Gastonia, North Carolina

Imagine standing on the very ground where a crucial victory turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. Here at Kings Mountain, on October 7th, 1780, Patriot militia forces decisively defeated Loyalist troops.…

This unassuming brick building tells a story of Lincolnton's booming textile industry. Built between 1907 and 1910, this is the Eureka Manufacturing Company Cotton Mill. It was home to the Eureka Manufacturing Company…

If these headstones could talk, they'd tell tales of grit and survival from the earliest days of this region. Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery, established in 1780, is the oldest burying ground in this part of…

This isn't just any grove of trees; it's a place where generations of African American families have found spiritual renewal and community since the end of slavery. After emancipation, Mary Tucker, the wife of a local…

Pull over here for a minute. This land whispers stories of a bygone era, a time when plantations dotted the Carolina landscape. We're near Latta Place, a window into the lives, both free and enslaved, who shaped this…

Imagine a time when iron wasn't shipped from factories, but forged right here in North Carolina. That's Vesuvius Furnace. Built in 1790, Vesuvius Furnace was a crucial part of the early American iron industry. The…

Before you, the Savona Mill stands as a testament to Charlotte's evolving industrial landscape. This wasn't just one business; it was a chameleon, adapting to the needs of the times. Originally constructed between 1915…

Quench your thirst for history at this former Coca-Cola bottling plant, a piece of Charlotte's industrial past. This building, constructed between 1929 and 1930, was the Charlotte Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant. It's…

Ever wonder what Charlotte was like when streetcars ruled the roads? You're about to drive through a living postcard from that era: Wesley Heights. Developed after 1911, Wesley Heights was one of Charlotte's first…

Listen closely, because this isn't just another building; it's Biddle Memorial Hall, the heart of Johnson C. Smith University. Built in 1883, Biddle Hall is a striking Romanesque-style building. It's known for its…

Imagine a life tied to the land, a life of both privilege and responsibility. That was the reality for James G. Torrance, whose home stood right here at Cedar Grove Plantation. Built between 1831 and 1833, Cedar Grove…

This unassuming building tells a tale of Charlotte's industrial boom in the early 20th century. The Joseph Sykes Brothers Company Building, constructed in 1926, was designed by Lockwood, Greene & Co., a firm known for…

Look to your left, and you'll see a historic jail attributed to Robert Mills, one of America’s most prominent early architects! This three-story brick building, known as the Wilson House, was built in 1828 and…

This unassuming brick building tells a story of Charlotte's rise as a manufacturing hub. Built between 1904 and 1905, this was the Daniel A. Tompkins Company Machine Shop. They made textile machinery, supplies, and…

These unassuming brick buildings hide a story of industry and, ultimately, hazard. The Southern Asbestos Company Mills, later known as Fiber Mills, processed asbestos here for much of the 20th century. Constructed…

Step inside this charming indoor shopping arcade and experience a piece of Charlotte's history. Built in 1914, the Latta Arcade was designed by architect William H. Peeps. It was envisioned as a two-story atrium filled…

Once a grand 13-story hotel, this location whispers tales of Charlotte's booming past. Hotel Charlotte, later also known as the Queen Charlotte Hotel and other names, opened its doors in 1929 at the corner of Trade and…

Ever wonder how Charlotte grew beyond its original four wards? This neighborhood, Dilworth, holds a big part of that story. Back in the 1890s, Edward Dilworth Latta bought up 250 acres just southwest of the city limits.…

Charlotte's story is deeply entwined with the gleam of gold. Long before banking towers defined the skyline, the Carolina Gold Rush of the early 1800s transformed the area. Farmers tilling the red clay soil stumbled…

Imagine Charlotte's skyline... without its skyscrapers! This very spot was once home to the Independence Building, Charlotte's *first* skyscraper. Built in 1909 by J.A. Jones Construction, the Independence Building…

Right here, where you're driving, once stood a symbol of Charlotte's booming financial scene. Merchants and Farmers National Bank was built back in the early 1870s to serve the growing agricultural and business…

Imagine a grand movie palace shimmering with light and music – that was the Carolina Theatre. It stood here as a Charlotte landmark for decades. The Carolina Theatre first opened its doors in 1927. It was built during…

This historic church was a cornerstone of Charlotte's Brooklyn neighborhood, a vibrant African American community. Grace A.M.E. Zion Church was built in 1901 and 1902. It's a Gothic Revival style brick church. Look for…

Shelby, North Carolina, carries a name that speaks of valor and a fight for independence. It wasn't chosen at random; the town honors Colonel Isaac Shelby, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Shelby wasn't just any…

Once a grand 12-story hotel, this building tells a story of Charlotte's past. The Barringer Hotel, later known as Hall House, opened its doors in 1940. This red brick building quickly became a landmark in Charlotte,…

This isn't just another courthouse; it's a landmark that has witnessed nearly a century of justice in Mecklenburg County. Designed by Louis H. Asbury, construction on this Neoclassical building began in 1925 and was…