Sea level |
| Mean elevation | 700 feet above sea level |
| Length | 560 miles (901 km) |
| Width | 170 miles (261 km) |
| National Parks | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
| Governor | Roy Cooper (D) |
| Lieutenant Governor | Mark Robinson (R) |
| Electoral Votes | 15 |
| State Motto | Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem) |
| State Nickname | Tar Heel State |
| % Water | 9.5 |
| Nobel Prize Winners | Kary B. Mullis (Chemistry, 1993) Daniel L. McFadden (Economic Sciences, 2000) |
| Famous People | Chris Hanburger (Pro Football Player) Gaylord Perry (Baseball Player) James Worthy (Basketball Player) Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Actress & Singer) Julianne Moore (Actress) Tori Amos (singer-songwriter) |
| U.S. Presidents Born in North Carolina | 1. James Knox Polk. 2. Andrew Johnson. |
| State Song | "The Old North State" |
| State Wildflower | Carolina lily |
| State Boat | Shad Boat |
| State Berry | Blueberry and strawberry |
| State Bird | Cardinal |
| State Flower | Dogwood |
| State Reptile | Eastern box turtle |
| State Carnivorous Plant | Venus flytrap |
| State Dog | Plott hound |
| State Insect | Honeybee |
| State Christmas Tree | Fraser fir |
| State Tree | Pine |
| Fossil | Megalodon teeth |
| State Fruit | Grape |
| State Mineral | Gold |
| State Horse | Colonial Spanish mustang |
| State Mammal | Gray squirrel |
| State Vegetable | Sweet potato |
| State Rock | Granite |
| State Butterfly | Eastern tiger swallowtail |
| Longitude | 75° 28′ W to 84° 19′ W |
| Latitude | 33° 50′ N to 36° 35′ N |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone |
| Website | www.nc.gov |
| Area Codes | 252, 336, 704, 828, 910, 919, 980, 984 |
| Table Last Updated | December 21, 2023 |