Historical marker N-8 is located across the street from the Historic Burke County Courthouse and…read morepoints out the history of a local politician who went on to lead the state of North Carolina through challenging times. The marker reads, "Governor, 1870-1874, during Reconstruction, member State Convention of 1865. His home stood here." It was erected in 1939 by the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. Tod Robinson Caldwell rose from a standout Morganton‑born attorney to a central figure in North Carolina's turbulent Reconstruction politics. Trained by leading educators and known for sharp courtroom skill, he entered public life early and remained a committed Unionist even as most state Whigs shifted course during the Civil War. Afterward he helped build the state's Republican Party and became a key architect of its postwar government. As governor he pushed for financial stability, stronger public schools, legal protections for Black citizens, and accountability in major bond scandals, though an unfriendly legislature blocked much of his agenda. Known for moderation during a volatile era, he won a narrow reelection before dying suddenly in 1874, with his body returned to the community that shaped his early career. There is street parking here and it's an easy stop as you're exploring the historic district of Morganton. [Review 545 of 2026 - 4640 in North Carolina - 25727 overall]

Who is Sam J. Ervin, Jr and why were a historical marker, a bronze statue and plaques on the…read moresidewalk placed outside of the historic Burke County Courthouse in his honor? Sam J. Ervin Jr is considered a "Native Son" in Morganton, NC because he was born, raised, worked, and buried in the area. He was born in 1896 to a prominent attorney, Samuel James Ervin and Laura Theresa Powe. Long before the nation affectionately came to know him as "Senator Sam," he volunteered to serve in World War I a month before graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1917. Erwin faced intense combat, serving on the front lines in France. He was wounded twice and earned two Purple Hearts. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism and the Silver Star for gallantry in action during the capture and defense of Cantigny, and the French Fourragère, awarded by France for his unit's collective valor. Ervin Jr, considered himself a "country lawyer" even after graduating from Harvard Law School with honors. He also did law school backward, starting with Year 3 classes and finishing with Year 1 classes. "Senator Sam" is best known for presiding over the Watergate Hearings in 1973-1974 to protect American democracy from executive overreach, as he was a Constitutional Genius. When he retired from the Senate in 1974, Ervin moved back to Morganton, NC, so that he could practice law, write books, and live his life in the mountains with the community he loved. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon and Elder. When visiting downtown Morganton, take a few minutes to read the marker, study the statue, and read the engravings.

This marker is located directly in front of the Burke County Courthouse and points out this local…read morewho was a lawyer here and went on to represent the state in Washington. It is marker number N-49 and it reads, "U.S. Senator, 1954-1974; led Senate Watergate Committee, 1973-1974; judge. His law office was one block west." It was erected in 2011 by the North Carolina Office of Archives an History. There is more information online. Ervin's career bridged the era when powerful Southern politicians shaped national politics. After service in World War I and years as a legislator and judge, he entered Congress twice by appointment, ultimately winning three full Senate terms. Ervin became nationally known for chairing the Watergate Committee in 1973‑74. A prolific speaker and writer on North Carolina history, he left behind an extensive body of work now housed at UNC‑Chapel Hill. His legacy, as described by historian Karl Campbell, reflects both his resistance to civil rights and the Equal Rights Amendment and his celebrated defense of civil liberties. [Review 544 of 2026 - 4639 in North Carolina - 25726 overall]

Courthouse Square has a clean, polished look thanks to the city's 2002 renovation which rebuilt the…read morespace while keeping its historic feel. The project removed the oil jail building, moved utilities underground, rebuilt the stone wall with its original stones, and added new features like the amphitheater stage with its Miki Iwasaki installation, the Morganton Community Mandala, restored meridian stones and a landscaped bioretention garden. The result is a five-star accessible square that blends public art, green space, and a local history without feeling crowded. When I visited on a sunny Saturday morning, the square was quiet with no events happening, which made it easy to appreciate the layout and the care put into the redesign. The lawn, walkways and stage area looked tidy and well maintained. I did hope to use the public restrooms, but they were locked, which was a bit of a bummer after walking the grounds. Even so, the square itself it attractive and inviting, and it's easy to see how well it would work when the city hosts events or festivals like the TGIF Summer Concert Series. [Review 549 of 2026 - 4644 in North Carolina - 25731 overall]

The current Burke County Justice Center is a modern judicial facility designed with contemporary…read morefunction and completed in 1975. It is a single story buff-colored brick building in the center of Morganton on grounds that have a number of veterans and war memorials. This is the third courthouse to serve the county. Burke County was created in 1777 and Morganton has been the county seat ever since. The county was named for Thomas Burke, who was a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina. Morganton was named for Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. The justice center has street parking in front and it is located a short walk from the historic 1835 courthouse. [Review 543 of 2026 - 4638 in North Carolina - 25725 overall]

"It's not 'Door to Heaven'... is... Stargate." -Dr. Daniel Jackson (played by James Spader),…read moreStargate (1994). I thought for a moment that maybe I had encountered a Stargate. No such luck. This 26 foot diameter circle is by artist Thomas Sayre and weighs a whopping 20 tons. It is "earth-casted" concrete, i.e., a concrete mold created in the ground. Other than a science-fiction movie, it is to evoke Lenoir's roots as a furniture manufacturing city with the water wheels, turbines, and sawmills that put the industrial advancements of Caldwell County on the map. The artwork stands in a small park and you can definitely enjoy it without interruption. And maybe if you stand here long enough, Kurt Russell and James Spader will show up. [Review 15923 overall - 3138 in North Carolina - 1428 of 2021.]

I stumbled across this monstrous, quirky piece of art late one night as I was driving through…read moreLenoir. I was compelled to stop and hang out and look around. I climbed onto it and was tempted to climb to the top but could imagine it collapsing or me falling off and slowly bleeding out at two in the morning, so I thought better of that plan and enjoyed it from below. It's odd and cool and unexpected and one of the reasons I've fallen in love with Lenoir.

The Charters of Freedom monument is located on the north side of the Historic Burke County…read moreCourthouse in Downtown Morganton, NC. The Morganton Charters of Freedom were the first of many placed outside of Washington, D.C. The three limestone and concrete pedestals hold the bronze life-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Burke County residents Vance and Mary Jo Patterson gifted this to the community with their non-profit Foundation Forward. They wanted to duplicate what they experienced seeing and reading the documents in Washington, D.C., for their community, knowing that most people wouldn't get an opportunity to see the documents in Washington, D.C., but still could get to learn about them and see them in person. Having the documents near the Sam J Ervin Jr. Memorial is fitting, as "Senator Sam" spent his entire legal and congressional life defending the Constitution. He was the go-to authority in the Senate whenever a complex constitutional question came up. The Charters of Freedom also hold a time capsule that will be opened on the 300th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, September 17, 2087. They put letters from government officials, historians, educators and the Pattersons, among other tributes America is the land of the free and the home of the brave as long as the words contained in the documents are understood and upheld.

"We the People..."…read more These three words hit a little harder when you're standing in front of the Charters of Freedom installation at the Historic Burke County Courthouse in Morganton. They're the opening to the document that defines who we are as a country and seeing them displayed right here in front of a courthouse where laws were once interpreted and enforced feels exactly right. These installations always impress me, but this one has an extra layer of meaning because of the setting. This two-century-old courthouse has that solid, dignified presence and the replicas of the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights fits the space like they were meant to be here from the beginning. I've visited a handful of these Charters of Freedom sites and every time I am struck by how accessible and respectful they are. You can walk right up, read the text, and take a moment to appreciate the ideas that make America America. And even though the current judicial center is a few blocks away, the symbolism still works. Maybe it works even better. This is the historic courthouse, the one that watched generations of life unfold, and having the founding documents here feels like a bridge between the past and the principles that still guide us. It also creates an interesting counterpoint to the nearby Confederate soldier monument. The two pieces sit within sight of each other, but they tell very different stories. One is about the nation's founding ideals and the rights guaranteed to everyone. The other reflects a specific chapter of Southern memory and the complicated history that comes with it. Standing between them, you can feel the conversation of how public spaces hold multiple layers of history at once. And that's part of what makes this installation worth stopping for. [Review 547 of 2026 - 4642 in North Carolina - 25729 overall]

Can you really be in the south and not spot a Confederate memorial somewhere? This one is located…read morein downtown Lenoir near the center of downtown and it's hard to miss. There is a similar obelisk on an opposite corner but that one is to all Veterans and not just the Civil War. Installed in 1910 at a cost of $2500, the 35 foot tall granite obelisk is made from white Mount Airy granite. Much of the carving on the sides has faded but it is still somewhat legible. On the north face, "Nor shall you glory be forgot where fam her record keeps or honor points the hallowed spot where valor proudly sleeps." This from an old poem, "The Vivouac of the Dead." On the front, "In honor of the men who wore the gray." [Review 15922 overall - 3137 in North Carolina - 1427 of 2021.]

Love the art, love the history, love the south, love DIXIE, I'm here to save the South from dyingread more

A private club based on exceptional hospitality. Catawba Country Club features a full 18 hole golf…read morecourse designed by Donald Ross along with a fine dining restaurant, turn service grill and wonderful staff. The clubhouse also has multiple event rooms capable of holding any of your special times with family, friends or business partners.

Great golf.. Great food... Everything you could ask for at a Country Club with very reasonable dues…read moreand prices !