You might know from our license plates that North Carolina was “First in Flight” and “First in Freedom,” but our state is also the proud birthplace of tinctures, treats, and time-honored traditions.
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Our Plate
From Southern classics like ham biscuits to small-town creations like bright red hot dogs, how much do you know about North Carolina’s quintessential foods?
Queen City Neon
For a Mecklenburg County photographer, a high school project became an adult passion: documenting nostalgic signs and billboards across Charlotte.
Ad Ventures in North Carolina
Some of our most indelible impressions of North Carolina come from the advertisements that tempt us to explore everything that our state has to offer.
The Krispy Kreme Doughnut
The glazed, pillowy-soft doughnuts, invented in Winston-Salem in 1937, are a Tar Heel tradition.
North Carolina in Neon
Most of the neon signs that once illuminated motels, theaters, and restaurants across the state have been replaced, but a few glowing examples of this nostalgic art form are still lovingly preserved as icons of a bygone era.
12 Piedmont Traditions
Welcome to the heart of North Carolina! From iconic foods to industries that shaped a region, the center of our state is rich in history and traditions.
North Carolina’s Iconic Food Imports
There’s really no such thing as a Carolina bagel or Queen City gumbo. But if the following culinary traditions weren’t exactly invented in North Carolina, we’ve certainly made them our own.
You Berry Believe It Coffee Cake
Every bite of this decadent coffee cake is loaded with blueberry flavor and crumbly streusel crunch.
