Raleigh is named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who, ironically, never made
it to North Carolina, though he was the driving force behind the
establishment of the 'Lost Colony' on Roanoke Island. It is also
known as the 'City of Oaks', so named for the large number of oak
trees which once dominated the cityscape. While many of the oaks are
now gone, victims of age and weather, Raleigh still looks like a
city which was dropped into the forest from the air. Every year on
New Year's Eve, 'the Big Acorn' is dropped for the countdown to the
New Year. Thousands gather in downtown Raleigh to watch them drop
the Acorn, and celebrate at First Night, a festival which is geared
towards family celebrations of the New Year. The festival offers
music, food, entertainers of all sorts, and a great way to have a
safe and fun celebration for the whole family.
The city of Raleigh was a planned state capital, settled on the site
by the NC General Assembly Convention of 1788. The city was laid out
on a one mile square grid, and that grid can still be seen today. In
its center stands the State Capitol. Much of the surrounding grid
contains the state, local and county government buildings. Urban
renewal programs and beatification projects have created the
Fayetteville St. Mall, and brought many new businesses to downtown
Raleigh. A number of restaurants, pubs, and shops have made downtown
Raleigh their home. One area that deserves notice is the Historic
Oakwood district, adjacent to the Executive Mansion featuring more
than 400 lovely 19th century homes in a serene oak-shaded
neighborhood.
Raleigh has a great deal to offer. It's the home of North Carolina
State University, a top engineering school and research center, and
the home of the Wolfpack, a top contender in the NCAA Atlantic Coast
Conference. The main campus is centered on Hillsborough St. in
downtown Raleigh, and the presence of its' 28,000 students has
generated a flood of interesting shops and eateries, creating a
vibrant and interesting environment. St. Augustine's College and
Shaw University are also here, among the first colleges in the
United States for African-American students, as well as Peace
College and Meredith College, well regarded women's colleges.
Raleigh's steady growth has also fueled culture. Raleigh is home to
a number of museums, such as the NC Museum of History, NC Museum of
Art and the Museum of Natural Science, to name a few. The Memorial
Auditorium hosts the NC Symphony, and many Broadway shows come here.
In the last few years the city has played host to productions of
'Cats', 'Phantom of the Opera', 'Riverdance' and 'Les Miserables'.
