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State Pride|History

One Of The Oldest Buildings In North Carolina Was Built For Hezekiah Alexander, Signer Of The Mecklenburg Declaration

The 1774 Alexander Rock House is a historic Georgian-style home in North Carolina, now part of the Charlotte Museum of History, offering guided tours and events.

Published Aug 9, 2023

Written by 

Carolyn Harmon

The 1774 Alexander Rock House is one of the oldest buildings in North Carolina, the oldest house in Mecklenburg County, and the last-standing home of a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, Hezekiah Alexander. The 5,000-square-foot home includes an attic and basement. In 1768, the Alexanders moved their family of five children from Pennsylvania as part of the Great Wagon Road migration. Hezekiah and his wife, Mary, went on to raise 10 children at their lovely homestead in the woods, now part of the Charlotte Museum of History.

The handsome Hezekiah Alexander, 1728–1801, will greet you on your journey to the past on eight acres that were once a part of his 600-acre farm.

A bronze statue of a man in period clothing stands on a stone base, surrounded by trees and a forest path.
Brian Smilowska/TripAdvisor

This life-size bronze statue of this statesman of the American Revolution honors all North Carolina patriots that supported the cause of independence.

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Constructed with stone quarried from the property, the stone walls at the widest part are 2 feet thick.

A historic stone house with green shutters, surrounded by trees and a grassy area, featuring a wooden bench in front.
Charlotte Museum of History/Facebook

Most of the arduous work was probably completed by enslaved people.

Before it became the lovely place it is today, this 1949 photo illustrates restoration efforts by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A historic stone house with a symmetrical facade, two stories, and a front staircase, surrounded by trees.
Charlotte Museum of History/Facebook

The house was built in a Georgian style, one of the few existing examples of this architecture.

The tour inside takes us back to an earlier period through beautiful reproductions, such as this typical bedroom.

A cozy bedroom featuring a four-poster bed with curtains and a wooden rocking chair near a fireplace.
Barbara B/TripAdvisor

Guided tours include the Rock House, the springhouse, and the reconstructed log kitchen.

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A rustic wooden shed surrounded by vibrant yellow leaves and tall trees in a serene outdoor setting.
Charlotte Museum of History/Facebook

A celebratory ringing of the American Freedom Bell is also included.

A large bronze bell hangs in a pavilion, inscribed with "America's Freedom." Surrounded by greenery.
John hale (rhcp011235)/Google

The interesting tours are led by museum docents with self-guided trips available.

Plan a trip during an event with the excitement of historical interpreters bringing the past back to life.

Two historical reenactors in colonial attire, one reading a document and the other playing a drum, surrounded by trees.
Charlotte Museum of History/Facebook

Find out when on the Charlotte Museum of History’s event page.

To capture a preview, watch this introduction of the tour.

https://youtu.be/wqvwqpRnMuI

For more information on one of the oldest buildings in North Carolina, visit The Charlotte Museum of History's Facebook page. And afterward, eat lunch at the oldest restaurant in Charlotte, Green’s Lunch Uptown.

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State Pride|History

Here Are Some Of The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Charlotte And They’re Incredible

Historical photos reveal Charlotte's transformation over nearly 250 years.

Updated Jun 27, 2024

Written by 

Carolyn Mulvihill

The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been on the map since 1768 - can you believe it? That's more than 250 years! Have you ever wondered what our city looked like before now? We found some of old photos of Charlotte, NC and wanted to share, just in case you were interested in seeing how things have changed in Charlotte over the years.

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This image of the Charlotte skyline shows just how much our city has changed since it was taken in the 1920s.

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Charlotte over the Years/Facebook

This old picture of North Carolina shows the Atherton Cotton Mill, which opened in 1893.

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Levine Museum of the New South

This building has since been turned into condos. The Atherton Mill building that still exists today was actually the historic trolley station where mill workers began and ended each day as they caught their ride to and from the mill.

This photo was taken of some of the Atherton Mill workers in 1903.

A large group of children and adults poses in front of a brick building, dressed in late 19th-century clothing.
Tompkins, Daniel Augustus/Wikimedia Commons

You'll notice how young the workers are, the average age was 11 to 12 years old.

Trolleys became a popular mode of transportation in the mid-1920's.

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City of Charlotte

Old pictures of Charlotte, NC, like this one really give you a feel for city life in the early 20th century.

It was common for trolley conductors and staff to take a picture each time they finished a line.

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Black and white photo of a group of men in uniforms posing in front of a vintage streetcar, circa 1910.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmark Commission/Facebook

The banking industry has always been a big influence in Charlotte.

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

This is an image of Charlotte's First National Bank which was located on Tryon St.

This is an image of Commercial National Bank, which incorporated in 1874.

Historic postcard of the Commercial National Bank Building in Charlotte, N.C., featuring a tall, ornate structure.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

The oldest national bank in North Carolina, Commercial National Bank is now part of Bank of America, thanks to a series of 20th century mergers.

In addition to banking, there were many other big businesses located Uptown that are no longer there.

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmark Commission

Sears, Roebuck & Company was a major employer in the early 20th century.

The Ford Motor Company also had a presence Uptown.

Historic black-and-white photo of early 20th-century cars parked outside a large building with a water tower.
Camp North End

The site later became a missile production plant and is now Camp North End, a mixed-use facility with retail, restaurants, shops, and offices.

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And the Queen City Hotel was a popular place for travelers and those passing through.

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Margaret Phillips/Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

For those of us with history in the Tar Heel State, old photos of Charlotte, NC, like these, really make us remember our roots and think about them. How long have you lived in Charlotte? Do you have any pictures you can show us? Share them in the comments.

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State Pride|History

One Of The Oldest Airports In The U.S., Charlotte Douglas International Airport In North Carolina, Is Now 88 Years Old

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the U.S., offering extensive air service and a rich history.

Published Jan 23, 2023

Written by 

Carolyn Harmon

Established in 1935, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the oldest airports in the U.S. Ranked among the world’s busiest airports, it averages 1,424 arrivals and departures and 118,636 people traveling through CLT each day. A record-breaking year came in 2019 when CLT had more than 50.2 million passengers for an average of 137,449 people daily. And in 2021, CLT grew to the sixth busiest airport in the U.S., serving 43 million folks that year. Let's take a look into the success of one of the oldest airports in the U.S.

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CLT's mission is to be the preferred airport and airline hub by providing the highest quality product for the lowest possible cost, which explains the long-standing history.

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport - CLT/Facebook

It covers 5,558 acres with four runways and one passenger terminal offering 115 gates.

Charlotte received Works Progress Administration funds to establish Charlotte's first municipal airport which at the time was the largest-single WPA project in the U.S.

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CharloCharlotte Douglas International Airport - CLT/Facebooktte Douglas International Airport - CLT/Facebook

In 1935, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the Charlotte Municipal Airport with these important men pictured from left: W. States Lee, Charlotte's first airport authority; Dr. Luther Little, First Baptist Church pastor; Ben E. Douglas, mayor of Charlotte; James B. Marshall, city manager; Baxter J. Hunter, board of county commissioners; David ROA, WPA engineer; George Corn, WPA state director; Dr. Julian Miller, Charlotte Observer editor; and John Grice, WPA district director.

Then in 1954, the Douglas of Charlotte Douglas International Airport came into the picture.

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport - CLT/Facebook

Serving three terms from 1935 to 1941, Benjamin Elbert Douglas Sr. was the first Charlotte government mayor elected by voters after a new charter changed the process.

Some of the aircraft models near the Aviation History display hang from the ceiling.

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Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

As a commercial-civil-military facility, the airport also houses the Charlotte Air National Guard base and its host unit, the 145th Airlift Wing of the NC Air National Guard.

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North Carolina Air National Guard/Facebook

Air Force One has been known to pop in now and again, carrying precious cargo.

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TSgt Richard Kerner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Explore the many lands in this beautiful world.

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Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

CLT provides nonstop air service to 184 destinations worldwide, home to eight major air carriers, 15 regional carriers, and three foreign flag carriers.

Wherever your life leads, be assured that Charlotte Douglas International Airport will get you there.

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport - CLT/Facebook

Are you ready to book a flight at one of the oldest airports in the U.S.? If you do, please share your experience in the comments below. And while you're in Charlotte, be sure to visit some of these fantastic state parks in the area that will blow you away. 

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