Bayard Wootten became the first woman in the North Carolina National Guard thanks to her innovative photography.
HISTORY
Honor Bound
Ninety-nine North Carolina military veterans, whose service spans from World War II to more recent conflicts, spent a day of reflection in Washington, D.C. — and returned home to joyous celebration.
George Masa’s Peak Dedication
In the early 20th century, a Japanese photographer and his writer friend traversed the rugged terrain north of Cherokee, mapping its peaks and valleys, documenting its beauty. In the process, they helped save the land we now know as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Legendary Lodge of Hooper Bald
In the early 1900s, a self-made businessman fell in love with Graham County and spared no expense in building an extravagant hunting preserve there. A century later, his granddaughter visits to find that all that’s left of his Hooper Bald dream is local lore — and wild boar.
Beyond the Skyline
On a spiritual journey through Durham, the Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope peels back the layers of the city, revealing chapters of its history that are not always visible from the surface.
Labor of Love
A devoted son honors his mom — and all of North Carolina’s mill workers — through the Morganton-based Workers’ Legacy Project.
Our Green-Eyed Girl
In 1941, Smithfield native Ava Gardner’s mom told The State about a call with her daughter’s new boyfriend — American box-office star Mickey Rooney.
Where the Heart Is
Every year, alumni of the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford — the oldest orphanage in the state — return to Granville County to celebrate the place where they grew up.
Ludwig Drums: The Beat Goes On
During their historic 1964 debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Beatles instantly made Ludwig the world’s most recognizable drum brand, inspiring a young musician in Charlotte to form his own fab four. At a factory in Monroe, Ludwig is still making those same drums.
