Our plan is to drive into Raleigh and see the state capital buildings. Traveling through multiple country roads with the aid of our GPS computer program, we arrived in downtown Raleigh. The country around here change names at intersections and there are no signs to assist you get downtown. Sometimes the turns onto new roads came so quickly that the GPS did not have time to print out instructions for the next turn.
Arriving downtown, we were greeted by a festival that had many blocks closed and traffic. The traffic was almost like getting out of Houston on Friday afternoon. We moved to the other side of the Capital Building and found free street parking, yes in Raleigh they have plentiful free parking downtown, and this spot was well shaded. This was great as we had the dogs with us. The temperature was just under 70 with a breeze, so the conditions were great for their staying in the car. We did not think we could convenience anyone in the capital building that they were seeing eye dogs.
We walked about a block to the capital. Upon arriving, we learned this was the capital until 1960 when they moved from this building to another a block away. The capital building we were in was used from 1833 until 1960. This building replaced one on the same site that burned in 1832. This building is not especially impressive in its design, but you can feel the history when you walk through. There are plaques and monuments recognizing their proud Confederate history and attempt to secede from United States. When you walk in they hand out a copy of the “Ordinance of Secession”. The large monument in front of the Capital (the west side) recognized those lost in the states’ fight while serving as Confederate soldiers. One monument recognizes Private Henry Lawson Wyatt who is the first North Carolina Confederate soldier to die in the War Between the States.
Other plaques recognize those from the state who signed the Declaration of Independence and those who had been lost in all the other wars before and after the War Between the States. Before we were able to enter the building, I had to produce my driver’s license, the result of 9-11 and things brought on average citizens. Even though no government officials are housed in the building, nor is any government meeting held here, this is a requirement.
Today Confederate soldiers in uniform were all over the grounds. They moved in last night and spent the night in tents. When we arrived they were having an early lunch that had been prepared on the BBQ pit behind one tent area. For sure, they were prepared for some cold weather based on the amount of firewood they had stacked up. Of course each man had his musket in hand. Many had bayonets in place ready for hand to hand combat.
Leaving there, we went to the Museum of History across the street. They had displays on two floors related to all the wars fought in this country up to the Gulf War on display as well as equipment from Colonial farming days. Included in the display was a car driven by Junior Johnson who was one of the first winners in what we now know as NASCAR racing. Junior had made his living for years delivering with moonshine and running from the ‘revenuers’. Some of the uniformed ‘Confederate’ soldiers were in the museum telling the stories of many displays. This complex is well worth visiting when in the area.
From there it was off to the Botanical Garden. This facility has plants from around the world as well as providing a very large experimental garden, about the size of a football field, for new varieties of flowers. The dogs enjoyed walking around in the grass, but by the end of the walk they were both ready to get in the car and take a nap. This garden was not the showy place that the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden was that we enjoyed on 5/16 in Greensboro. This is more a practical experimental facility but very much worth visiting.
