In all aspects of North Carolina life, from faith and politics to pop culture and literature, iconic couples and their love have helped shape our state’s identity.
andy griffith
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.
Peace in the Yadkin Valley
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Luck of the Tar Heel
In a month when everyone’s looking for four-leaf clovers and leprechauns, we’re paying tribute to North Carolinians who have made historic discoveries and found good fortune — including gold — all on their own.
19 Hidden Treasures at North Carolina’s Universities
These places are the stewards of some very special items: Doc Watson’s first recording, the desk Virginia Woolf used to redefine the novel, and Elisha Mitchell’s pocket watch are just some of the cherished pieces that teach us about our state’s history and the people who preserve it.
23 North Carolina Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
Want to get into the holiday spirit in the most North Carolina way possible? Here’s an Our State-curated playlist of Christmas songs that come from the Land of the Long Leaf Pine.
Six Degrees of Andy Griffith
Our state's Everyman brought the charms of small-town North Carolina to Hollywood and, eventually, the whole world.
Andy Griffith: “What It Was, Was Football”
Nearly 70 years ago Andy Griffith got his big break in show business thanks to football — but not as a player, or even as a fan.
Visions of Beauty
One of the state’s preeminent garden designers, Greensboro’s Chip Callaway lays out luxurious beds of leafiness throughout the East Coast.
