Raleigh Is Steeped In History Whatever The Weather

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

When you need assistance with flood damage on your property, call on our experienced team at SERVPRO.

North Carolina’s Capital Is An Example Of An Early Planned City

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and a magnificent early example of a planned city. It is also the seat of Wake County. Raleigh has an estimated population of 474,069. The city is known as the City of Oaks because of the majestic oak trees that line its sidewalks. It is also a center for academia and research, with several diverse neighborhoods, several different religions in the area, and a vibrant cultural life with festivals and museums galore.

Raleigh is an example of a planned city. In 1770, Joel Lane successfully petitioned for the creation of a new county. Wake County was created from parts of Johnston, Orange, and Cumberland counties, and got its name from Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of William Tryon, North Carolina’s governor.

Raleigh was not the first capital of the county. However, in 1788, the area was nominated as the site of a new State Capital because its distance from the coast would protect it. It helped that the site was also close to Isaac Hunter’s Tavern, a popular watering hole for state legislators! Raleigh was granted a city charter in 1794.

Raleigh’s Famous Namesake

Raleigh’s famous namesake is, of course, Sir Walter Raleigh, for whom the city was named:

• Not much is known of Raleigh’s early life, except that he was born in Budleigh, South Devon, England, and that he was born around 1552 or 1554. He came from a protestant family, and his father had to hide to escape being imprisoned in the Tower of London for his beliefs. 
• Raleigh traveled to Ireland and back again before his voyages to the new world. Queen Elizabeth granted Raleigh a charter in 1584, giving him the right to explore and colonize. The terms of the charter stated that the lands must not be possessed of any Christian prince or inhabited by Christian people. In return, Raleigh would be given one-fifth of any gold and silver mined in that area. He must establish a settlement within seven years.
• Raleigh twice attempted to establish a colony at Roanoke. The Roanoke colony is known as the lost colony because its inhabitants disappeared, and no one knows what became of them.
• He is famous for bringing tobacco to England from the new world, although some historians claim this is the stuff of legends, and tobacco was already known in England.
• Raleigh was charged with treason for his part in the plot against Elizabeth’s successor, James, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was eventually pardoned and allowed to make another sailing voyage but was ultimately executed.

See Some Historic Sites In Raleigh

Raleigh is home to several fascinating historical sites. History lovers will not want to miss:

• The Pullen Carousel, which is an original wooden carved carousel from 1900. Aside from replacing a few mechanical parts, the carousel looks just as it did when it was first installed in Pullen Park. It boasts a wooden menagerie of 52 animals and two sleighs and features a Wurlitzer organ.
• Wakefield, also known as the Joel Lane House, dates from 1769 and is the oldest dwelling in Wake County that is still standing. The house is open to visitors and is filled with interesting eighteenth-century artifacts, while the grounds house a period-typical city garden and an authentic herb garden.
• The Pope House is another restored home that is worth seeing. Dr. Pope, a prominent African-American Raleigh citizen, had the house built in 1901 and filled it with every modern convenience. The house had a full bathroom, a combination of gas and electric features, and running water in the kitchen, all of which was very impressive for the time.

The Fayetteville Street and Historic Oakwood districts are filled to the brim with impressive historic buildings, and it is well worth setting aside time to walk around each of them when you visit. 

Raleigh Has An Impressive List Of Museums

When you are finished seeing historic sites, Raleigh has a wealth of museums to keep you entertained:

• The Contemporary Art Museum offers an ever-changing program of installations. You can view works by local, national, and international artists, and many installations are multimedia.
• The North Carolina Museum of Art was the first in the country to be funded by state legislation. Its impressive collection covers over 5000 years of artistic endeavors, from ancient times until the present day. The permanent collection is free to visit to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy and learn about art.
• The North Carolina Museum of History helps visitors learn about state history in a hands-on and entertaining way. It houses several collections and runs educational programs throughout the year. It also includes the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
• The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the oldest in the state and is also the largest natural science museum in the Southeastern United States. The museum is spread across four sites and includes a nature exploration center, a forestry museum, a nature & science center, and a satellite facility.

SERVPRO Supports Raleigh In The Aftermath of Storms

In April 2011, North Carolina (including Raleigh) was battered by storms. Thirty tornadoes were reported in the state on April 16th, causing widespread damage. One enormous specimen, which hit Raleigh, was 500 yards wide and had wind speeds of 160 mph. There were 24 deaths across the state, along with 300 injuries and millions of dollars worth of damage.

Anyone who remembers those tornadoes will remember how devastating the after-effects can be. That is why SERVPRO is on hand to help Raleigh residents with flood water extraction. We are locally owned and operated, which means we know Raleigh and understand the importance of getting back to life as usual after a storm or flood.

We equip our technicians with a range of free-standing and truck-mounted pumps, along with extractors and carpet wands, to remove flood water from your home. Thorough extraction makes it easier to dry your home and restore it “Like it never even happened.”

We also handle disposing of items that cannot be saved, cleaning those that can be saved, and deodorizing your home to rid it of damp smells. 

SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner is here to help with flood water extraction. Call us today at (919) 615-1179.