Resources about the Founding and History of Raleigh, NC



Joel Lane, dressed in a 3-corner hat and a pea coat

History of the North Carolina Capital


Establishing a permanent seat of government in North Carolina was a contentious issue among leglislators throughout the Colonial era. It took years of debate and uncertainty before a capital was finally established. Read a history of North Carolina's capital here.




A pocket watch on a chain

Timeline of Raleigh's Early History


Browse this timeline which documents important events in the establishment and early years of North Carolina's capital city.





A map of Raleigh with numbered points on it

Raleigh's Interactive Map


Explore Raleigh by interacting with this fun and educational interface. See the original plan of Raleigh as drawn out by William Christmas, and learn interesting tidbits about the capital with the simple move of a mouse.




A stack of open books

Learn More about Raleigh


Learn more about the early history of Raleigh by clicking on this list of resources for futher study. Browse a list of historical institutions, websites, and books that will offer more information about the capital city's birth and development.