The history of the Old North State is peppered with little-known facts. Watch for five fascinating tidbits.
Fields of Honor
In this episode of Hidden History, writer Brad Campbell explores the 1942 Rose Bowl, where the Duke Blue Devils and Oregon State Beavers traded the traditional Pasadena locale to face off in … Durham!
Fields of Honor
A historic Rose Bowl pitted Duke University against Oregon State in Durham. Then, in the dark days of World War II, those same football players — and a legendary coach — joined forces to fight for freedom.
Many Happy Returns
In 1931, a High Point salesman turned a simple child’s toy into the Fli-Back paddle ball, a worldwide sensation that entertained millions of kids — and helped create North Carolina’s very own Paddle Ball King.
An Honorable Khaki
Just prior to the Great Depression, a Gaston County textile mill introduced a special khaki weave that served our armed forces with distinction for five decades.
Carefree Cruising
For some drivers, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the portal to our state’s soaring peaks and offers the sights and routes that remind them of home.
North Carolina’s Blue Ribbon
The Blue Ridge Parkway stands out among America’s national parks: Unfurling across six Appalachian mountain chains, it connects dozens of rural communities and binds together generations of families through shared memories.
Appalachian Spring
The story behind Andrews Geyser is deep, complex, and as irrepressible as the man-made fountain itself. It goes back to the 1870s, when the railroad finally climbed the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Old Fort. The tragic cost of that achievement is still being uncovered today.
The Magic of Mountain Monarchs
Every September, Gorges State Park celebrates the monarch butterfly — and the awe and wonder of its annual migration — with a festival fit for a king.
