So I know I can't be the first person to want to hit the Thelonious Monk Trail in Rocky Mount. But…read moreit looks like I'll be the first to write about it. I was visiting Raleigh, and I wanted to do the pilgrimage so bad that I hit the road early one bright Sunday morn headed east. Here's what I saw: 1) Thelonious Monk Plaza - I came into town this way, just a slight bit north of the main downtown strip. This plaza is one in the old-school sense - you won't find a minimall with Bath & Body Works around here, rather it's the old train station. This is where the historical marker is planted that identifies one of the true American greats. It makes sense to have jazz markers by the old train stations - it brings back the America of old, and also reminds you that the musicians generally built their careers by moving out. 2) Thelonious Monk Mural - I walked about half a mile from the Plaza to see this (incidentally, on a bright Sunday morn I was the only sign of life in downtown Rocky Mount). If you didn't know it was a tribute to Monk, you would just think it's a slightly unusual mural - a triangle of houses with a trompe l'oeil river stream/piano keyboard that literally flows out onto the pavement (entitled "Monk's Corner"). This was apparently one wall an arts center that no longer exists, sadly - it's near the Harambee Street Apartments. I walked back to my car via Main Street, which allowed me to look at the attractive old historic buildings in downtown, none of whom were doing any business on Sunday. 3) Thelonious Monk Park - Now this was a slight hunt, considering not even Old Man Google registers this park as a place. Further, there's a street address given near Washington/Dunn, but the sign that names the park is over on Wye which spurs off of Washington. That confused me a bit - you can basically identify the park, but I felt like I was slightly trespassing when I wandered along the residential neighborhood to get there. This is a "park" in the sense that you can have a picnic under the gazebo or push your kids on some swings - otherwise it's just a small green space. Monk's childhood home no longer exists but would have been somewhere on the grounds. 4) Monk Rd - This road, just a block south of Monk Park, was obviously named after the man, but there's about as much significance to the name here as there is to the man they named Washington Street after (whoever that was) - its just the name. Nice that it runs parallel to the train tracks, at least. And that's pretty much it at this point. There's been talk about erecting a statue for Monk here, which would be a great idea - the great John Coltrane statue in High Point would be the model to follow, down to the sound samples and all. Here's hoping that happens. Until then, though, you've got this at least. And if you check it out, put on "Pannonica" for the soundtrack - that's what I was listening to, and it seemed to capture the feel perfectly.

I have been here multiple times for baby story time and we love it. We attend baby story time at…read morelibraries across wake county but this one is our favorite. They provide a fun, safe, welcoming environment for every baby and their parent. The content is similar across wake county story times but the delivery by the librarians at this location is more genuine and kind in their interactions. We look forward to coming here every week!

We visited this library at the end of October for their "boo books" driveby Halloween festivity…read more My kids dressed up and we walked into the library entrance where they had a setup for contact less treat bags. While we were there, I noticed that the doors had a table in front of them with a sign that said employee only. They had all books set up for pickup on a shelf in the entryway labeled with names. We signed up for a kids craft basket raffle and I got an email that my middle child won! Today we popped back in to pick it up and the employees were so friendly and warming that it made my son feel so good. The library is kinda hidden near the middle of town on what looks like a large house converted into a library, by thats just my assumption. They have plenty of parking and don't seem to be terribly busy currently. I cant wait to go visit when we can enter the library to get the full experience!

I want to thank Jessica for helping me get my direct deposit corrected after weeks of…read morefrustration--she helped me and followed up with a call which I missed. I would like to thank her and speak with her again if at all possible if she can call me again. I tried the general # but no way to get to her. She is terrific and I can't thank her enough. RM from Winston Salem

Of course there is no such thing as a BAD library, but I find the Smithfield Library particularly…read morepleasant. In addition to the books, its decor is attractive and its atmosphere cheerful and welcoming. Works by local artisans is prominently displayed, and the interior is well lit - my husband, who is visually, had no trouble navigating. In fact, if you're disabled and use a wheelchair, you'll find it delightfully accessible and very easy to navigate. The aisles are wide and there's an elevator to the upper floors. The selection of books is OUTSTANDING. Every genre is welI stocked, and I really, really appreciated the great selection of fantasy/sci-fi books. I'm an older reader who well remembers the era when public libraries paid little attention to this type of lit and reading fans had to buy their own books. ALL types of fiction are generously stocked, the biography section is outstanding and I found so many great books on sewing and crafts that were so informative I ordered my own copies of some of them. There's ample seating if you want to spend time reading onsite, and the staff is very welcoming and helpful. This library is a local reader's delight.

Best library in all of Johnston County, great events for children, teens and adults, great…read moreselection of books, dvds, audiobooks and even puzzles. The staff are wonderful, helpful and friendly people. They offer a variety of printing services, court and tax documents. They offer quiet spaces as well as a large multi-purpose meeting room, easily reservable. A great library in Johnston County!

Yes, I drove an hour round trip to take a picture of a sign but this one is special. It denotes the…read moretime that the United States bombed North Carolina, nearly a hundred years after the end of the Civil War. The marker reads, "Nuclear Mishap. B-52 transporting two nuclear bombs crashed, Jan. 1961. Widespread disaster averted; three crewmen died 3 miles south." Okay, all kidding aside. Three Air Force crew died and in the process, prevented what would have been an unspeakable tragedy. It is a serious matter. During the height of the Cold War, the United States had a policy of keeping armed aircraft in the air at all times in the event of a conflict. Nuclear deterrence and all that. Well, this B-52G Stratofortress took some structural damage during an air refueling and while preparing to land at nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, it experienced a major failure of the right wing. The plane broke up and exploded at 8000 feet. "As a result of the breakup of the plane, two MK39 nuclear weapons were released at a height of between 10,000 and 2,000 feet. Seven of eight arming, fusing, and firing switches and devices in one bomb automatically actuated. Only a crew-controlled switch prevented a nuclear detonation. Since its parachute deployed, one bomb had only minor damage when it fell about a mile from the crash site. The second bomb fell free, without its parachute deploying, and broke apart on impact." "Components of the bomb were sought for several weeks. The decision was made to leave remaining portions of the weapon containing uranium, believed to have entered the water table, in the ground. As a precaution, the government purchased part of the site and still maintains an easement in order to prevent digging in the vicinity. Periodic groundwater tests, still conducted by the state, have revealed no contamination." As the sign mentions, the actual crash is three miles away and the grounds are secured. Here in downtown Eureka, there isn't much. A small sandwich shop is near the sign if you're hungry. [Review 15486 overall, 990 of 2021, number 3029 in North Carolina.]

One of the best public libraries I have ever seen. From books to movies, laptops, meeting rooms,…read morestudy rooms, computer lab, kids rooms this place has it all. One of the largest library's I have seen for a small town. This place is amazing.

This is a very nice place. Some of the workers are outstanding. I was visiting and I needed some…read morehelp, there was a lady who helped me but she was RUDE. I was on the second floor...she really need to work on her communicating skills.