Archeological digs are not to be expected in Raleigh. According to campingship, the capital of the US state North Carolina is a young city. Even Sir Walter Raleigh, who gave it its name, was almost 200 years underground when the place was founded.
They needed a new capital for North Carolina and an administrative center for Wake County; so simple and pragmatic were the arguments for start-ups in the pioneering days of the United States. After all, at least the naming had a romantic touch. An expedition financed and directed by Sir Walter Raleigh – although he was not there personally, but ran the company from London – had led to the discovery of the coast of North Carolina in the late 16th century.
His spirit of adventure seems to have an impact on the city and its residents to this day. Raleigh is a mecca for innovative companies in the USA and invests heavily in education and training. The people who live here are correspondingly young, clever and ambitious. You can tell the city even on a short visit. It has an open, life-affirming atmosphere; people like to laugh and discuss in the many bars, cafes, restaurants and pubs – also with strangers. The cultural scene is extremely diverse and worth a visit in itself. There aren’t many historical sites, but the few that you have are looked after and cherished and, in terms of their entertainment and information standards, can withstand any international standard.
Raleigh rarely comes alone
Anyone looking for the heart of North Carolina will find a triangle. “The Triangle” is the official nickname for the city of Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill. They have bundled their research and training capacities and thus created a highly attractive region for young, future-oriented companies. The generic term technology also includes biotechnology and companies from the pharmaceutical industry. Money is made in these areas. Anyone who works here also wants to be cared for and be able to spend money at a high level. Accordingly, Raleigh is a very good place for shopping, going out and for the nightlife. But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that everything is luxurious, expensive, and unaffordable. After all, there are also many students and young professionals living in Raleigh and in the “Triangle” as a whole.
History made easy
While in Raleigh, it’s fun to dig into the city’s fledgling history. Why? Because the buildings that can be visited are embedded in beautiful parks. You can also plan a great walk there, you can play and of course always have something to eat and drink somewhere. A good example of this is the Mordecai Historic Park, which is also home to President Andrew Johnson’s birthplace. Johnson was the 17th President of the United States and in office from 1865 to 1869. A total of five generations of his family lived in the house where he was born: the house still gives a vivid impression of what the everyday life of wealthy citizens looked like back then.
In the so-called “Village Street” there are other historical tourist attractions – all of them entertaining and easily accessible. You can safely visit this park with children. Other tips are the “North Carolina State Capitol”, one of the most impressive old buildings in the city and the former seat of the government, and “The Historic Oak View County Park”. Here it is very vividly about the country life in the 19th century, starting with the house of the large landowner over a pecan plantation to a gin museum.
Culture on every corner and on all levels
The cultural life in Raleigh needs no comparison. There are a large number of state and private museums and galleries. There are also plenty of theaters from the concert hall to the cabaret. If the nightlife with its live music bars is also included, then even the longest vacation is not enough to capture the cultural scene in all its details. Two museums that should definitely not be missed are the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Art. In the History Museum there are exhibits from the city and state history (costumes, furniture, documents, etc.) as well as historical ones to see relevant exhibits from ancient Egypt as well as from Europe and Asia. The art museum not only has works by masters like Rubens, Van Dyck and Monet, it also exhibits American and African artists. Various changing exhibitions also ensure constant variety and new highlights. A tip for travelers with children is the “Marbles Kids Museum”. Here the little ones not only have a lot to stow and look at, but can also participate interactively. Boredom is a foreign word in this museum.
