Just east of the Shallowford Road bridge (that itself is south of US-421), this marker has the same…read moretext on both sides and points out a Revolutionary War site. It reads, "Colonial route across Yadkin River. Scene of Tory defeat by Whigs, 1780. Crossing used in 1781 by army of Lord Cornwallis. 600 yards south." Online there is more information. Shallow Ford on the Yadkin River served as a major eighteenth‑century wagon crossing on the Great Wagon Road and became a focal point for travel and settlement in western North Carolina. It witnessed multiple military actions, including a 1780 Patriot victory over Surry County Loyalists, Cornwallis's 1781 pursuit of Greene across the river, and a brief clash during Stoneman's Raid in 1865. Its long use and repeated strategic importance made it one of the Piedmont's most historically significant river fords. There is a spot here to stop to read the marker. There is also a path down to the riverbank on the west side of the bridge. [Review 608 of 2026 - 4696 in North Carolina - 25789 overall]

Opposite the Andy Griffith Playhouse and Museum, this marker points out some of the Civil War…read morehistory that happened here in Mount Airy. There is parking in the lot if you wish to stop to read the sign. It reads, "On a raid through western North Carolina Gen. Stoneman's U.S. cavalry passed through Mount Airy, April 2-3, 1865." It is marker number M-8 and was originally installed in 1940. Online, there is more information. " In late March 1865, Union cavalry under Major General George Stoneman, commander of the Union army "District of East Tennessee," marched throughout western North Carolina during one of the longest cavalry raids in history." "Along his march from Wilkesboro toward Virginia, Stoneman's men passed through Surry County and gathered additional supplies as they destroyed local Confederate supplies. Stoneman entered Virginia after leaving Mount Airy on April 3." About a week later, Lee surrendered at Appomattox on April 9. [Review 1761 of 2024 - 3681 in North Carolina - 22784 overall]

Between Madison and Wentworth, this roadside marker points out the home of one of North Carolina's…read morefirst governors who was an important figure in the early days of one of the original colonies. There is room to pull over to view the marker and perhaps look around. It is marker number J-15 and it was erected in 1993 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. It reads, "Alexander Martin, 1738-1807. Governor, 1782-85 and 1789-92, officer in the Revolution, member Federal Convention of 1787, United States Senator. Home stood 1/2 mile north." Alexander Martin, born around 1739 in New Jersey and educated at the College of New Jersey, built a prominent political career after settling in North Carolina around 1760. Rising from merchant and lawyer to legislator, Revolutionary War officer, and eventually governor, he served multiple terms and steered a moderate political course while helping guide the state through the end of the Revolution, the State of Franklin crisis, the founding of the University of North Carolina, and the establishment of Raleigh as the capital. Though his military record was blemished by a court‑martial from which he was acquitted, he remained influential, later serving in the U.S. Senate before returning home to Rockingham County, where he died in 1807. [Review 649 of 2026 - 4737 in North Carolina - 25830 overall]

This is marker number 31 and it was erected by the city of Winston-Salem in 2013 to honor one of…read morethe earliest settlers in the city. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This site marks the location where Thomas J. Wilson built the first home in what would become the town of Winston. Wilson had received permission from the Moravian Church in 1847 to erect his dwelling north of Salem's central area, as he wanted to live in the country. An attorney, Wilson was a member of the Forsyth County bar for over half a century. Wilson served as Forsyth County's first attorney, was judge for the Eighth Judicial District, a state senator, and mayor of Winston for two terms. After a life of service to First Presbyterian Church, Wilson died in 1900 at the age of eighty-five." Thomas J. Wilson built the first home in what became Winston after purchasing rural land from the Moravians in 1847, seeking a quiet place outside Salem. He went on to become one of Forsyth County's most prominent early leaders, serving as the county's first attorney, a judge, a state senator, and a two‑term mayor. A key figure in organizing the area's Presbyterian community, he remained influential for decades until his death in 1900. There is metered parking here but it's busy during the week with the courthouses nearby. [Review 613 of 2026 - 4701 in North Carolina - 25794 overall]

I have seen a number of markers pointing to the history of Stoneman's Raid across North Carolina -…read morein Statesville, Mount Airy and Wilkesboro - that point out just how wide this raid was across the state, ensuring not only the destruction of the South to expedite the close of the Civil War. A time when "total war" on civilians and civilian infrastructure was a combat strategy. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "On a raid through western North Carolina Gen. Stoneman's U.S. cavalry fought a skirmish with southern troops at Shallow Ford, April 11, 1865." It is marker number J-20 and it was erected in 1940 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. It is one of two markers in along this stretch of Shallowford Road and there is room to pull over here. [Review 609 of 2026 - 4697 in North Carolina - 25790 overall]

Located in the same area as the Forsyth County Courthouse and around the corner, the equestrian…read morestatue of RJ Reynolds, this marker points out the original home of one of the city's core businesses. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "The Little Red Factory, also known as the Old Red Factory, was built in 1875 by Richard Joshua (R.J.) Reynolds as the first home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Situated on land purchased from the Moravian town of Salem, this modest two-story structure was strategically located at the nexus of two key commercial advantages: the thriving flue-cured tobacco market and a newly constructed railroad line. R.J. Reynolds emerged as a prominent figure in the community, and the Reynolds family played a pivotal role in shaping the history and growth of Winston-Salem." Winston-Salem's growth is tightly linked to the rise of R.J. Reynolds, who arrived in 1874 and launched his business in the Little Red Factory, a small bright‑red building that quickly expanded as demand for tobacco surged. By the 1890s, Reynolds had built Factory Number 256 over the original site, absorbed most local competitors, and turned his company into a national powerhouse with brands like Prince Albert, Camel, Winston, and Salem, while also reshaping the city's skyline with projects such as the 1929 Reynolds Building. The company became one of the region's largest employers through the mid‑20th century, but later faced mounting health‑related scrutiny, regulatory pressure, and declining cigarette consumption, eventually merging with Nabisco in 1989 and relocating its headquarters to Atlanta in 1999. Although Factory Number 256 was destroyed in a major 1998 fire, the legacy of R.J. Reynolds remains deeply embedded in Winston-Salem's industrial, economic, and architectural history. [Review 617 of 2026 - 4705 in North Carolina - 25798 overall]

Let freedom ring is a wonderful And well done monument to…read morehonor our soldiers located in historic downtown Mount Airy North Carolina aka Mayberry. The sculpture features concrete background, a small water fountain and some flags. My buddy and I was exploring the historic Main Street area checking out all the Mayberry sites when we came across this piece of public art. Overall Mayberry has a surprisingly vast public art scene and it added to the fun in exploring this historic little town.

George Henry Black was a master brickmaker whose handmade bricks shaped some of Winston-Salem's…read moremost recognizable homes, churches, factories and civic buildings. Born in 1879 to parents who had been enslaved, he came to the city as a child and eventually built his own brickyard, gaining a national reputation for the quality and durability of his traditional hand-pressed bricks. His work appeared everywhere, from local mansions to the original North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Salem College and even restoration projects in Colonial Williamsburg. This statue in front of the Forsyth County Courthouse honors that legacy, recognizing a craftsman whose bricks literally built the community and whose century-long life reflected both skill and perseverance. The memorial includes examples of his original bricks and stands near buildings that used them, making it a fitting tribute to someone whose work helped define the city's architectural character. There is metered street parking in the area but it will be quite busy during the week with the courthouses and city offices nearby. [Review 616 of 2026 - 4704 in North Carolina - 25797 overall]