Authorized by the General Assembly in 1935, the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program is now administered cooperatively among numerous state agencies. The website allows for search by county. There are numerous results for MecklenburgCounty, complete with historic sites, maps of historical trails, and essays for each marker. To access these results go to http://ncmarkers.com/search.aspx, highlight Mecklenburg in the list of counties, and click on the search button below the counties list.
Category: Historic Sites
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission
Providing local history and a list of historic properties.
Reed Gold Mine
The Reed Gold Mine is a National Historic Landmark and the site of the first documented gold find in the United States. The website provides a history of the mine as well as information on buildings, machinery, equipment, and mine preservation. A calendar of events is available.
Levine Museum of the New South
Levine Museum of the New South – Winner of the National Museum Service Award.
An interactive museum of post-Civil war history from 1865 to today.
Mint Hill Historical Society
The Mint Hill Historical Society was chartered in 1985 by citizens motivated to preserve the history of the Mint Hill area. The Society first preserved an old country doctor’s building, and has since continued their efforts in preserving history throughout the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village. Visit the Mint Hill Historical Society website for more information about the buildings at the historic village, Society news, and details of the Mint Hill Farmers Market.
Carolinas Aviation Museum
http://www.carolinasaviation.org/index.html
The website offers a sampling of what is available at the museum. The “collections of aircraft, helicopters, equipment, gadgets and printed material cover years of aviation history and accomplishments.”
The museum is located near the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Museum hours can be found here, and a list of exhibits is available here.
Charlotte Trolley and Museum
“Trolleys made possible the development of Charlotte’s earliest neighborhoods, and they served as a catalyst for the city’s first era of economic growth at the turn of the last century. But they also moved residents around town, bringing people from all classes together to interact on a daily basis. As a result, trolleys played a defining role in the creation of the young city’s social and economic fabric.”
Text from Charlotte Trolley About us page. For more information and a list of events see the Charlotte Trolley website.
Rural Hill Farm
“Rural Hill Farm is a Historic Site, Nature Preserve, Field Trip Destination, Cultural Events Site, Farm, and all around great place to get away from one’s daily stresses in life. Bring your students to experience excellence during our fascinating and unique educational programs focusing on history, science, creative thinking, reading, and even math! Stop by and enjoy the solitude of nature that only 265 secluded acres can provide while hiking our extensive network of trails. Visit us and feel the rush of communal excitement with several thousand new friends at one of our cultural events. Step back in time as you step through our cabin’s doorway, smelling the delicious smells of food cooking over an open hearth. Hear the ringing of the blacksmith’s hammer, the chop of the woodworker’s adze, and the blast of the militiaman’s musket. We have over 250 years of history and heritage to share with you, your family, and your students. Whatever your interest, Rural Hill has something for you!”
Text from the Rural Hill Farm main page, “What is Rural Hill?”
Rural Hill Farm is the site of annual Scottish Festival & Loch Norman Highland Games
Historic Rosedale Plantation
Rosedale was built in 1815 by Archibald Frew, a tax collector. Today, the Historic Rosedale Plantation offers tours, gardens, socials, and decorative art and architecture. The Historic Rosedale Plantation Mission Statement is found on the mission page of the website:
“Historic Rosedale Plantation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Southern Piedmont through the preservation, exhibition and interpretation of the architecture, decorative arts and lifestyle of the19th century Catawba River Valley region.”
The families of Rosedale include the Frews, Caldwells, and Davidsons. Detailed information about the history of these families is located on the history page of the Historic Rosedale Plantation website.
“Originally part of a 919 acre plantation, Rosedale was built in 1815 by Archibald Frew, who was a merchant, postmaster and tax collector. The house was occupied from the 1830s by D. T. Caldwell and his family. Dr. Caldwell, in addition to his medical practice, ran the plantation with the support of 2 slave families consisting of about 20 people. Rosedale is one of the finest examples of Federal period architecture in North Carolina and is noted for its faux grained woodwork and the original French wallpaper that survives in three rooms.The gardens and grounds of Rosedale are a treasure in their own right and are perfect for a leisurely walk.”
Above text from the Historic Rosedale Plantation About page.
The Plantation has a Facebook page and can be found on Twitter
Charlotte Museum of History
Following is the Mission Statement of the Charlotte Museum of History, as it appears on the Museum website:
“The Charlotte Museum of History, an educational organization, captures and shares the stories of the Charlotte region from settlement forward through exhibits and programs. The museum collects, preserves, researches, and interprets regional artifacts, including the oldest surviving house in Mecklenburg County, the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander Homesite.”
The Hezekiah Alexander House is the oldest structure on the eight-acres on which the Museum is located in east Charlotte.