This marker is under a tree and so it's not in great condition. It's also hard to read if you're…read morezipping by. I was able to park in the nearby church lot and walk over. The marker reads, "Whig general, was killed at Cowan's Ford, Feb. 1, 1781. Davidson College and Davidson County are named for him." Davidson College: https://www.yelp.com/biz/davidson-college-davidson Online, as is usual with North Carolina's brief markers, there is more information. "William Lee Davidson, for whom both Davidson County and of Davidson College are named, was born in 1746 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of George Davidson, an Irish immigrant. William's mother apparently died in childbirth, and George Davidson joined the migration from Pennsylvania to the Piedmont of North Carolina, eventually settling along Davidson's Creek in Iredell County. When his father died in 1760, William was placed under the care of Alexander Osborn and John Brevard, two of the wealthiest men in the area. Under their patronage, Davidson attended Sugaw Creek Academy near Charlotte and studied under Alexander Craighead. In 1767, Davidson married Mary Brevard, John's daughter, and sister of Ephraim Brevard, one of the authors of the Mecklenburg Resolves." "On February 1, 1781, Davidson's militia forces attempted to delay Cornwallis's crossing of the Catawba River at Cowan's Ford. His men held against a vastly numerical superior force until Davidson fell dead from multiple gunshots." "Davidson's death was much lamented in the American ranks. Described as the "chief instrument relied upon by Greene for the assemblage of the militia," Davidson was remembered as "a man of popular manners, pleasing address, active and indefatigable." His pistols, sword, and wallet were taken by British forces and given to Cornwallis after the skirmish. They are on display at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in Greensboro." Quite the Continental hero. Much respect. [Review 13393 overall, 712 of 2020.]

Located along Cabarrus Avenue and in front of the college that is still standing, this marker gives…read moresome background on the founding of this educational institution. The marker reads, "Presbyterian. Est. 1867 by Luke Dorland to educate Negro women, Scotia Seminary merged in 1930 with Barber Memorial Institute. Coed since 1954." It is marker number L-102 and it was erected in 2001 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. The institution that became Barber-Scotia College began as a parochial school modeled on Mount Holyoke and dedicated to training Black women as teachers and social workers. It grew steadily after its 1870 charter, adding land, buildings, and enrollment, evolved into a women's college in the early twentieth century, merged with Barber Memorial Institute in 1930, achieved junior-college accreditation in 1934, advanced to a four-year college with its first bachelor's degrees awarded in 1945, and later opened its doors to all students while maintaining its historic church affiliation despite significant financial and accreditation challenges in recent decades. There is parking across the street and of course, you can park on the campus too. [Review 670 of 2026 - 4756 in North Carolina - 25851 overall]

I love the markers, Statues, the history I love the city of Charlotte, I want to go back.read more

Many not be aware of the city of Charlotte's history during the Revolutionary War. You know, the…read moreone with the British when we fought for independence? Well, right here in Uptown, a battle was fought with those British and caused the general to write in a letter back to London that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion activity." The marker reads: "Cornwallis's army captured Charlotte after a fight here with Davie's troops, Sept. 26, 1780." Much more information is in the link above.

This simple marker in Belmont NC recalls a local hero of the Revolutionary War. The marker stands…read morein front of the Belmont Historical Society. It reads, "Major in Revolution, leader of Lincoln County forces at the battle of Kings Mountain, 1780, where he was killed. His home stood nearby." Online, there is more information. "Born in 1755 along the south fork of the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County, William Chronicle received little in the way of a formal education. His father, William, Sr., a farmer and deer hunter, supported the Regulator movement. William Sr. adamantly opposed the renaming of their area Tryon County in honor of Governor William Tryon in 1768." "For several weeks, Ferguson's force of Tory militia and British provincials had ravaged the western sections of North and South Carolina. In response, Whig militia from the region, joined by men from present-day Tennessee known as the "Overmountain Men" pursued Ferguson until they finally surrounded his forces at King's Mountain on October 7, 1780." "Beginning in the early morning hours, the Whigs assaulted Ferguson's position from all sides. One of the earliest casualties was Major Chronicle. Twenty-five years old, Chronicle was shot and killed while leading one of the initial charges. Reports place him only twenty-five feet from the British position when he died." [Review 12583 overall, 2375 of 2019.]

Located at the entrance of Elizabeth Park, this bronze statue is dedicated to a local hero that…read moremost Americans will not be familiar with. That person is Captain James Jack. He delivered the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to Congress in Philadephia. This document declaring independence from Great Britain was signed by citizens of Mecklenburg County (a county that includes Charlotte and nearby cities) on May 20, 1775. Notice that this predates the more well known 1776 Declaration of Independence signed by the 13 colonies. It's a nice statue and I learned an interesting bit of history by stumbling upon it.

No, it's not Paul Revere. It's Captain James Jack!…read more According to local legend, a band of local patriots met on May 19, 1775 and drafted a set of Resolves that outlined the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The documents declared that the actions of the British government were intolerable and that Mecklenburg County was no longer under British rule. You'll note that this was BEFORE July 4, 1776. At the time, he was a tavern owner but Captain Jack courageously volunteered to take these powerful documents on the journey from Charlotte to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. His actions were a risk to everything, all for the rights and protections that we take for granted today. If he'd been captured, the documents would certainly have led to his death as a traitor. But he made it and this was no doubt a part of the impetus towards the famous Declaration of Independence that all those other people signed. This statue is in Elizabeth Park, at the corner of Kings Drive and 4th Street, not far from Uptown Charlotte. And the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery on South Tryon has a beer named in his honor. Try it, it's tasty stuff! Round number review! #6400!

This marker is located at the corner of 7th Street and Hawthorne Lane, adjacent to Independence…read morePark. It points out the history of a participant in the fight for Civil Rights. The marker reads, "Harry Golden. 1902-1981. Nationally known writer, humorist, & civil rights advocate. Published The Carolina Israelite, 1944-1968. Lived 1 block northeast." There is more information online. "Harry Golden achieved fame as publisher of The Carolina Israelite, which he issued from 1944 to 1968 from Charlotte to an international audience. According to Robin Brabham, retired UNC-Charlotte archivist, "At the height of his appeal, he had two books on the bestseller list at the same time; his life was depicted in a Broadway play; he appeared frequently on television talk shows, including Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person; and he testified before Congress on civil rights legislation."" "Golden used humor and satire to oppose Southern racial and political practices. Martin Luther King Jr. recognized his significance by identifying him as one of "our white brothers who have grasped the meaning of this social revolution and committed themselves to it." "Golden was born Herschel Goldhirsch in the Ukraine, then part of Austria-Hungary. In 1904 his father and his oldest brother immigrated and soon after sent for the rest of the family. Golden grew up in a tenement on New York City's Lower East Side and attended City College. He married Genevieve Gallagher in 1926, and they had four sons. "Failed business ventures led to his guilty plea to mail fraud in October 1929. Sentenced to five years in federal prison, he was released in 1933. In 1941, he moved south, first to Norfolk, then to Charlotte where he worked for the Charlotte Labor Journal, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. Golden issued the first regular number of The Carolina Israelite in February 1944. The monthly magazine initially carried the subtitle, "A Monthly Review of Jewish Affairs, Dedicated to Interfaith Amity." "In 1955 Golden addressed the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association on "The Jewish People of North Carolina." He came to national attention in 1956 after he testified before the Pearsall Commission that white Southerners did not seem to mind standing with African Americans: "It is only when the Negro 'sets' that the fur begins to fly." Thus, he suggested, public schools could be painlessly integrated by providing desks but no seats. He went on to suggest sixteen more plans that mocked Southern racial mores. "Wide circulation of his "Vertical Negro Plan" soon generated interest in his writing and in 1958 a compilation of his columns, Only in America, appeared on the best seller list. He advised Robert Kennedy in his 1964 and 1968 campaigns for the U. S. Senate and the Democratic presidential nomination. He continued to publish the Israelite until 1968 when he closed the paper. In 1979 he received the North Carolina Award for Literature. He is buried in Hebrew Cemetery in Charlotte." There is brief parking across the way at the pizza place. [Review 11 of 2025 - 4013 in North Carolina - 23584 overall]

I came to Rural Hill for the Amazing Maize Maze. Rural Hill is a beautiful place tucked away in…read moreHuntersville. The Maze had a high production value! Not only are you trying to navigate through the large twisting and turning space, but you're also trying to find a series of clues that have a theme. This was definitely one of the more difficult mazes that I've ever done. I went on Halloween and was also pleasantly surprised by the buckets of candy placed throughout the maze During COVID, they did a good job at managing crowds by having people buy tickets for certain time slots. The staff was wearing masks and asked people to wear masks during the beginning and end of the maze.

Whether it's from the maddening crowds of an expansive metropolis, or the pressures of a career,…read moreRural Hill is a pleasant place in which to escape. It's a quaint, restored throwback to the era when the Scots and the Davidsons timbered forests, tilling them into fields and farms. Eventually, the area was established and is known by their name. The Davidson family cemetery is prominently lined with a beautiful stone wall and is open most days. Trails exists for walking but not many use them (which is why I like going). There is an old dirt road that eventaually dead ends at a small shelter overlooking a pond--I think it leaves many disappointed. There's not much to see once you arrive and ALL the land is a County preserve with trespassing not allowed (yep, they got trail cams so if fishing is your plan, you've been warned). The magic, really, is the road itself. It winds through the woodlands for a couple miles with little traffic. I often park and walk portions with my binoculars. I grew up on such a road in Upstate New York. Fond memories rekindle. I am reminded of how happy was my childhood. Sometimes I see turkeys, deer, ospreys, and coyotes. Looking for a leisurely way to spend some time away? I say "give it a whirl." Breath it all in!

Not a review of the Mint Museum, which I did not have time to visit today (I've lived in Charlotte…read morefor 13 years, I need to make the time) but the state's historical marker that is posted at the entrance to the parking area. It reads, "Operated as Branch U.S. Mint, 1837-61. Relocated to present site as art museum, 1936. Building expanded, 1968 and 1985." There is more information online. Gold was discovered in Cabarrus County in 1799 that caused a gold rush in North Carolina by 1825. As it was difficult to ship the gold to the Philadelphia Mint, laws were passed to build branch mints in the South including here in Charlotte, Dahlonega GA and New Orleans LA. The Charlotte Mint operated until North Carolina seceded from the Union in 1861. During its operation, it count about five million dollars in half eagles ($5), quarter eagles ($2.50) and gold dollars. The Mint was moved from its original location on West Trade Street (wondered why there's a Mint Street in Uptown?), piece-by-piece to this location and reconstructed during 1934-1936. Do visit the actual Mint Museum nearby and the one in Uptown. [Review 12303 overall, 2087 of 2019.]