Explore North Carolina

Learn about the People, Places and Things to Do

The first European settlement in North Carolina is the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke Island that vanished sometime after 1587. 

North Carolina is the northern portion of the original 1629 land grant made by England's King Charles I, which was named in his honor (Carolus is Latin for Charles). 

North Carolina joined the Union in 1789 and is the 12th of the original 13 states. Today, North Carolina is a growing research center and banking state. 

The capital of the "Tar Heel State" is Raleigh, and the dogwood blossom is the state flower.

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Celebrating North Carolina

• Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

• Ole Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Festival

• Unto These Hills

• African American Cultural Complex

• Lexington Barbecue Festival

• The Lost Colony

• Shackleford Banks Horses

• Mecklenburg Independence Day Celebration