State Capitol, Raleigh NC
Easy to pronounce and easy to remember - that is Raleigh. When spoken
of North Carolina, Raleigh is the first to get into mind. It is famous
for Sir Walter Raleigh, where the so-called “planned city” originated
its name. It is popular too for the North Carolina State Capitol, plus a
whole bunch more of exciting histories and natural wonders.
Before we proceed to the very highlight of Raleigh, it would be best to
know about the city first. Raleigh, as mentioned was a “planned city”
and that was because someone wanted to put it up. Honestly though, most
cities aren’t planned, but Raleigh was. And as expected, because Raleigh
had always been wanted to be there, and theirs, it had become an
intimate city where people really enjoy and call it home.
Raleigh is in the eastern piedmont and its former and merged names
include Bloomsbury, Caraleigh and Oberlin. It is known today as the
"City of Oaks" for its widespread oak trees. It is the 15th fastest
growing city and the 49th largest city in the United States as per the
City of Raleigh Planning Department's Growth Management Division.
Raleigh is quite a place. It was chosen as a new state capital in
1788, and was officially established in 1792 as both the new county seat
and the new state capital of Wake County, North Carolina, USA.
The North Carolina State Capitol building is said to be "one of the
finest and best-preserved examples of a major civic building in the
Greek Revival style of architecture."
The Capitol is roughly cruciform in plan, three stories tall crowned
by a copper dome. The interior features a central rotunda open from the
ground floor to the top of the dome. The two other major rooms are the
house and senate chambers, each two full stories in height. The building
stands in the center of Capitol Square, largest of the five public
squares established in Raleigh's original 1792 plan. Large trees and
public monuments surrounding the building add to its air of permanence,
formality and importance. The layout of Capitol Square dates from 1928,
according to a plan designed by the Olmstead Brothers.
All branches of the state government were housed in the Capitol until
the Supreme Court moved into its own building in 1888. The General
Assembly met in the Capitol until 1963, when it moved into the
Legislative Building. Offices of the Governor and Secretary of State
remain in the building. While several remodelings and additions to the
building have been suggested over the years, actual changes have been
minimal. Recent work has restored the original senate and house
chambers. The North Carolina State Capitol is a designated Raleigh
Historic Landmark.
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If you pass by it, you will certainly say it is an attractive building.
It has been considered as a National Historic Landmark and is quite open
to the public. But apart from the State Capitol building in Raleigh,
what attracts most visitors to this state is the freedom to explore the
places and activities in its area. Its downtown neighborhoods are very
popular. Old Raleigh, East Raleigh, West Raleigh, North Raleigh, South
Raleigh and Southeast Raleigh - you would be so fond hopping from one
neighborhood to another to find out the differences of each.
Its local festivals include the Lebanese Festival on May; Crawfish Day
on June; Apple Day, Gourd Festival, Grecian Festival, La Fiesta del
Pueblo, Storytelling Festival, Sweet Potato Day and Bug Fest on
September; Heritage Day on October; International Festival and Pecan Day
on November. Isn’t that amazing?
Now you will know when to come to Raleigh. And the purpose? Simple
observe… feel the vibrations
of history prevalent in the city. Embrace it and enjoy life.
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