Huntersville, North Carolina

These unassuming buildings whisper tales of a time when textiles reigned supreme in the Carolinas. This is the former Thrift Mill, a crucial piece of Mecklenburg County's industrial past. Built around 1912, the Thrift…

Pull over here for a minute; you're about to see Frew's Folly, also known as Rosedale, a reminder of Charlotte's plantation past.Built around 1815, Rosedale was a plantation home showcasing the Federal style of…

That unassuming brick building right there holds a secret ingredient to American kitchens for decades: vinegar! The Speas Vinegar Company building is a piece of Charlotte's industrial past. Founded in 1888, the Speas…

Pull over for a minute and imagine life in a bustling mill village; this area tells the story of Mooresville's industrial roots. The Mooresville Mill Village Historic District, listed on the National Register of…

Right here, where you're driving, stood a symbol of Charlotte's transformation: Highland Park Manufacturing Company Mill No. 3. Built between 1903 and 1904, this mill was a major player in the textile industry,…

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…

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…

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…

Ever wonder what made Mooresville more than just a blip on the map? This historic district is the answer. Centered around what's now Main Street, the district blossomed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It…

This unassuming brick building tells a story of industry and innovation that helped shape Mount Holly. Built in 1875, the Mount Holly Cotton Mill, later known as Alsace Manufacturing Co., was a major player in the…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This unassuming brick building is more than just an old factory; it's a window into Charlotte's booming cotton mill era. Back in 1897, the Louise Cotton Mill was built, a two-story, 27-bay long structure. Then, in 1901,…

Imagine life in Mecklenburg County before the Revolutionary War, because right here stands a silent witness to those times: the 1774 Alexander Rock House. Built by the Alexander family, construction finished in 1774.…

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…

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…

Kannapolis is a place where the hum of looms once echoed through the streets, a constant reminder of Cannon Mills, the textile giant that birthed the town. The name itself, 'City of Looms' in Greek, hints at this…

Imagine a revival so powerful, people traveled for days to camp out and worship! That's the story of Rock Springs Camp Meeting Ground. Established in 1832, this site became a central gathering place for Methodists.…

Pull over and you'll be seeing stars, at least on the big screen, at one of the oldest single-screen movie theaters still operating! The Gem Theatre opened on New Year's Eve, 1936. Cannon Mills, a textile giant in…

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…

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.…

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…

Right here, where you're driving, stands a testament to North Carolina's early industrial boom: the Odell-Locke-Randolph Cotton Mill. Originally built in 1839, it was first known as the McDonald Cotton Mills. It was…

Step back in time to the former home of a titan of industry, James Buchanan Duke. Here, at Lynnwood, later known as White Oaks, Duke spent his final years, a period that capped a remarkable career. This grand Colonial…

Concord sits where it does thanks to a fortunate confluence of factors. It wasn't just the elevation, high enough to avoid the worst of coastal weather, but also its position on the old stagecoach road, a vital artery…

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…

These buildings whisper tales of Concord's booming commercial past. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area along Union Street and Cabarrus Avenue became the heart of Concord's business district. Local…

This unassuming building holds the story of how farmers organized and fought for their rights. The Corriher Grange Hall, built in 1916, originally served as a school for the community's children. However, by the…

Get ready to be transported back in time as we approach McAdenville, a place deeply rooted in North Carolina's textile history and now famously known as Christmas Town USA. In 1881, the state legislature chartered…

Imagine living on a farm that's also hiding a gold mine! That's the story of the Robert Harvey Morrison Farm, also known as Cedarvale, right here in Cabarrus County.The main house, built around 1846, is a beautiful…

This unassuming building offers a rare peek into the daily life of a rural community at the turn of the century. Around 1890, the Hayes-Byrum Store opened its doors, a brick building where locals could buy everything…

Charlotte Christian School (7301 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC) is where a skinny Stephen Curry grew into a shooter. As a senior he averaged about 18 points and led the Knights deep into the state playoffs, but the legend…