Plan a visit to North Carolina’s oldest places to experience something new. Walk in the footsteps of Vanderbilt, Hemingway and Washington at our historic sites and homes, stand in the place the sit-in movement began, pause in the ancestral home of the Cherokee or spread your wings where the Wright brothers first flew. And as America prepares to commemorate 250 years in 2026, join the exploration of pivotal events, milestones and voices that shaped our state and country, from the Halifax Resolves to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.
Visit places that revisit the past
History feels different when you’re standing in the middle of it. North Carolina’s past is layered into its battlefields, lighthouses and main streets — places where big moments happened and everyday life unfolded. Whether you want to experience time-honored traditions or walk in the footsteps of complex histories, there’s a story waiting for you to discover here.
Sponsored by: Visit Winston-Salem
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Visit Winston-Salem
Explore Layers of Legacy in Winston-Salem
Walk centuries-old streets, explore living history museums and embrace preserved Moravian traditions in a city rooted in North Carolina’s past.
North Carolina’s history weaves together Revolutionary battles, Cherokee traditions, maritime legends and pioneering spirits, creating a rich heritage that echoes through its towns, trails and timeless landscapes.
The FW Woolworth store in Greensboro put NC on the civil rights movement map. Six decades later, this trail is guiding visitors to historic sites beyond where the sit-in movement took hold.
Since before the birth of the United States, North Carolina played a lead role in shaping history. Visit the battlefields and structures that paved the way to life today.
At Oconaluftee Indian Village artisans keep traditions alive, from intricate beadwork to hand-carved masks. Watch makers at work, and learn the stories and techniques behind each piece of art.
North Carolina has never just watched history — it’s helped shape it. As America marks 250 years, explore the battlefields, colonial towns and living history sites that bring the past into the present. From reenactments to special exhibits, every event is a chance to stand where history happened and see how it still shapes the state today.
