On June 15, 1940, a tiny turtle named Leopold lived up to his royal name by winning first place in Mount Airy’s Turtle Derby. The prize? Twenty dollars.
Make Believe
For generations, locals claimed that a young, unknown Walt Disney came to Asheville to live and work in 1924.
Welcome to North Colalina
Since Pepsi’s invention in a New Bern pharmacy in 1898, independent bottlers across North Carolina have made bottles of the soda collectible points of pride.
A North Carolina Painting Pioneer
The mother of modern-day finger painting opened up a new avenue of learning and self-expression for kids.
Don’t Wake the Baby!
A quirky — and somewhat controversial — rock-a-bye baby contest was held in Washington in 1934.
What It Was, Was Irony
When we wrote about Andy Griffith’s blossoming showbiz career in 1954, it’s safe to say the Mount Airy native didn't know he would become a pop-culture icon.
One Brilliant Beard
In the 1870s, a Mitchell County man’s wondrous whiskers made him famous.
We Have a Winner!
In 1964, the inaugural winner of Jeopardy! was a North Carolina native — and her Southern accent may have helped earn her a spot on the taping of the show.
Bred for Success
How the wife of a literary giant became renowned in her own right as one of the nation’s preeminent dairy goat breeders in Flat Rock.
