this is the second manual soundbite about how Charlotte was the gold standard for gold mines before…read moreall that hubbub out west in '49; it's a little teaser about the history of money and wealth in the pre-industrial south. a nearby mural illustrates a typical day in the mines (sort of) a long time ago sufficient ores were recovered such that Christopher Bechtler opened a private mint in the early 30's followed shortly by a US mint that produced about $5M through 1861. the Rudisill Mine was the largest in the area and was active for over 100 years. bits and pieces of the various and shuttered mines continue to surface as holes are dug to support the contrivances of our modern world. rumor has it there are more of these mining markers in and around south end...

Recognized as "the last wind shear crash," this memorial honors those who lost their lives when US…read moreAirways Flight 1016 crashed here at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. 37 people were killed when flying from Columbia South Carolina to Charlotte when the flight encountered heavy thunderstorms and windshear when attempting to land. The DC-9 hit a microburst and crashed into trees and a private residence. The memorial is part of the Charlotte Airport Overlook and has a spot on the hill where you can see both the apron, control tower, two runways and the Charlotte city skyline. The granite headstone had been placed nearby some years ago but it was inside the airport perimeter and inaccessible. This puts it in a great spot where people can see it, visit it and appreciate what came before. [Review 2061 of 2024 - 3752 in North Carolina - 23081 overall]

I've lived in Charlotte for 13 years now and while I knew of the Catawba River and the Native…read moreAmericans who lived here, it was still interesting to find this marker. It is in a small observation parking lot that has a view of the Cowans Ford hydroelectric plant. You can't get close to the dam (security!), but you can see it pretty well from here. The marker was erected at around the same time. The marker reads: In 1747 Adam Sherrill and his 8 sons migrated from Pennsylvania and settled west of the Catawba River. By July, 1749, John Beatty had also crossed the Catawba. Sherrill's Ford (site underwater) and Beatty's Ford (underwater) were named for them. Another ford used by the original settlers was Island Ford. During the late 1740's Andreas Killen, Robert Leeper, Jacob Forney, Pieter Heyl, and John Clark settled on creeks which today bear their names. An early settler on the headwaters of Clark's Creek was Henry Weidner (home destroyed). The site of his homeplace has changed little since 1750. Remnants of Beatty's Ford and Tuckaseege roads, two of the earliest roads used by these and other early settlers, may still be seen. During the Revolution important battles were fought at Ramsour's Mill (June 20, 1780) (destroyed) and Cowan's Ford (Feb. 1, 1781) (preserved). During the Colonial and Early National periods it was customary to use privately-owned buildings for public purposes. Accordingly, the Tryon County Jail (partially preserved) was located in 1784 at the springhouse of Henry Dellinger, an early settler. Andrew Loretz was the first minister of the German Reformed Church in western North Carolina. His brick home (1793) is one of the oldest west of the Catawba River (preserved). Open-hearth furnaces were established by Peter Forney Alexander Brevard, Joseph Graham, and others between 1785 and 1800. The homeplaces of Brevard (Mt. Tirzah) (preserved) and Graham (Vesuvius Furnace) (preserved) include sites of two of these furnaces. A third furnace, built by Peter Forney, still stands. The "Ore Bank," a chief source of iron ore, was nearby (large pits to be seen). Graham, a Revolutionary officer and leader of North Carolina troops in the Creek Indian War (1811-12); Alexander Brevard, who served under Washington at the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, and Monmouth; and Robert H. Morrison, founder of Davidson College and father-in-law of generals D. H. Hill and "Stonewall" Jackson lie buried in Machpelah churchyard (preserved). One of the outstanding homes of the trans-Catawba region is "Ingleside" (preserved), built by Daniel M. Forney, son of Peter Forney and grandson of the pioneer Jacob Forney who settled there. "Mt. Welcome" (destroyed), another iron furnace built by Peter Forney, is the site of the birthplace of Robert D. Johnston, one of five Confederate generals born in Lincoln County. The others were Robert F. Hoke (home preserved), Stephen Dodson Ramseur (grave preserved), John H. Forney, and William H. Forney. For early history of the area east of the Catawba see marker located on N.C. 150--500 yds. east of Catawba River, Iredell County. [Review 12724 overall, 36 of 2020.]

The historical marker reads, "Founder of the nation's first textile factory owned and operated by…read moreblacks, 1897-1904. Mill building is 350 yds. N." It is by the side of the road with no easy parking. Of course, the more information can be found online. "The Coleman Manufacturing Company in Concord represented the first major cooperative effort by North Carolina's African American businessmen and was the first textile operation in the nation owned and operated by blacks. Considerable public attention went to the mill during its relatively short period of operation." "Equipment testing began in late 1898 and full production of cotton yarn a year later. The mill at its peak employed 300 black workers. At the 1900 Exposition Universal in Paris, France, the factory was billed as "the only Negro cotton mill in the U.S." Industry-wide economic troubles forced Coleman to resign in December 1903. Benjamin N. Duke foreclosed on the mortgage in April 1904. Later a section of the mill built by Coleman was operated as Plant No. 9 of Cannon Mills Company." [Review 13180 overall, 497 of 2020.]

The Charles R. Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse in Charlotte is a stately Neoclassical…read morelandmark built in 1915 and expanded in 1934. It remains one of the few historic structures in the city's central business district and continues to serve as a vital federal courthouse. The building was originally constructed as a United States Post Office and later adapted for judicial use. The façade is defined by a grand colonnade of massive columns, a projecting central pavilion with a portico, and a simple pediment that conveys both dignity and restraint. Secondary elevations are accented with engaged pilasters, reinforcing the building's classical symmetry. The site itself carries deep historical significance. It once housed Charlotte's first branch of the U.S. Mint (built in 1836). The Mint building was eventually relocated and became the Mint Museum, while the Jonas building rose in its place. In 2005, ownership was transferred to the city in exchange for land, though the federal government continues to lease and operate the courthouse. There are a number of plaques and monuments on the grounds if you're exploring. In a downtown filled with massive steel and glass towers with rapid change, the Jonas Building feels like a steady hand that is quietly proud of its place in the Charlotte story. [Review 1430 of 2025 - 4501 in North Carolina - 24981 overall]

This marker is located at the very center of Uptown Charlotte. It's easily accessible if you're on…read morefoot but there is limited parking near here. The marker points out an important hero of the American Revolution. It reads, "Nathanael Greene. 1742-1786. Replaced Horatio Gates as leader of American army opposing Lord Cornwallis. He assumed command in Charlotte, Dec. 3, 1780." It is marker number L-19 and it was erected in 1987 by the 1987 by Division of Archives and History. Major General Nathanael Greene, known as the Fighting Quaker, played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and has a direct connection to Charlotte. After General Horatio Gates suffered a devastating defeat at Camden in August 1780, Greene was appointed by George Washington to lead the Southern Army. He officially assumed command in Charlotte on December 3, 1780, where he found a struggling force of militia and Continental soldiers camped near what is now Camp New Providence*. Greene's leadership marked a turning point in the Southern campaign, and his strategic persistence helped drive British forces out of the Carolinas. His legacy is honored in North Carolina through sites like Camp Greene** in Charlotte and the city of Greensboro, both named in his memory. * Camp New Providence Historical Marker: https://www.yelp.com/biz/camp-new-providence-historical-marker-weddington?hrid=zYYZKedqE7ffaCLpA9OfXA ** Camp Greene Memorial https://www.yelp.com/biz/camp-greene-memorial-charlotte?hrid=9IWHxUmRQU90o774VJyGPA [Review 1424 of 2025 - 4495 in North Carolina - 24975 overall]

This marker alongside the road denotes a historic school that sadly no longer exists. This is a…read morecounty marker rather than a state one, so it's not in the state database. The marker reads, "Site of Plato Price School 1915-1966. Mecklenburg County school for African Americans, Greads 1-12. Notable attendees included Philip P. Berry, Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, and U.S. Congressman Mel Watt. Erected September 2006." Congressman Watt was my Congressman for a period of time until he stepped down to take an administrative role in the Obama administration. [Review 12963 overall, 279 of 2020.]

As your GPS tells you "Welcome to North Carolina" between Clover and Gastonia, you might notice…read morethis marker that's just a touch north of the gas station. The marker reads, "NORTH CAROLINA / Colonized, 1585-87, by first English settlers in America; permanently settled c. 1650; first to vote readiness for independence, Apr. 12, 1776" and on the other side, "SOUTH CAROLINA / Formed in 1712 from part of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663, it was first settled by the English in 1670. One of the 13 original states." Maybe you're wondering why we have two Carolinas? On the Highway Markers site, there is more information... "Referred to as "the Carolinas" by many today, North and South Carolina since 1712 have been separate entities. Residents and surveyors have disputed and worked to settle the boundary line from the earliest days to the present. The Carolina Charter of 1663 established "Carolana" in the New World and King Charles II granted the land to eight men, called the Lords Proprietors, as thanks for their assistance in returning him to the throne after a short-lived revolution. The two colonies grew and developed distinct histories because of geography, the nature of their settlers, and agricultural products." "By 1710, the Lords Proprietors recognized that the northern and southern sections of the Carolina colony were operating separately and successfully petitioned the crown to divide the colony by 1712. The dividing line between the two began about 30 miles below the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina and the line has been in dispute ever since. A multitude of surveys and border disputes have helped to shape the long history of the dividing line between the two states. For example, the formation of the Catawba Indian Reservation in South Carolina in 1763 is responsible for the sharp angles found south of Charlotte. Even as late as 2001, surveyors were climbing mountains in the far western reaches of both states to settle the boundary issues using GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) technology." [Review 12621 overall, 2413 of 2019.]