Everything Raleigh is known for
Raleigh, North Carolina, known as the "City of Oaks," is a vibrant part of the Research Triangle and boasts a thriving arts scene. The city has a notable connection to music, with 116 artists calling it home and 13 songs mentioning Raleigh in their lyrics. Artists such as country singer Priscilla Block and metal band Alesana hail from Raleigh. The city is also mentioned in songs like "Promised Land" by Chuck Berry and "Carolina Honey" by Marcus King.
Showing top 20 of 116 artists
Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Raleigh.
Wake Forest, North Carolina, a town just north of Raleigh, carries a certain understated weight. It’s easy to pass through, thinking of it only as a suburb of the state capital. But the town has quietly nurtured figures who’ve made their mark far beyond its borders. While the town is now known as a bedroom community, it was once home to Wake Forest College, before the school moved west in the 1950s.
67 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Raleigh today is a hub of government, technology, and healthcare, but its economic roots run deeper, into the rich soil that defines so much of North Carolina. While not as immediately synonymous with agriculture as…
Pull over for a second; this is a spot where history was made. Estey Hall was the very first building in the US dedicated to the higher education of African-American women. Built in 1873 on the campus of Shaw…
These walls whispered secrets of North Carolina's political elite for decades. The Sir Walter Hotel, built in 1924, quickly became Raleigh's power lunch spot. Governors, senators, and lobbyists all mingled here, earning…
Check out that building! It's the Masonic Temple Building, and it was a pretty big deal when it went up. Back in 1907, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina built this as a symbol of Raleigh's growth and the increasing…
Step back in time as we explore Fayetteville Street, once the beating heart of Raleigh's commercial and social life. This district, now on the National Register of Historic Places, centered around Fayetteville Street,…
Check out that building! It's a relic from a time when Raleigh was rapidly transforming into a modern city. Built in 1923, the Odd Fellows Building, also known as the Commerce Building, served two purposes. It was a…
Step back in time to Raleigh's railroad and warehouse hub, which thrived from the 1850s to the 1950s. This area, now known as the Depot Historic District, was once the beating heart of the city's distribution network.…
For 37 years, this historic building was Raleigh's first water tower. Back in 1887, the city of Raleigh built this tower to provide a reliable water supply to its growing population. Before this, water access was far…
See where intercity buses were maintained in this 1926 garage, a reminder of early transportation. The Carolina Coach Garage and Shop was built in 1926. This rectangular building, about 90 by 140 feet, housed the…
Ever wonder where Raleigh got its mail back in the day? This spot is where the first Federal Government building in Raleigh was built, housing the city's main post office. Construction started in 1874 and finished in…
Imagine all of North Carolina's government, crammed into a single building! This is the State Capitol, and for decades, it was *the* center of everything here. Construction started in 1833, after the original capitol…
This Classical Revival building once housed North Carolina's agricultural offices. It's a reminder of how vital farming has been to the state's identity. Construction on the Agriculture Building began in 1921 and…
This church represents a growing Raleigh in the late 19th century. The Church of the Good Shepherd branched off from Christ Episcopal Church in 1874, becoming the second Episcopal parish in the city. The congregation…
Ever wonder where Raleigh's earliest residents ended up? This is it: City Cemetery, dating all the way back to 1798. Originally, the cemetery was divided into sections for residents, visitors, and enslaved people. Over…
Imagine Raleigh during the Civil War – Montfort Hall is one of the few grand houses that survived. Built in the 1850s, this Italianate mansion was home to prominent businessman William Montfort Boylan. It witnessed…
Pull over here, you're about to see where Raleigh, North Carolina, got its start! This is the Joel Lane House, also known as Wakefield, and it's the oldest house in Wake County. Built around 1769, Joel Lane, a prominent…
Imagine Raleigh after the Civil War, rebuilding and redefining itself. One of the first signs of that new era stands right here: the Heck-Andrews House. Completed around 1870, the house was commissioned by Mrs. Mattie…
Check out that unassuming building – it was once the financial heart of North Carolina! Back in 1813, the State Bank of North Carolina was built right here, becoming the first state-sponsored bank in the whole state.…
Ever wonder what it was like to escape the hustle and bustle of early 1900s Raleigh? Well, you're practically standing in it! This is Boylan Heights, one of the city's first planned suburbs. Picture wide, tree-lined…
This unassuming building is a window into Raleigh's transportation past. Once a bustling hub for electric streetcars, it played a key role in connecting the city. Built in 1925 for the Carolina Power and Light Company,…
Pull over for a peek into Raleigh's past, where three nearly identical houses whisper tales of a city rebuilding after the Civil War. Built between 1871 and 1875, the Heck-Lee, Heck-Wynne, and Heck-Pool Houses stand…
This unassuming brick building once held the key to illuminating Raleigh and powering its first electric streetcars. Back in 1910, the Raleigh Electric Company built this powerhouse. It's a distinct structure, made of…
This unassuming brick building played a vital role in connecting Raleigh to the rest of the world. It served as the headquarters for the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, and later, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, for over…
Admire the Italianate style of this 1874 home, built for a prominent Raleigh businessman. The Andrews-Duncan House, located on North Blount Street, was designed by architect George S. H. Appleget. The house was built…
This quiet field is more than just a cemetery; it's a testament to sacrifice. Raleigh National Cemetery honors those who served our nation, a final resting place for veterans from many wars. Established in 1866 after…
This Moderne-style creamery represents a sweet slice of Raleigh's dairy history. Built in 1928, the Pine State Creamery produced dairy products for the region. The cream-colored brick building with its crenellated…
This unassuming spot played a vital role in Raleigh's growth, securing a reliable source of clean water for its citizens. Before 1941, Raleigh's water infrastructure was struggling to keep up with the growing…
Imagine a grand estate, now almost entirely gone, but this carriage house offers a tangible link to Raleigh's gilded age. This carriage house was part of the estate of Rufus Sylvester Tucker, a Confederate officer and…
These old brick walls whisper tales of Raleigh's industrial heart! Caraleigh Mills, also known as the Fred Whitaker Company, churned with activity for over a century. Construction began in 1892, resulting in the…
Step back in time as you enter Historic Oakwood, a neighborhood that whispers tales of Raleigh's elite from a bygone era. Developed gradually during the 19th century, Oakwood became the address for prominent Raleigh…
Right here in Raleigh stands the Mordecai House, a silent witness to centuries of North Carolina history. Built in 1785, it's the oldest house in Raleigh still on its original foundation. The Mordecai family, prominent…
This isn't just any college campus; it's a place where hope took root after the Civil War. Saint Augustine's University was founded in 1867 by the Episcopal Church, with a powerful purpose: to educate newly freed…
The story of Rochester Heights is a story of progress and aspiration in Raleigh's mid-20th century.Developed between about 1957 and 1964, Rochester Heights offered modern homes in Ranch and Split-level styles. It was a…
Hold on tight! You're about to enter a world of swirling color and turn-of-the-century charm on the Pullen Park Carousel. This isn't just any carousel; it's a meticulously preserved piece of Americana. Built in 1900,…
Ever wonder about the classic ranch houses that sprung up after World War II? This particular one, known as the Arthur McKimmon II House, is a really well-preserved example. Built in 1951, it's a single-story ranch with…
This house stands as a powerful reminder of resilience and self-determination in the face of adversity. Built in the 1880s, the Willis M. Graves House was more than just a home; it was a symbol of a thriving freedman's…
Right here stands a silent witness to the resilience of a community forged from freedom. This is the Rev. Plummer T. Hall House, a cornerstone of Oberlin Village, a freedmen's community established after the Civil War.…
Wander through this charming historic district, a snapshot of Raleigh's residential architecture from the early 20th century. Roanoke Park, southeast of the Five Points intersection, began taking shape in 1913.…
Pull over here for a second and think about the power of education. This area was once home to the Rev. M. L. Latta House, the last standing building of Latta University. Rev. Latta founded the University in 1892. It…
Ever notice how neighborhoods seem to tell a story? Vanguard Park Historic District is no exception, offering a glimpse into Raleigh's urban growth. Construction here kicked off around 1920, lining the streets with…
Imagine starting life over with nothing but hope. That's the story of Method, North Carolina. After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people established this village, then known as Method, seeking a fresh start. Berry…
Admire the innovative design of the Milton Small House, a modernist gem built on a steep hillside in 1951. G. Milton Small, a faculty member at North Carolina State College's School of Design, designed this house as his…
Imagine grand parties and important decisions being made right here, because this is the Crabtree Jones House, one of the oldest private residences in Raleigh! Nathaniel Jones Jr. built this plantation home around 1808…
Step inside a well-preserved example of mid-century modern architecture at the Paul and Ellen Welles House. Paul and Ellen Welles commissioned this home in 1956. It's a two-story dwelling showcasing the Modern Movement…
Feast your eyes on the Henry L. Kamphoefner House, a pivotal spark that ignited Raleigh's Modernist architecture scene! In the mid-1940s, Henry Kamphoefner, a visionary architect and educator, arrived in Raleigh to head…
Prepare to be amazed by the architectural marvel that is Dorton Arena! This unique building has been a Raleigh landmark since 1952. Originally called the State Fair Arena, Dorton Arena quickly became a hub for all sorts…
Since 1853, this fair has showcased North Carolina's agricultural heritage and provided a place for fun and community. The North Carolina State Fair began as a way to promote agriculture and showcase the state's…
Imagine Cary, North Carolina, without a center. That almost happened until Allison Francis Page built this hotel around 1868. Later purchased by J.R. Walker, it quickly became the social and commercial heart of the…
This place whispers of both love and loss, built on a foundation of forced labor. This is Midway Plantation. In 1848, Charles Lewis Hinton, a wealthy farmer and enslaver, gifted this land to his son David and new…
Dating back to 1775, this house witnessed the American Revolution and the early days of the United States. The Lane-Bennett House, also known as the Joe Bennett House, is a historic home near Raleigh. The original…
Imagine a time when cotton was king in North Carolina; you're driving through the heart of it. The Walnut Hill Historic District offers a glimpse into that era, showcasing the post-Civil War growth of one of Wake…
Ever wonder how cotton went from field to fabric? This unassuming building, the Walnut Hill Cotton Gin, offers a rare glimpse into that process. Built in the mid 1840s by Alonzo T. Mial, a prominent local planter, this…
Pull over here for a minute, because you're looking at a remarkably well-preserved window into Johnston County's past. This is the Ellington-Ellis Farm, and it’s more than just an old house; it's a time capsule. Built…
Stand here and you're standing on the shoulders of industry, where the Falls of the Neuse powered a vital paper mill. Construction on the main mill building began around 1854, a massive three-story granite structure…
This 1914 railroad station evokes the golden age of train travel. Apex wouldn't even exist without it. The Apex Union Depot was built in 1914 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. It also served the Durham and Southern…
Imagine a time when crossroads communities were the heart of rural life, and Carpenter, North Carolina, was one of those vital hubs. This district tells that story. Between about 1895 and 1933, Carpenter blossomed. The…
This unassuming building held secrets and shaped young minds in Holly Springs. Built around 1852, the Holly Springs Masonic Lodge served two important roles for the community. It housed the local Freemasons, a fraternal…
This unassuming farm tells a powerful story of slavery, freedom, and the enduring quest for land ownership in the South. The Perry Farm, built around 1820, was originally owned by John and Nancy Perry, who enslaved…
Ever wonder what a turn-of-the-century boomtown looked like? You're driving through it! This is the Varina Commercial Historic District, the heart of old Fuquay-Varina. Between about 1899 and 1926, this area exploded…
Wake Forest, North Carolina, a town just north of Raleigh, carries a certain understated weight. It’s easy to pass through, thinking of it only as a suburb of the state capital. But the town has quietly nurtured figures…
This unassuming brick building holds a secret: it was once a cutting-edge science hub in the heart of the South. Lea Laboratory, built in 1887, was one of the first dedicated chemistry labs on a Southern college campus.…
Believe it or not, this unassuming spot was once a health mecca! Back in the 1850s, someone discovered a mineral spring here. Word spread that the water could cure all sorts of ailments. From about 1900 to 1930,…
Wander through this district and witness the evolution of a North Carolina town through its diverse architectural styles. From about 1890 to 1953, the Wake Forest Historic District grew into the core of the town,…
Step back in time at this 1906 general store, a crossroads landmark in Holly Springs. The Davis–Adcock Store was more than just a place to buy flour or sugar; it was the heart of this community. Built in 1906, the…
Step back in time, because you're approaching a place that once buzzed with the rhythm of looms and the lives of mill workers: the Glen Royall Mill Village. In the early 1900s, the Royall Cotton Mill established this…
Welcome to New Hill, North Carolina, a place where time seems to slow down! This isn't just another dot on the map; it's a surprisingly well-preserved example of a historic rural commercial center. New Hill really took…
Ever wonder what old schools become? This one has quite a story! The Wakelon School, built in 1908, was designed by architect Charles E. Hartge. It's a great example of early 20th-century schoolhouse design. For…