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San Diego , California
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina
and the fastest growing region in the country. Because of the expansive
amount of oak trees, it is known as the city of oaks. It is also one of the
few cities in the nation that was planned and built to become a state
capital. The location was decided upon because it was 10 miles from the
tavern where most of the state's legislators went to hang and drink. Andrew
Johnson, the seventeenth President was born in Casso's Inn in Raleigh, and
the first water supply network was finished in 1818. The next year, the
city had its first volunteer fire department and 2 years later had its own
full time fire department. A fire destroyed the state capitol in 1831, and
after a couple of years, was reconstructed using quarried granite brought in
by the state's first railroad. In 1853, the first state's fair was held in
the city and Peace College was established in 1857. It survived the Civil
War, although it wouldn't grow much after that for the next few decades.
The first African American college, Shaw University was built and classes
started in 1865, and chartered in 1875. The college's Estey Hall was the
first college for black women and the first four year med school was Leonard
Medical Center also the first in the country. The Episcopal church founded
St. Augustine's College for freedmen in 1867, and the first blind and deaf
school for the African Americans was built in 1869 in Raleigh. North
Carolina State University was built in 1887, and the Rex Hospital, which
opened in 1889 allowed the first nursing school. The Baptist's Women's
College opened in 1891 and is now the Meredith College; and the Academy of
Music was opened in 1898. Passing a new constitution in 1900, the
legislature created new voting rules that stopped the blacks and poor whites
from being able to vote and that didn't change until 1965.
National Register of Historic Places and the city was
named among the top ten by Money The 21st century brought about many great
changes in the city, including; Meymandi Concert Hall, Lichtin Plaza, Betty
Ray McCain Gallery, Fletcher Opera Theater and the Progress Energy Center
for the Performing Arts. In 2008, the area known as the Fayetteville Street
Historic District became a member of the Magazine, MSNBC and Forbes. The
city is made up of seven different areas; downtown/Old Raleigh, which
includes; the North Carolina Museum of History, Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel,
renovated City Market, Fayetteville District, NC Museum of Natural Sciences,
NC State Capitol, Peace College, St. Augustine College, Shaw University,
Raleigh City Museum and the Raleigh Convention Center. East Raleigh is made
up of many neighborhoods, as is North Raleigh; West Raleigh is home to the NC
State University, Pullen Park, Cameron Village, Saint Mary's School, NC
Museum of Art, Memorial Baptist Church, Meredith College and Lake Johnson.
Midtown Raleigh contains some neighborhoods, with the shopping centers of
North Hills and Crabtree Valley Mall; with the Soleil Center soon to open.
Southeast Raleigh contains mostly neighborhoods with the Raleigh Country
Club, Shaw University and Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion.
The economy is very diverse, with electronic, medical,
electrical and telecommunications equipment, pharmaceuticals, paper
products, food processing and clothing and apparel. It is also a part of
the North Carolina's Research Triangle which is one of the nation's biggest
and most successful research parks with high-tech and biotech research and
textile development going on. It is a big retail shipping center for
eastern North Carolina and a wholesale distribution center for the grocery
business. In 2009, it was part of the list of top 25 cities for women's
careers to develop. The city has 14 museums, numerous performing arts and
visual arts centers, with a large number of professional and amateur sports
teams. The city is a haven for parks, with 8100 acres devoted to that, and
22 staffed community centers, a BMX championship caliber race track, 112
tennis courts, 5 public lakes and 8 public aquatic centers. With Durham, it
has an international airport, 10 private airports, numerous interstate
highways, Amtrak, intercity rail, public transit bus routes and a trolley
system. The greenway system in the city is great for trails, walking,
jogging and running; along with a number of bike routes.
When you visit Raleigh,
you will be able to save time and money with the use of a rental car. This
will certainly add some flexibility to your travel plans. Many people pick
up the vehicle at or near the Raleigh/Durham International Airport so they
have a great selection to choose from. The rental car company can also pick
you up at or near the Raleigh/Durham International Airport to make it easier
on you. Whatever needs you have, compact, mid-size, full-size, luxury car,
minivan or SUV, we can help you to choose the best choice for your traveling
needs in the city of Raleigh.
Dollar Rental Car Specials
Dollar Rental Car - Raleigh/Durham International
Airport
One of the best examples and pristine buildings of
Greek revival styles of architecture is the state capitol building in
Raleigh; which is listed on the National Historic Landmark registry. In the
rotunda area, a 1970 copy of George Washington's statue by Antonio Canova,
which was in the original state house from 1820 until 1831. Other wonderful
artifact and plaques that grace the rotunda include; Virginia Dare, the
first baby in the new world, born on Roanoke Island in 1587; also known as
the lost colony; the women of the Edenton Tea Party, 51 women who banded
together to stop buying tea or any other article produced in England, 1774;
the three men who signed the Constitution of North Carolina, William Blount,
Richard Dobbs Spaight and Hugh Williamson. Three men who signed the
Declaration of Independence; Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn.
Numerous busts and other plaques adorn the walls of this glorious building.
Also claimed to be the most haunted state capitol building in the nation.
Thrifty Rental
Car Specials
Thrifty Rental Car - Raleigh/Durham Airport
Thrifty
Car Rental -
Raleigh/Clayton
Thrifty Rental Car - Raleigh/Durham
Thrifty
Car Rental -
Raleigh/North
The North Carolina Museum of Art holds a collection that spans over 5000
years of ancient artifacts from Egypt, contemporary art and paintings by
such great artists as Rapheal, Monet and Reubens. With marvelous examples
of ancient art, exhibits come from Africa, Europe, Judiac, Egypt, Greece,
Rome, Sicily, Costa Rica, Peru, Mesoamerica, Sepik River, Ireland and many
other beautiful relics that have survived time and hold audiences in sway.
The museum park contains 164 acres of prime streams, woodlands and open
spaces that are filled with works of art, trails and monuments. The park is
a huge laboratory for experiments related to the use of art in the
environment. It is a wonderland of sights, both strange and unique. The
picture to the left is a great example of what can be done with nature in
regards to the world of art. It is called trailheads and is at the
beginning of the trail into the park. |